Disappointed volunteers are refusing to be deterred after finding their hut in community woodland destroyed and burnt.
Brave Outdoors, a not-for-profit organisation working to turn 48 acres of woodland in Peterhead into a community learning space, is pressing ahead with efforts to expand, despite suffering its first bout of vandalism last week.
Its volunteer-built hut disappeared overnight, with vandals believed to have first dismantled the six foot long structure before burning the debris.
Activities and bush craft instructor Lewis Swales said the strange act has only helped raise the charity’s profile and plight.
“When you put something in a wood, there’s always going to be a day when somebody does something to it,” the 29-year-old said.
“Security is always difficult up there, but normally if people know that volunteers have built something they leave it alone.
“We are fairly certain they broke it and then burnt it because there’s not a splinter left.
“But off the back of that we have had a heap of people contacting us saying they would like to volunteer, after seeing our post about it on Facebook.”
The former gardener founded the organisation in 2018 with the vision of turning the land, leased from the Score Family Trust, into an area for teaching bush craft and outdoor activities.
“If you look at the Scottish index of multiple deprivation, you’ve got half of Peterhead doing not so bad, and the other half doing not so good,” Mr Swales said.
“I wanted to do something about that and create an welcoming, open, outdoor space that families can use safely.
“We do a lot of work with the schools, teaching perseverance, confidence and helping with behavioural issues.
“Teaching bush craft skills is my passion and is a very good equaliser, as it’s something most kids haven’t done before.
“It can be something they haven’t already decided that they hate.”
Long-term, Mr Swales and the organisation’s team of six trustees hope enough volunteers will come forward to make the woodland self-sustaining.
There are also plans afoot to offer wild camping areas, expand the project overseas and offer exchange trips.
Mr Swales added: “People are starting to take ownership and help us develop something by the community for the community.
“The woodland is always open and we don’t lock the gate as we want people to come and go as they please.
“However, if the vandalism continues we will have to be a bit stricter with that and we will have to add in patrols to move on anyone misbehaving.”
