Vandals have caused fire damage in Castlewellan Forest Park.
Part of Animal Wood, the new play space in Castlewellan Forest Park, was damaged by fire on Monday 4 May.
[caption id="attachment_56536" align="alignleft" width="390"]
Mourne Forests Recreation Officer Boyd McClurg and Manager Clare Jones pictured with Councillor Stephen Burns at the fire-damaged site at Animal Wood in Castlewellan Forest Park which will soon be repaired.[/caption]
The NI Fire Service extinguished the fire at one of the pieces, known as the Squirrel’s Drey. The Squirrel’s Drey is part of Animal Wood which incorporates a short path with other wild woodland animals including a badger and its den and a giant spider. In addition Animal Wood boasts a wooden play structure with a tower in the image of the Moorish Tower where children can enjoy a climbing wall, fireman poll and rope bridge over to a hollow tree stump slide and red kite nest. It is a great facility for children and the family adjacent to the Peace Maze with a tremendous view of the Mournes.
Castlewellan Councillor Stephen Byrne said that he was was “very disappointed” when he heard the news of the fire damage and added: “I understand that the juvenile individuals allegedly involved are not locals from Castlewellan. The vandals won’t deter the Council or the Forestry Service from providing these much needed facilities which families have been enjoying in Castlewellan Forest Park.”
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Naomi Bailie has also condemned those responsible for this attack of vandalism and arson at the nature play park in Castlewellan Forest Park.
Councillor Bailie said: “The new nature play park is a valuable asset to our local community and has been widely used and enjoyed by families as well as visitors since its installation just before Easter. This is a brand new play space which has only been open a few weeks, and it is truly shocking and very disheartening to see that people have been setting fire to the equipment and causing such devastating damage.
[caption id="attachment_56540" align="alignright" width="390"]
The Fox’s Lair in Animal Wood.[/caption]
“It is the actions of a mindless few that are ruining such safe play areas for everyone else. Council have invested significantly In delivering this first class play facility. I would therefore appeal for people to have more respect for property.Those involved in causing damage to the park have simply brought destruction to their own community I would also appeal to the public to pass on to the PSNI any information which they may have regarding this senseless act of arson.”
Animal Wood is the first phase of plans to incorporate Nature Play into the forest marking a deliberate shift away from traditional catalogue play parks which are predominantly made out of metal. Nature Play is all about creating interactive play using once living materials in natural spaces to allow children to engage with the outdoors. In keeping with the other facilities within the forest such as picnic benches, waymarkers, signage and the Rangers Hut, Animal Wood is constructed from wood.
Boyd McClurg, Mourne Forests Recreation Officer, also commented saying: “The local community has been extremely supportive of this play space and the high usage by visitors and people from the area has demonstrated its popularity.
“We have seen how children have interacted with Animal Wood enabling them to truly connect with the natural environment in Castlewellan Forest Park”.
If anyone has any information about the damage to Animal Wood, please phone Downpatrick police on the non-emergency number at 101.
[caption id="attachment_56537" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
Animal Wood is a hidden treasure in Castlewellan Forest Park where children can enjoy themselves for ages.[/caption]
]]>
