Autism-friendly garden at Holywood Men's Shed trashed in multiple acts of vandalism

Vomit, smashed bottles and wrecked sensory boards in an autism-friendly garden have left members of a mental health group devastated.

Volunteers at Holywood Men’s Shed, a social community group and learning space, have spent years building the garden for all members of the community to enjoy.

The community group itself was initially set up around seven years ago to try and break down isolation for retired men and those out of work due to mental health issues.

But it has since become a hub for anyone experiencing mental health issues in the community.

It was volunteer Glen Livingstone, 39, who came up with the idea to create an inclusive outdoor space. Having two children on the autistic spectrum opened his eyes to the anxiety some children can experience using regular play parks.

Glen Livingstone in the enchanted sensory garden at Holywood Men's Shed (Holywood Men's Shed)

Having come to the Men’s Shed suffering with anxiety and depression, Glen knows first hand the importance of creating such spaces to develop relationships and support good mental health.

Glen, now chairman of Holywood Men’s Shed, said: “People were making use out of the space and it’s helped towards community development. Different families were coming out and creating friendships.”

Bottles of alcohol ditched in the sensory garden at Holywood Men’s Shed (Holywood Men’s Shed)

But the sensory garden he and others spent years building has been vandalised on a number of occasions, which has proven “devastating” for those who worked on it. Glen has turned up to find the sensory boards smashed up, broken glass bottles and vomit in the sensory areas.

More recently, his office and workshop were broken into, and while it appears nothing was taken, Glen and other volunteers have been left with “a very uneasy feeling”.

The enchanted sensory garden at Holywood Men's Shed in its former glory (Holywood Men’s Shed)

Volunteers were initially hesitant about installing CCTV, but after four incidents of vandalism within the last year, they feel they have been left with no choice.

A GoFundMe has been launched to help this self-funded organisation install CCTV - to avoid future attacks and return the garden to its former glory.

You can donate via the GoFundMe page here.

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