A symbolic peace garden in Fife will be formally opened as scheduled today despite the actions of vandals who threatened to scupper the project.
Members of the Fife Interfaith Group say they refuse to be bowed by those responsible for the damage to their garden in Kirkcaldy’s Beveridge Park and will unveil it as planned at noon.
Vandals, believed to be local youths, overturned benches and broke paving stones, prompting fears that the opening ceremony, which will be attended by community organisations, would have to be shelved.
But the group is pressing ahead with the event and in keeping with the spirit of the initiative has even extended an olive branch to the culprits, calling on them to come forward so they can get involved in the scheme rather than destroy it.
Frank Bowness, secretary of the Fife Interfaith Group, has spoken of his disappointment at what happened but said everyone involved with the project remained undeterred.
He told The Courier: ”I just feel it’s such a shame that people have to go around vandalising things. What harm was it doing them? Why did they target the garden?
”I can only presume they were drunk or on drugs because it’s even more of a shame if they were in a right state of mind.
”What upsets us is the fact that we can put the damage right but is it going to get vandalised again? I’d just appeal to whoever did this to leave it alone. It’s cost a lot of money from the Lottery, Fife Enterprise Trust and local businesses and it’s just a place for people to sit and enjoy the attractions in the park.”
Despite the setback, and in a show of amazing compassion towards those who desecrated the peace garden, Mr Bowness added: ”It’s been suggested that we should try to find out who did it, not so they could be prosecuted but to perhaps get them involved in the project because then they might want to protect it and take some ownership.
”If they are prepared to come forward then we can speak to them and see how they can get involved.”
Three heavy benches placed at the site of the garden were ripped out and overturned, while paving stones were also badly damaged as a result.
The project cost around £17,000 to complete.
A stone peace pole which has the phrase ‘May Peace Prevail On Earth etched into it in four languages is at the centre of the garden.
English, Polish, Urdu and Arabic will all be used to reflect the diversity and multiculturalism that exists in the region.
Mr Bowness said interpretation boards will also form part of the garden which will feature quotations from all the major religions.
”As Christ says, love thy neighbour and do unto others as you would have them do to you: every religion says that but unfortunately it can sometimes get lost in translation,” he said.
”That’s what we’re trying to focus on, although we’re different we all really have the same ideals.”