Preschool children were left distressed after their herb garden was destroyed and dolls thrown into trees.
A break-in happened on June 16 at Mangotsfield Preschool, which is based in St James Church Hall, Richmond Road.
Manager Tracey Ashford said: “We have never had it before, so it has shocked everyone. You can’t get into the mind of someone who would do this.”
The 53-year-old preschool, attended by children aged from two to four, was targeted some time after the St James Church service finished at 11am on Sunday.
Ms Ashford said: “They broke into the shed and threw dolls up in trees, pushchairs in brambles. It was hard for us to retrieve these things.
“A wooden play kitchen was thrown into the brambles with force, damaging it. The dolls got very muddy. We have had to throw one of them away.
“The children had planted herbs in some tyres, and the soil in them was upended. It wasn’t very kind.
“The shed wasn’t locked. We don’t lock it because if someone wants to get in, they just break the lock, which happened when there was a theft about 10 years ago.”
Ms Ashford added that the “wanton vandalism” included a doll's house being thrown in a bush. It was not witnessed by anyone.
She said: “The kids were quite upset because they have measured the plants and seen how they have grown.
“They wanted to see something come of it. Every time we open the doors they run out to see if the plants have got bigger.”
The preschool will have to buy £30 worth of soil to start growing the herb garden again. It will use a different storage space from now on.
Ms Ashford said she has not reported the crime to police because nothing was stolen.
