Woodland sculpture's eyes gouged out by vandals

The statue was unveiled in September 2023

Vandals have caused major damage to a wooden sculpture on a popular walking trail in Derbyshire.

The artwork, called Martha, was unveiled last year in Buxton's Grin Low Woods to represent the many women who have worked in the quarry industry over the centuries.

However the sculpture's eyes have been gouged out by vandals.

Buxton Civic Association, which maintains the woods, said the damage would cost hundreds of pounds to repair.

Anyone with information on the vandalism has been urged to contact police

The vandalism comes three years after a swastika was etched on another quarry worker sculpture in the wood.

Debbie Swift, 57, who regularly walks in the woods with her family, expressed sadness at the damage.

She told the BBC: "It is a disgrace. It is awful. It is really upsetting for everyone.

"It is horrendous. Why would people do that?"

Another walker, Louise Harrison, said: "It is beyond me why anyone would want to do that.

"You just wonder what goes on in the mind of somebody who would do that to the eyes of a statue like that - particularly in the beautiful surroundings we are in."

Walker Debbie Swift branded the vandalism a "disgrace"

Buxton Civic Association's woodland manager Harriet Saltis said there were many quarries on the hillside where the woods stand in the 18th and 19th centuries, providing stone for lime kilns.

The Martha artwork had been commissioned after money was left over from a fundraiser to pay for repairs to the other sculpture in 2021.

She said the latest vandalism is believed to have happened between Friday evening and Sunday morning.

Anyone with any information has been urged to contact Derbyshire Police.

It is estimated the damage will cost hundreds of pounds to repair