Vandals target forest school for disabled children

A forest school with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) has been damaged by vandals.

Ladybug Lodge, based in woodland near Coventry, was targeted over the weekend, with supplies and equipment meant to be used to help children experience the natural world in a safe and inclusive space scattered around the site.

School lead Lucy Cook described the state of the site: "Toys had been thrown across the floor, bunting had been ripped down, all three first aid kits had been opened, a thermometer smashed and one kit was missing.

"Both sheds had been broken in to and our cooking supplies, paint and glue had been poured out on the floor."

Cook discovered the vandalism when she arrived at the site on Monday, before three sessions for 12 families during the school holidays.

"We had to cancel all our sessions for the day. We have 12 families per session, based on the Send child, so we have families that turn up that have siblings that come, so we had to go through and cancel everything.

"One family, we hadn't been able to get through to them quickly enough, but as soon as they got home, they set up a GoFundMe for us."

Cook said the damage and vandalism had been reported to the police.

Forest schools started in Scandinavia in the 1950s and are used to help children learn while outside and not in a traditional classroom setting.

Ladybug Lodge uses that principle for children and young adults with Send up to the age of 25.

Cook estimated that the vandalism would cost at least £1,000, in terms of the damage to the sheds used to store equipment and the loss of resources themselves, assuming they could resume activities on Wednesday.

"I feel sad that there are people out there that feel they need to do that. I feel for them.

"I'm devastated about the resources. I'm devastated that people would treat our things like that. But it's more the idea that our little safe place for our lovely children has been treated in the way that it was."

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