Community rallies around key worker following St Leonards allotment fire

Tracy Coleman has held a plot at the Marina Allotments for six years and regularly used this space to relax and reflect after a busy shift at the Bethune Court care home at the height of the Covid-19 crisis in spring.

But on December 20, Tracy was devastated to discover the shed which formed part of this sanctuary had been burnt to the ground.

Tracy, who lives in West Hill Road, said: “I had all my stuff in there. Because I don’t drive, it’s easier for me to leave my tools, books, wellingtons, coats - just everything I need for the allotment.”

A few days after the fire, Tracy was diagnosed with Covid-19 and went into isolation, so she has not been able to go to the site to clear up.

The Marina Allotment community rallied round Tracy and held a collection to help her replace what had been lost in the blaze.

Friend Kimberley Bristow, moved by Tracy’s plight, set up a Go Fund Me web page, which raised a further £305.

Tracy told the Observer: “I could not believe the support from people. It’s been overwhelming. They are a good community there.

“Then I had the Go Fund Me, which was set up by a friend. I’m just overwhelmed by the generosity, kindness and support.”

A number of other sheds were vandalised on the night of the fire. Tracy says it is not the first time the Marina Allotments have been targeted by vandals.

She said: “Everyone works so hard on their sites up there and then you get mindless vandals who think it’s OK to come along and cause damage.”

She added: “I’m glad in one way it was just one and not lots on fire and that no one else had suffered that kind of damage.”