A much-loved train sculpture in Woodthorpe Grange Park in Sherwood has been vandalised and people who use the park on a regular basis have called the graffiti “disgusting." This isn’t the first time the sculpture - which is at the entrance to the old railway bridge - has been targeted.
In the past, volunteers have cleaned up the mess. Graffiti on the train sculpture and its surrounding areas include people’s social media handles, and there is also rude imagery sprayed-painted on the walls.
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Paul Swift is a rail enthusiast and a local historian. The 62-year-old is the chair of the Friends of Woodthorpe Grange Park Group.
The group are like minded people who look after Woodthorpe Grange Park and the surrounding environment. Paul, who has lived across from the park all his life, spoke out about how he felt when he saw the vandalism for the first time.
Paul said: “The first time I noticed the graffiti was 2 years ago over the first lockdown. When I saw the graffiti, I nearly swore.
“It’s always been in the back of my mind that the train would eventually get vandalised, it’s a shame because the train was created with such good intention.”
Since the first time the train got vandalised, the graffiti had been cleaned so when Paul noticed that it had been spoiled once again, he was upset. Paul continued: “When I saw the graffiti currently on the train my eyes nearly popped out of my head. There’s also been graffiti and ‘tagging’ on the children’s playground too and on the information stand about the trains."
Nottinghamshire Live reached out to one of the account names that had been tagged more than once in graffiti on the walls. They go by the name Choppajt.
In response to concerns about the graffiti, Choppajt said: “I didn’t do it but people have been doing it for a while…there’s people in the Sherwood area that listen to my music and spray paint my name in support - which I do not condone.” Choppajt makes hip-hop and rap music.
Paul Swift went on to say: “We’re told not to take the law into our own hands The graffiti here makes you wonder how much vandalism would go on if the railway was still here. Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in.
“Recently, a fella came up and cleared [the graffiti] all by himself, I take my hat off to the folk that come and clear it off.”
Other people who use Woodthorpe Park include 72-year-old Robert Marriot from Top Valley, who is retired. Robert had noticed the graffiti and said: “It is a shame. I come here every other day.
“The graffiti is disgusting, you would have thought it would be painted over.” To resolve the issue, Robert went on to say: “Maybe the park needs a warden, there’s also a bench that has lost one of its panels.”
One of the parkkeepers for Woodthorpe Park, who decided not to be named, said that they feel the graffiti could be the work of one person. They said: “It’s probably the same person.
“Recently, in the alleyway that leads to the main park, someone has painted a wall white, like they’re getting ready to put more graffiti over it. There is a graffiti squad that takes down graffiti all over the city.
“There are main parts of the park where there are a lot of graffiti and then, it will die down but it comes back. Some of the graffiti isn’t too bad but here just isn’t the place for it.”
A City Council spokesperson said: “It’s incredibly disappointing when a thoughtless minority spoil things for everyone else. We work hard with volunteer groups like the Friends of Woodthorpe Park to keep our parks looking nice for everyone to enjoy, so mindless vandalism like this is upsetting.
“We will always do our best to clear up graffiti as quickly as possible and would encourage anyone spotting issues like this to tell us so that we can take action. The best way to do this is online at https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/reportantisocial .”
