The gardens at a popular Broads trust site have reopened after a spate of vandalism and the theft of a donation box forced them to close last month. 

The Secret Gardens at How Hill, near Ludham, was shut to the public for three weeks after vandals damaged plants and stole a charity box by ripping it off a fence.

The gardens provide an increasingly important source of income at How Hill, which gets its main earnings from the day and residential courses it runs for children and adults.

But the site opened again after staff repaired the damage and replaced the box with a sturdier metal one set in concrete.

Eastern Daily Press: We were disappointed by the vandalism to say the least. - Director Simon Partridge We were disappointed by the vandalism to say the least. - Director Simon Partridge (Image: How Hill Trust)

Simon Partridge, director, said: "We were disappointed by the vandalism to say the least."

"It’s the first time something like this happened in the 10 years the gardens have been open to the public.

"It meant the acts of a few denied access to the majority who get pleasure from visiting the gardens.

"We are sorry we had to close, but hope people understand – and some folk have been generous in making a flurry of donations during our closure to help make up for the loss of cash in the charity box."