Pollokshields community ‘heartbroken’ as The Bowling Green vandalised

Over the past two years, The Bowling Green has acted as a meeting place for the diverse Pollokshields community.

After falling into disrepair with the closure of the bowling club, in 2016 locals reclaimed the space and brought it back to life, transforming it into a safe haven for people of all cultures and faiths. 

However, when Tabassum Niamat, the green’s project manager, entered the hub on Monday morning, she found the place completely wrecked. 

The Bowling Green in Pollokshields, picture by Colin Mearns.

Eggs had been smashed and drinks spilled all over the furniture. Chairs had also been slashed, items thrown off the shelves and empty alcohol bottles had been left strew across the ground. 

A guitar was forced through a window and other objects were damaged irreparably. 

“I'm not even exaggerating when I say it feels like a violation of sorts,” said Ms Niamat.

“I used the word desecration and I’m not saying that lightly. During the pandemic this had become a haven of sorts for the community.

“I was really tearing up. I was looking at the damage and I was just so overwhelmed.

“It does feel like someone has come into your home and done this to you.”

The Bowling Green in Pollokshields, picture by Colin Mearns.

The community hub had been hosting a variety of events, from gardening sessions to COP26 workshops. 

Recently, it has welcomed a weekly community iftar, the meal eaten by Muslims after sunset during Ramadan, with people of all backgrounds “breaking bread” in an exchange of cultures.

“That's the beautiful thing about The Bowling Green,” said Ms Niamat.

“That it's a space where cultures can come together.

“It's just been so many things over the past two years, which have culminated in the space growing and growing, and people having a genuine connection to it and wanting to see it thrive. 

“That reflects in the response we got to this act of vandalism.

“It's been just as heartbreaking for the community. They're upset too, because it's something they value.”

The Bowling Green in Pollokshields, picture by Colin Mearns.

Ms Niamat said she had been inundated with messages of solidarity and offers of help to clean up the mess left behind by the vandals.

“They've all said, 'when do you need us? We will be down',” she added.

“That's the whole premise of building communities I feel, even if obviously, this is not the way I would want to do it.”

Although episodes of trespassing have occurred before, the damage was never significant, with furniture knocked over.

This time vandals even broke a traditional woven Pakistani seat, the manji, that was given to Ms Niamat by her father.

“He gave me something for The Bowling Green and the way they cut through those threads… It's such an intricate pattern, it's going to be impossible for me to fix it. 

“It's just the level of destruction, they thought it was fun, but it's really not.

“It's beyond me why anybody would think to do such a thing.”

The Bowling Green in Pollokshields, picture by Colin Mearns.

Fatima Uygun, chair of the Pollokshields Trust, which manages The Bowling Green, said this mindless act would not break the community’s spirit and the breaking of fast on Fridays will continue.

She said: “It’s such a disappointing and disheartening thing when vandalism like this occurs to a wonderful community project.

“It’s a real shame that a small section of our community doesn’t feel that this place also belongs to them and should be treated with respect.

“It’s certainly not a reflection of what the overall community thinks of The Bowling Green, which is held in so much esteem. 

“When you go to The Green there is this wonderful wall that says ‘we all belong’ and that is absolutely the case, every single person in the local area should feel that this is their space.

“We’re not going to let this dishearten us in any way, we are going to fix what’s been destroyed and put some security measures, and make sure the place is looking fantastic to welcome our community back.”

The Bowling Green in Pollokshields, picture by Colin Mearns.

Police Scotland confirmed they were informed and are looking into the circumstances of the incident.

A spokesperson said: “We were called around 5.30pm on Monday, April 25, to a report of vandalism at a premises in McCulloch Street, Glasgow, that happened overnight. 

“Enquiries are ongoing.”