Fund-raising plea after vandals destroy statue - The Worcester Observer

Fund-raising plea after vandals destroy statue

Worcester Editorial 1st Jul, 2020   0

A MAJOR £5,000 fund-raising campaign has been launched to replace a sculpture destroyed by vandals at a nature reserve near Worcester.

Eve, a striking 5ft tall glass fibre and Portland cement head by renowned sculptor Caro Burberry, has stood on the shores of the lake at The Fold in Bransford for several years.

But on Thursday (June 25), vandals tore the sculpture off its plinth and smashed it up above the River Teme – a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Adam, Eve’s companion, also cast by the Suffolk-based sculptor, is still standing.

Regular visitors to The Fold – a not-for-profit centre which includes a nature reserve, farm shop, care farm and eco cafe founded by organic farmer and entrepreneur William Tooby – expressed their outrage on social media when the news broke.




Now the devastated team at The Fold have launched a JustGiving campaign to fund a replacement and donations are already pouring in from supporters angry at the destruction.

Owner William, 68, opened The Fold in 2007 and said he was ‘gutted’ by the destruction Eve who was cast by Ms Burberry when she rented one of the studios in 2006.


Only three pairs were ever made. One stands in the grounds of the University of Winchester, another at the Canwood Gallery in Checkley, Herefordshire.

“I cherish this land, and I love to share it with everyone, so to see it violated in this way is makes me realise how far we, the human race, have yet to travel,” Mr Tooby said.

“I’m pleased so many people have been enjoying this beautiful countryside during the hot weather, but so many visitors raises concerns, with Eve being smashed and so much litter being left on the land.”

Ms Burberry branded the vandalism ‘a total disrespect for the human race’ and expressed her sadness for Mr Tooby and his staff.

“My sadness is for their loss. People always put their money behind projects that give them joy, and donating to this appeal would be a great way of showing appreciation for a wonderful place,” she said.

Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/the-fold-cic for more.

Call 101 quoting incident number 0584S 260620 with any information on the vandalism.

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