CHILDREN at an upper dale primary school have been left devastated after vandals torched their forest school.
The forest school used by pupils at Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School was destroyed in a fire about two weeks ago.
The inferno wrecked log seats that had been donated to the school by a parent and a number of energy drink cans were found among the ashes.
Early years educator Joanna Dobson said vandals had dragged items such as a metal drum, plastic piping and an iron grate onto the site making it dangerous for the children who could cut themselves on the sharp edges. She added that the devastation was discovered by the children during an autumn walk.
She said there had been previous issues at the forest school but it had “never been as bad as this” .
Headteacher Chris Chilvers added: “Even to the point where they threw aerosols into the fire.”
Plans to hold a bonfire afternoon with parents at the forest school’s “fire circle” have had to be abandoned because of the destruction.
Regular Friday outdoor lessons for nursery and reception children have been called to a halt. Mrs Dobson said: “It is a shame. It is awful because the children love to come down to the woods and do storytelling. It is good for them to get out into the woods and learn skills. It builds their resilience. We have used that forest for the past eight years for our outdoor learning. Fair enough, use it but don’t wreck it.”
She said it is possible former pupils may have been involved in the destruction.
Four-year-old reception pupil Zara said: “I am sad because I want to go back. They have burned our seats.”
William, from the nursery class, added: “They have burned the fire circle. I felt sad.”
A police spokesman confirmed they had been contacted after the fire, which had been made to look more serious because a tyre had been thrown on the flames. No nearby buildings had been under threat of the flames.
He said the young people who had been identified as being responsible for the blaze had been spoken to in the presence of their parents.
