Gary Lineker shows support for charity allotment after it was vandalised
One of the top donations was listed as being from Gary Lineker, with the star tweeting ‘Why would you ever do something like that?’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker has shown his support for a charity allotment, which provides fresh fruit and vegetables to those struggling amidst the cost-of-living crisis, after it was vandalised.
Carly Burd, from Harlow, Essex, created the A Meal On Me With Love initiative to help people on benefits, low-income earners and pensioners, by providing organic produce, and has since started a Go Fund Me page, which has earned nearly £63,000.
One of the top donations was listed as being from Gary Lineker, with the star tweeting “Why would you ever do something like that?”.
Ms Burd, who is known as carlyburd43 on TikTok, shared with her 17,000 followers that she was left “absolutely heartbroken” after salt was poured over her plot.
Holding back tears, Ms Burd said in her video: “I’m absolutely heartbroken. Someone’s jumped over in the night and put salt all over the land.
“That means everything I’ve planted won’t grow and I can’t replant on it because it won’t grow.
“All the hours and hours and hours of work that we’ve put in is now dead, and they’ve done it everywhere.”
https://www.tiktok.com/@carlyburd43/video/7220895128313924869
The gardener showed viewers her ruined allotment featuring rugged soil and piles of salt.
“How could you do that?” she said.
Despite the vandalism, Ms Burd insisted that it “won’t stop me” and pledges to continue her initiative.
“You won’t stop me because I’ll just pick it all up and carry on… you won’t stop me whatsoever.”
Boxes containing fruit and vegetables grown in Ms Burd’s garden, as well as dry foods and other essentials, are distributed to households through the scheme.
The gardener, who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS) and lupus, shared her sympathy for those struggling through the cost-of-living crisis.
“I’m on disability so I have to keep the cost down,” she wrote on her Go Fund Me page.
“I can’t sit back and watch people struggle; not being able to feed their kids or go without food so they can have the heating on.
“Last year I went without heating, having MS with no heating is horrific. Why are we left to live like this?”
To support Ms Burd’s cause, visit the Go Fund Me page https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-meal-on-me-with-love