Mindless arsonists have destroyed a popular community asset by setting on fire a bird hide at Chat Moss nature reserve in Irlam.
Fire engulfed the structure at around 7pm on Tuesday 2 August, the fire razing the wooden hide to the ground.
It was installed two years ago with the help of a generous £2,000 grant from Irlam Rotary Club.
Nothing left of the structure on the nature reserve
Elspeth Inglesby, the Chat Moss Project Officer for Lancashire Wildlife Trust told, SalfordOnline.com today: “I am devasted by this arson attack, to see it burnt down by a wilful act is terrible.”
“Students from local colleges volunteered to help build this hide and local company KAD were magnificent with their help.
“It was becoming increasingly popular with bird watchers and schoolchildren visiting Little Woolden reserve to see rare birds and animals from the hide.
“We are looking to build a new hide from metal, obviously one that the vandals hopefully will not be able to burn down.
“We are looking at a cost of between £6,000 – £10,000 for this and already people are asking how they can help out, the whole community have rallied around us which is heart-warming to see with offers of money and building materials.
“We intend to set up a JustGiving page in the near future to help raise much needed funds”.
Sadly a BFG-themed family event planned for the 11 August has had to be cancelled because of this attack, however future community events are to go
Readers flooded to The Chat Moss Project Facebook page to express their outrage at the destruction.
Barbara Edmunds writes: “This is absolutely disgusting what on earth is happening?”
Karl Daniels posted: “Fuming over this, we were the company that did the roof and was in the planing of redoing the inside.
John Catterall added: “This is disgusting considering that local people make up the volunteers who keep this oasis for nature going, makes me wonder what kind of society these scroats want to live in.
Anyone who wishes to donate or could offer other ways to help replace the hide can contact Debbie Edwards on deedwards@lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129.
