I had recently written a blog about Ascot’s Hidden Treasure, Allen’s Field in Bouldish Farm, South Ascot. I was pleased to see new faces, including families and dog walkers, who have started using the field and woods regularly. I also noted that the doggy obstacle course has been refurbished which is now ready for more happy hounds.

Last Sunday I walked onto the field to be greeted by a very sad sight. There was graffiti all over the butterfly sanctuary and wooden sculptures. In the last few years, since the sanctuary and the sculptures were made, there has only been one incident of graffiti, but this time the lookout and play ‘fort’ had been covered in bright green and red spray paint – ruined!

Having worked in timber and cabinet making for many years, the only way to fix the damage is to sand/plain the wood back. Solvents would only fade the mess. It is basically a lot of elbow grease!

If you would like to help maintain and keep the field and woods in good shape, Ground Force (the maintenance and gardening operator) accepts volunteers on the second Saturday of every month.

They have quite a bit to do, including clearing bicycle ramps, which were dug out, damaging tree routes, in the woods, by people with no respect for the nature reserve. I have also found fires that were built and lit in recent weeks. Insanity! One spark and half of South Ascot could have gone up in flames. Even now after the recents downpours, the ground and woods are still very dry.

On behalf of local residents and Radio Ascot followers, I am appealing to the perpetrators to please respect our local hidden paradise, after all we do not paint your front door and build bicycle ramps on your front lawn! Remember the dear and butterflies….. Or we will be left with a paradise lost.