Staff at a much-loved community hub and green space in Glasgow are "devastated" after a "terrible incident" of vandalism left it "desecrated".
The Bowling Green, at the corner of Maxwell Road and Kenmure Street in Pollokshields, was targeted by mindless vandals in the early hours of Monday, who tried to destroy their stove, left empty bottles of alcohol strewn around and even 'took a knife' to some armchairs.
The damage was such that those who work in the community common feel that their grounds "have been desecrated" and say they are being faced with a big clean up job.
The Bowling Green staff took to Facebook to share photos of the destruction, with the post asking locals to "please keep an eye out and help us protect our green haven".
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Project manager for the Pollokshields Trust, Tabassum Niamat told Glasgow Live that despite the "really horrible experience", staff have been left overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they have received from their local community and across Glasgow.
She said: "The Bowling Green is so loved, especially in the neighbourhood where everyone knows about it. This is the first time this kind of mindless vandalism has happened to us.
"What's going to happen now is that this place, which was loved anyway, a lot more people are going to want to protect it. Hopefully this never happens again, but you know what, if it does we'll be back and we'll clean it up again. There's nothing that these people can do that is going to take away from The Bowling Green."
Police have called the vandalism "a senseless act" which will "impact on the bowling green’s ability to help the community" and have issued an appeal for information.
A statement by Glasgow South East Police read: “The bowling green is at the heart of the community in Pollokshields and this vandalism is clearly devastating.
“We have worked closely with the bowling green in the past and they have been a key partner in a number of projects over the last few year. This is a senseless act that will impact on the bowling green’s ability to help the community.
“If anyone has any information or knows who was responsible then please contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 2661 of the 25, April 2022 or Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online or by calling 0800 555 111.”
