Lockdown brings 'huge increase' in fly tipping to Woodland Nature sites in Lancashire

A huge increase in litter and fly-tipping in woodlands during lockdown is harming the countryside and putting nature at risk, the charity has warned.

The increase in visitors to woodland areas, owned by The Woodland Trust charity, has also seen a massive surge in litter, fly-tipping and irresponsible and damaging behaviour.

According to the charity, the cost of clearing up the damage for the year is projected to be around £134,000, at a time when conservation charities have faced financial strain due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Discarded rubbish continues to "pose a threat" to nature in many ways, the Woodland Trust said.

Norman Starks, director of operations at the charity, said: "It is great that people are getting outside and visiting our sites to enjoy the benefits of nature, which are so important in these difficult times, but we have seen a huge increase in mess.

"The vast majority of people visit our sites respectfully but we have seen an increase in people misusing sites, for example setting up camps, chopping down trees, and other damaging activities such as mountain biking off designated trails.

"These are very delicate habitats; in some cases they are hundreds of years old. We need the public to join us in helping to continue to protect these environments."

Plastics and metals do not naturally decompose and can persist in the natural environment for decades, changing the soil composition, while chemicals from more hazardous waste can leak into water courses.

Animals can also suffocate in discarded plastic bags, get entangled in plastic can holders or end up injured by broken glass or get trapped in jars.

The charity are now urging people to follow the countryside code and encouraging them to take their litter home as they have seen even more damaging activity at some of its sites including Smithills, near Bolton.

Local popular sites owned by the trust include Tom Benson Walk, Dog Kennel wood and Sandy Brook.

These woodlands are ran by site managers who keep the woods thriving for wildlife and for their visitors.

The Trust said it has spent more than £1 million cleaning up mess and fly-tipping across its woods over the last seven years, which is money that could be spent on planting and protecting woodland environments.

Information about the local sites owned by the Woodland Trust is available from woodlandtrust.org.uk.