'Heartbroken' woman who had allotment destroyed by vandals gets more than £200k from donors - including Gary Lineker

13 April 2023, 18:24 | Updated: 13 April 2023, 22:19

Carly Burd turned her garden into an allotment in September
Carly Burd turned her garden into an allotment in September. Picture: TikTok/Getty
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

A woman whose allotment was destroyed by vandals has been left stunned after receiving more than £200,000 in donations, including from Gary Lineker.

Carly Burd turned her garden into an allotment during the cost-of-living crisis to provide for those who cannot afford food.

She had already set up a GoFundMe campaign when her allotment was destroyed, but donations have sky-rocketed since vandals covered the allotment in five kilograms of salt.

Speaking on her TikTok, Ms Burd said: "Thank you so much for the donations, bless you. It really does mean a lot.

"I'm still absolutely heartbroken. I went down there today to do some digging and all I could taste was salt in the air - to the point where I had to keep going for a drink."

She continued: "It's been a whirlwind.

"I took a picture (of the then top donation) just because it said Gary Lineker... I couldn't believe it, I was over the moon."

Read More: Woman who fed over 1,600 during cost-of-living crisis left 'heartbroken' after cruel vandals destroy allotment

Ms Burd, 43, began growing her own vegetables in July 2022, and says she's been able to feed 1,600 people as the nation faces soaring food prices.

The mum-of-three, who has multiple sclerosis and lupus and is on disability benefits, started growing in her own back garden, before supporting the local community with fresh produce out of a nearby allotment.

But on Saturday 8 April, Carly revealed that heartless thugs had ravaged the patch.

"I came down on Saturday morning and I just tasted and saw [the salt]," she said.

"Five kilograms plus of salt has been poured over my garden. It wasn't a kid grabbing it - it was an adult who knew what they were doing."

Read More: TikTok fined £12.7m after it ‘did not do enough’ to keep under-13s off platform

Read More: Review into impartiality guidance launches after Gary Lineker social media fury

The vandalism was met with fury online, including from Gary Lineker, who tweeted angrily: "Why would you ever do something like that?"

The sports presenter is among a list of celebrities to donate to Ms Burd, donating £500.

Steven Bartlett is at the top of the list of donations having given Ms Burd £2000.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Russia launched a wave of missile strikes at Ukraine overnight.

Zelenskyy accuses Russia of hitting Ukraine 446 times since 'Easter truce' began as he slams Putin for violating ceasefire

c

Captain Tom's daughter slashes asking price of £2m mansion yet again after previously pulling home from market

A view of the sign for Aston Wood Golf Club in Birmingham, where a van being chased by West Midlands Police crashed on Friday morning. A woman has been left with life-threatening injuries after the incident. Picture date: Friday April 11, 2025.

Six men arrested following woman's death after being hit by van on golf course during police chase

Police found the body of missing Cardiff woman Paria Veisi following the arrest of two individuals - one of whom was charged with murder.

Police find body of missing Cardiff woman Paria Veisi - as man charged with her murder

Murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey's school has banned mobile phones during the day in a move which has "reduced" pupils' stress levels, the headteacher said.

Murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey's school bans mobile phones to 'reduce' pupils' stress levels

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, second leg match at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain. Picture date: Wednesday April 16, 2025.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta vows to keep Liverpool waiting for title

Zelenskyy accuses Putin of violating 'Easter truce' following Russia's pledge to cease 'all military operations' in Ukraine

Zelenskyy accuses Putin of violating 'Easter truce' following Russia's pledge to cease 'all military operations'

FILE - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel, on Oct. 27, 2024. (Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool Photo via AP, File)

'We will not surrender': Netanyahu insists Israel will continue Gaza war 'until Hamas are no longer able to control' strip

File photo dated 11/09/18 of models of a man and woman standing on a pile of coins and bank notes. More than a third (35%) of Gen-Z adults aged 18 to 21 worry about their finances every day, according to research for a major bank.

One third of 18 to 21-year-olds in the UK ‘worry about money every day’, study finds

Trans rights protestors deface Millicent Fawcett statue as thousands take to streets following Supreme Court ruling

Trans rights protestors deface Millicent Fawcett statue as thousands take to UK streets following Supreme Court ruling

Emergency services are at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the A1.

Personal trainer who caused A1 police crash 'drove to work two days later' despite having no license

Clodagh Rodgers, auch Cloda Rogers, Sängerin aus Nordirland, 1971 sang sie für Großbritannien beim Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, hier bei einem Auftritt, 1971. Clodagh Rodgers, aka Cloda Rogers, Singer from Northern Ireland, in 1971.

Eurovision star Clodagh Rodgers dies aged 78

Nicola Coughlan poses for photographers upon arrival at the BFI Flare Opening Gala for the film 'The Wedding Banquet' in London, Wednesday, March. 19, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Nicola Coughlan raises more than £100,000 for trans charity following trans gender ruling

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Putin declares 'Easter truce' in Ukraine as Russia pledges to cease 'all military operations' until Monday

Croatian footballer Nikola Pokrivac

Tributes pour in as former Croatia international Nikola Pokrivac dies in horror car accident

Exclusive
Former Defence Sec Ben Wallace has slammed the White House

Trump is looking for an 'exit ramp' on Ukraine, Ben Wallace tells LBC, as he warns victory is getting further away