Family appeal for help to rebuild allotment destroyed by arsonists

A family are appealing for a large skip and volunteers to help rebuild a much-loved man’s community shed and local allotment, which was destroyed in a suspected arson attack in Lincoln.

The allotments on Boultham Park Road helped countless people and supply fresh vegetables to local restaurants, but late in the evening on Saturday, September 28, three wooden sheds and their contents were destroyed by a fire.

The surrounding vegetation within the allotments was also severely damaged by the fire. The cause of the fire was recorded as deliberate by the fire service and police launched an investigation.

A rebuild will hopefully start in due course after various people volunteered their assistance to the family, but a large skip is needed first to help them progress with the project.

People have been left devastated after a suspected arson attack destroyed their much loved community sheds.

Around 10-15 volunteers have offered to help with the rebuild. Lincoln College’s construction department also contacted the family to offer its assistance.

Various businesses have also been in touch with Fred to donate building materials, and another man has offered to build a kitchen.

Daniel Hyde, Isla burley and Fred Hyde.

Shed owner Fred Hyde was left in shock when hard work and memories were destroyed at a place he described as his “sanctuary”. Two other sheds were also left in ruins.

Fred and his family have been overwhelmed with donations. A GoFundMe page set up by his daughter-in-law Janet Priestley-Taylor to raise funds to help resurrect the shed. At the time of writing it has raised over £1,400

Anyone wishing to help should contact Janet on [email protected] or comment on the story and she will get in touch directly.

This robin comes everyday to get food from Fred and was pictured at the site on Friday, October 4. Photo: Janet Priestley-Taylor

Janet told The Lincolnite: “It’s left us feeling very upset and angry and wondering why somebody has done this but we just want to try to move forward and get things back on track to rebuild it all.

“We would like to thank everybody for their continued generosity and support over the week, but we have found ourselves at a stand still on the clean up.

“We are asking if any local skip hire companies could help us by donating the use of a large skip please.”

Gareth Mackie sent up a separate GoFundMe page for his friend Dave, who was also affected by the fire. At the time of writing it has raised over £500.

Janet Priestley-Taylor captured this photo of the fire damage on Thursday, October 3.

The rebuild will start soon. Photo: Janet Priestley-Taylor

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police previously said: “We are investigating a shed fire at the allotments in Boultham Park Road. This is believed to be arson. Anyone with any information can call us on 101, incident 1 of September 29.”

Police confirmed on Friday, October 4 that there have been no arrests and the force is still appealing for information.