Firwood Community Woodland targeted by ‘thoughtless vandals’ again

Over the last few months, Firwood Community Woodland's sign has been dumped into the Rochdale Canal, play equipment has been broken and burned, and community planters have been destroyed, with police investigating the vandalism.

The woodland is managed by the Firwood and District Residents’ Association (FADRA) and has previously received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Now, the community’s painted signpost, created more than eight years ago, has been thrown into the canal again.

The sign has now been retrieved.

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Graham Taylor, 76, is one of the organisers who volunteers at the woodland.

He has been targeted by the vandals previously, with abusive notes left for him and calling volunteers "Karens" – a slang term used to refer to people who are perceived as entitled or demanding.

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Mr Taylor also said that small plastic bags have been found in the area, which he fears may have contained Class A drugs’ – though this has not been confirmed.

He said: “Once again FADRA has been targeted by thoughtless vandals who seem to have their fun by destroying other people's efforts to make our local community a nicer place in which to live.

“Over the years, FADRA has developed the previously desolate woodland area into a nice place to walk dogs, bring children and to take exercise in a natural woodland environment.”

The sign after it was previously removed from the canal last month (Image: Sophie Rodgers)

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However, Graham says he’s undeterred by the vandals’ actions and says the group "won’t be beaten".

He added: “What do they get out of destroying a community asset?   So, yet again, a kind resident has fixed the sign for us back into position.”

The residents’ association will be discussing putting cameras up at their next committee meeting, in late August or early September.