STAFF at a Farnham care home were shocked last week to discover that vandals had broken in over the bank holiday weekend and damaged plants that had been lovingly nurtured for weeks. A scene of devastation was encountered at Bells Piece residential care home when, while opening polytunnels in the grounds, staff noticed that plants and compost had been carelessly thrown across the floor. While clearing away the mess, which was estimated to be in the region of £300 worth of damage, a simple hand-written note was found that said 'we did this'. Bells Piece, situated in Hale Road, provides a day service to approximately 50 adults with learning disabilities, with up to 16 people a day working in the horticultural department. The green-fingered users of the polytunnels had raised from seed a wide variety of vegetable plants and bedding plants, many of which were ready to be planted out. The Herald was told how the actions of the vandals had been a "depressing blow" to those who had taken the time to nurture the plants. Sandra Jehu, service manager for Bells Piece, said: "When staff arrived after the bank holiday to open the polytunnels they discovered that, at some time over the weekend, somebody had damaged many of the plants that were growing there. "Pots of young plants had been thrown onto the floor and up-ended on one another and compost had been strewn across the ground. The effect this had on the people who had worked so hard to raise the plants was huge in comparison with the monetary value of the damage done. "The adults who attend the service have a very clear understanding about what is right and wrong and cannot understand how anyone could treat other people's property in this way. They were understandably extremely upset that their hard work had been undone in this way."
