Alcohol-fuelled vandals targeted the waterside seating area outside the Old Bridge House Museum in Dumfries.
Volunteers from The People’s Project spent three hours last Thursday tending to the flowers in the large heavy planters created by schoolchildren.
But when they returned on Sunday morning to water them they were “dismayed” to find that one planter had been thrown into the River Nith.
The site is part of the Dumfries Historic Trail and is popular with visitors and locals.
Anne Simpson, a volunteer with The People’s Project, hit out at the “mindless vandals” responsible.
She said: “The planter was heavy, filled with rocks for ballast, topsoil, compost and beautiful flowers.
“It would have taken several people to move it despite being fuelled by alcohol.
“It is now well embedded in the Nith, in an awkward place with very little chance of it being recovered.
“There were also copious miniature bottles of a vodka-based drink all smashed and scattered over the whole area.”
Anne added: “It is soul-destroying to see this because of all the effort that has gone into making it a special place which is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike to have a rest, read about the history of Dumfries or take photos of the iconic Devorgilla Bridge. It is an area that is certainly appreciated by many.”
Matching planters either side of the bench were built by Dumfries Academy’s rural skills group and maintained by the People’s Project volunteers.
And while they working in the area last week, they were aware that, with the lifting of Covid restrictions, a lot of visitors are coming to Dumfries.
She said: “We had lovely chats with local people and visitors to the town, all of whom thanked us for the work we were doing. We also did our best to sell the region as many people were visiting Dumfries and Galloway for the first time.
“There are many groups working hard to make Dumfries a better place, to live, work and visit, so it is beyond belief that a handful of vandalism go and do this.
“All we ask is why? And what is going to be done about this mindless vandalism?
“There must have been a lot of noise with the drinking and then lifting the planter, so if someone knows anything about this incident, please contact the police.”
