Plant grabbers can still make amends, says charity

A charity which sells plants through an "honesty box" system is missing £700 worth of plants and equipment - and is offering those responsible the chance to pay.

The organisation, Grow, which supports adults with learning disabilities and difficulties, said the items - including two hanging baskets, woodchip, compost, primroses and other plants - were taken from its Guernsey site over the weekend.

It said its system, including an honesty box and card machine, relied on "the goodwill and integrity of the community".

Mandy Mackelworth, general manager, said they were "extremely disappointed" and described a loss of this value as "particularly upsetting".

Mackelworth added: "Every plant we sell represents time, care and hard work by our crew, who take great pride in growing and looking after the stock.

"As a charity, we work hard to make every penny count, and a loss of this value is particularly upsetting."

She said sales had been low over the weekend and the absence of cash in the charity's honesty box - a painted milk churn - and through a card machine was at odds with the items taken.

The charity said it was giving people the opportunity to "put matters right" and pay in the honesty box or use the card machine.

Meanwhile, staff would be reviewing CCTV footage to "establish what happened", it added.

Mackelworth said they had always wanted to operate on a "basis of trust", making it easy for people to support them through plant purchases.

"We would very much like to continue doing that, but we need people to respect the system and recognise that taking items without paying has a direct impact on our work," she said.

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