VOLUNTEER work by Bandon Tidy Towns has been undermined in recent weeks by the theft of both planters and plants.

Bandon Tidy Towns said that a sea holly which had just come into bloom was lifted from one of their planters outside Thornfields estate.

Dave Pasley of Bandon Tidy Towns said that it had taken the group three years to get to the size it was as that variety does not grow quickly.

‘We work on a shoestring budget to add colour to our town and cannot afford this sort of thing,’ he said.

‘But it is not the price of the plant, it is the hundreds of volunteer hours spent planning, planting, weeding, watering and cultivating those plants as well as taking care of all the place across the town that everyone gets to enjoy, whether they support us or not.’

He added that if people work to destroy what Tidy Towns Groups do then eventually volunteers give up.

‘Footpaths, walks and beds become overgrown, litter piles up in the streets, arts and heritage projects stop, community spirit gets dampened, nature loses a protector and our town becomes a less attractive place to shop, live and visit.

‘I would ask everyone who supports Bandon Tidy Towns to keep an eye out. If you see something amiss, someone causing damage, dumping or littering take a video or photo and send it to us. The only way we will continue to improve our town is if we make bad behaviour totally unacceptable and ensure those bad actors know our community will not tolerate them and that they are being watched.’

As part of their project to enhance the Graham Norton Walk, the association recently installed a salmon sculpture created by artist Nathan Solomon, which was funded through the Cork County Council Community Fund.

The group hope to add a few more to create a sculpture trail for locals and visitors and to inspire an appreciation for the local wildlife and habitat in the area.