The man behind the fairy doors, which have been delighting young and old alike around Truro, has decided to call it a day following yet another incident of vandalism.
John Rowe started creating fairy doors for his grandchildren in the garden of his Truro home three years ago during the first Covid lockdown. When they asked him to make a larger one and he saw the pleasure and enjoyment they got out of his hard work, so the retired ultrasonic team leader decided to install a fairy door in one of his favourite walks around the city.
Soon, his fairy doors joined the 'Enchanted Trail', created by Truro countryside officer Chris Waddle in the area of woodland at Coosebean just outside of Truro, and have been bringing smiles to walkers' faces since. Over the past five years, John has made 100 fairy doors, many of which are dotted around the popular woodland near Malabar and Hendra.
Unfortunately, John's fairy doors have attracted the attention of vandals who have continuously smashed them down or ripped them from their posts or trees.
A few months ago, he told CornwallLive that the first act of vandalism happened within six months of the first fairy door being installed in the woods. At the time, John said: "I've had fairy doors stolen and some completely destroyed. It's time-consuming and expensive."
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John repaired the fairy doors every time they were damaged but a recent spate of vandalism has finally ground his spirit down.
Showing pictures of the damaged fairy doors on the Facebook group Truro...Our City, John, a keen wildlife photographer, said: "Vandalised fairy doors on the Enchanted Trail today (Monday, January 27). Time to call it a day. Sorry."
When we contacted John he said he will repair what he can discreetly because he doesn't want children who walk through the woods to see the fairy doors vandalised.
"I'm under no obligation to do this," John said. "I did it to lift people's spirits up during Covid. I'd rather see a child point to one of the fairy doors with one finger and ask about it than see them use their 10 digits and play on their console or be on their phone. It's about encouraging people's imagination. There's enough doom and gloom in the world as it is."
John said he's always tried to make excuses for the vandalism saying it could have been the wind or accidental, but he said that the latest damage could only have been done by an adult as it must have taken force to rip the fairy doors from posts and trees when they were bolted in with an impact driver.
He added: "You make what you can in life. The idea was always to lift people's spirits up with the fairy doors. With other volunteers we've installed birds and bat boxes, bug hotels. We've removed barbed wires. We want people to enjoy walking in the woods. It's good for you physically and mentally. But when I saw the fairy doors damaged again, it was a black cloud."
Members of the group have reacted angrily at the news. One resident said: "Why are people so ignorant? I’m really sorry, John. It was a lovely trail and thank you for the effort you put in over the years."
Another added: "What is wrong with people. Bloody idiots", with another poster adding: "So sorry to see damage yet again after all your efforts and great craftsmanship."
One member of the group suggested the damage may have been caused by the spell of foul and stormy weather we have had. But others responded that even strong winds would not have caused so much reckless damage. One member said: "Sadly the trail has been a target for vandalism for quite a while now, in fair weather and foul.
"John continually repairs the senseless damage and it would appear from the latest post that the hooligans responsible have worn him down after their prolonged activities. Heartless and senseless, especially as some of the fairy doors are a memorial to those no longer with us."
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