Plantation Gardens donation box targeted by Norwich thieves

Plantation Gardens, tucked away between Earlham Road and Unthank Road, relies on donations from visitors - including via its honesty box

However, thieves broke into the former postbox and stole roughly £50 from the box leaving those in charge concerned for the future. 

Roger Connah, who has been the chairman of the Plantation Gardens Trust for nine years, said: "We've not usually had much of a problem with attacks on the box, with only a few half-hearted attempts in the past, but no cash has been lost.

The repaired Honesty Box, which was fixed on Tuesday (Image: Plantation Gardens)

"However this changed a year ago when the cast iron door was smashed twice in a month and the contents taken so we decided to put a security grill over the box.

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"Last week vandals managed to break the door and grab some of the money in there.

"We repaired and secured the box on Tuesday and it will be more difficult to damage but clearly the need for cash is greater than ever."

Chairman of the trust, Roger Connah, said the need for cash is greater than ever for the garden (Image: Archant)

The Plantation Gardens are hidden off Earlham Road (Image: Newsquest)

The Trust has not involved the police but hopes their measures will be enough to prevent future attempts.

Roger added: "The box is frequently emptied so we didn't lose anything of too much significance - around £50 - but the insecurity is concerning.

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"Even though many people now use cards and text payments the amount of notes and coins is still significant and vital for us to maintain the garden."

The box was broken into and around £50 stolen last week (Image: Plantation Gardens)

Plantation Gardens is a Grade II-listed three-acre garden and created by Henry Trevor (Image: Newsquest)

The grade II listed three-acre garden was created by Henry Trevor, a prosperous upholsterer and cabinet maker living in Norwich, who took a long lease on an industrial site just outside the old city walls in 1856.

In June last year it was featured on a website of the UK's best gardens due to its 'unique' and 'magical' features.

- Video filmed by Thomas Perry