Police investigate allotment that went viral after it was destroyed with 5kg of salt
An allotment that helped feed hundreds struggling with the cost of living, but was destroyed by vandals, is now the subject of a police investigation.
Carly Burd, 43, from Harlow in Essex, transformed her garden to grow organic fruit and vegetables as part of her “A Meal on Me With Love” initiative but was “heartbroken” to discover her hard work destroyed when five kilograms of salt was thrown on the soil.
Officers from Essex Police have opened an investigation to find the culprits and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
Police are now investigating the damage
A fundraiser set up in the wake of the incident has smashed its £4,000 target and has now raised almost a quarter of a million pounds.
Ms Burd said the ordeal, which was reported to police on Wednesday, has been “heart-wrenching”.
“What made it worse is that yesterday, the children that helped me plant it actually turned up, and it just broke me,” she said.
“They were so lovely they said ‘it’s okay, we can replant it’.
“They’ve worked so hard. They’ve put the effort in and we’re trying to make a change – it’s upsetting.”
The project began when Ms Burd, who lives with multiple sclerosis and lupus, went without heating last year – and felt compelled to help those in her community in a similar position.
Appeal to the vandals
The keen gardener said she is “really looking forward” to repairing her allotment and feels that doing so “gives me the opportunity to support other charities in my area”.
Surprised by the incident, Ms Burd said that she has “never felt such hate”, but urged the culprits to contact her.
“I’ve never felt such hate. I get on with everyone in my community,” she said.
“I want to say to whoever did it, I’m here if you want to talk to me. No aggression intended, that’s not my style.
“It won’t leave my lips and it won’t go out to anyone, but come and talk to me.”
While she struggles to understand why the incident happened, she hopes to support the person who vandalised her allotment.
“I’m not a threat to anyone – I’ll be there and support you and I’ll do everything I can to support you,” she added.
“I can’t understand why somebody would do something so hurtful, but I’m here for a chat.”
Her Go Fund Me has now raised almost a quarter of a million pounds
Salting ’caused real harm’
The incident is understood to have taken place between 2pm on 7 April and 9am on 8 April.
Chief Inspector Paul Austin, district commander for Harlow, issued an appeal for witnesses and anyone with CCTV or doorbell footage of the incident to come forward.
“Carly is naturally devastated about this mindless act, which has caused real harm to her efforts to help those most in need in Harlow,” he said.
“However, it is striking how determined she is to ensure this act does not stop her good work.
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“The support she has received both here in the community and from across the country has been truly heart-warming.
“We take all matters of criminal damage seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation.
“We need anyone who may have information about this incident to come forward, your reports to us do matter and make a huge difference.”
Gary Lineker and a BBC dragon donate
Ms Burd posted a TikTok after the salting, which quickly went viral and garnered the attention of people across the country – including Gary Lineker.
The Match Of The Day host tweeted, “Why would you ever do something like that?” alongside the video of Ms Burd in tears at her allotment.
A £500 donation under his name then popped up on her page.
Entrepreneur and BBC Dragon Steven Bartlett also donated £2,000, while celebrity DIY-expert Nick Knowles tweeted his support.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Ms Burd said.
“I took a picture [of the then top donation] just because it said Gary Lineker… I couldn’t believe it, I was over the moon.”
UK
Masked burglars ‘raid’ Windsor Castle grounds ‘while William, Kate and children slept at home on estate’
Masked burglars have stolen farm vehicles from the Windsor Castle estate while members of the Royal Family are believed to have been asleep nearby.
Two men scaled a 6ft fence on the night of 13 October and used a stolen truck to break through a security gate, The Sun first reported.
The pair then fled with a pick-up and a quad bike that were stored in a barn.
The King and Queen were not in residence.
But the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis were believed to have been in their home, Adelaide Cottage, on the estate, according to The Sun.
The family moved there in 2022.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “At around 11.45pm on Sunday 13 October, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
On Christmas Day 2021, a man climbed a fence at Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and claimed he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Jaswant Singh Chail was handed a nine-year custodial sentence for treason, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill.
The UK is braced for “disruptive snow” as yellow weather warnings cover large parts of the country until Tuesday – with the Met Office saying there is the “potential” for the alerts to be “escalated”.
The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.
The Met Office has also told people to expect ice, cold temperatures and wintry showers this week.
Check the forecast in your area
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for much of the north of the country – covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Wales and the north of England – from 7pm on Monday night to 10am on Tuesday morning.
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.
People are also warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.
The Met Office has said there will be bright spells across northern and eastern areas throughout today, but rain in the south and west will gradually spread northeastwards and turn to snow over northern hills.
Parts of the UK are experiencing their ‘first taste of winter’, says the Met Office. File pic: PA
Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”
Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.
“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.
The yellow weather warnings in place across the UK
Meanwhile, a yellow snow and ice weather warning that came into force at 4pm on Sunday will end at 11am this morning.
The warning covers the northern tip of Scotland and people there have been told there may be icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.
The Met Office has said there is “potential” for both yellow warnings to be “escalated”.
In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.
The meteorologist said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.
He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.
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Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, the meteorologist added.
He said: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”
It comes as a cold weather alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency, which was introduced at 9am on Sunday, will be in place until 9am on Thursday.
It covers a large area of England, north of Northhampton. The alert is triggered when there is a risk that healthcare services might face extra pressure and is designed to prepare those who are “particularly vulnerable” and “likely to struggle to cope”.
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