Scores of Moray toddlers have been left “devastated” after thieves made off with a tent belonging to a nursery that specialises in outdoor learning.
A 10ft tall canvas teepee worth more than £1,000 has been stolen from the Stramash children’s charity at Spynie Hall, outside Elgin.
The shelter was pegged down in a field to the rear of the hall, and was used as a base of operations for much of the nursery group’s activities.
The outfit fears the tent is unlikely to be returned, and has launched an online campaign to fund a replacement.
Yesterday, local Stramash management said breaking the news of the theft to its young patrons – aged between two and five – had been a painful experience.
Team leader Amy Stuart said: “This is a really disappointing thing to happen, and the children are all devastated.
“Some of the children attend with us from 8.30am to 5pm, and we used that teepee all the time so they had grown attached to it.
“The teepee is made of robust canvas, and is worth well over £1,000, it’s a vital piece of kit to us.
“Someone must have been watching our movements and planned to come and take it.
“We were honest with the children and told them that some grown-ups had taken it, which was hard for them to understand.”
The theft occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning.
A dog walker reported seeing the teepee in its usual spot at 10pm on Thursday, but by the time Stramash staff arrived at Spynie Hall at 7.45am the following day it had vanished.
The nursery group regularly took the teepee on outings to rural spots across Moray, and used it as something of a mobile classroom.
Mrs Stuart warned the thieves that made off with the shelter that nursery staff would be able to recognise several distinctive markings and identify it as belonging to them.
She added: “It would be a difficult thing to sell without attracting attention, but the police have advised us that we’re not likely to get it back.
“We’re not particularly hopeful we will see it again.”
This week, the charity will bring lessons into Spynie Hall in its absence.
Stramash has asked parents to back a fundraising drive to secure a replacement at www.mydonate.bt.com/charities/stramashsocialenterprise
