A GREEN-fingered couple have been left devastated after their award-winning Chester allotment plots were destroyed.
Phil Shone and partner Sarah Keane found their plants and crops badly damaged in alleged vandalism attacks at the Whitchurch Road allotment colony in Boughton Heath.
They believe vandals continually doused weedkiller or bleach over the plants and have left their previously colourful plots bare.
They believe vandals continually doused weedkiller or bleach over the plants and have left their previously colourful plots bare.
Love blossomed for the couple after they met at the allotment two years ago, but they fear it will now take a year for them to be able to grow crops and fruit on their neighbouring plots, such is the extent of the damage.
Sarah, 44, secretary of the colony committee, said: “We are devastated this has happened. We have worked so hard at it and I can’t believe anyone would set out to damage plants and would want to do this.
“We suffer from arthritis and this has always been a form of de-stress and enjoyment. We have made friends and got a lot of pleasure from coming here but it does not feel like that at the moment.
“We will not be put off by what has happened and will keep coming here in the future. But a shadow has been cast over the whole allotments by what has gone on.”
The pain being felt this week by the couple, of Overwood Lane, Chester, is a far cry from their joy last year when Philip won the half plot category in the celebrated Chester in Bloom awards. The plots had been enjoying a fruitful summer and were particularly healthy.
Philip, 48, said: “This was our best and healthiest crop yet and now we have nothing. A lot of hard work had gone in to these plots. As it is just mine and Sarah’s plots that have been targeted there is clearly somebody who has an issue with us.”
The damage, which has been reported to Cheshire Police, is set to be discussed at an open meeting of the Whitchurch Road colony committee tomorrow at 7.30pm at the Bridge Inn in Tarvin Road, Vicars Cross.