Volunteers in Lake District spend weekend cleaning up mounds of rubbish left by visitors

Litter-picking volunteers in the Lake District have described the huge mounds of rubbish left by visitors as ‘heartbreaking’. 

As lockdown restrictions were lifted many people headed to the UK’s beauty spots, including the Lake District.

However, charity ‘Friends of the Lake District’ has pleaded with visitors to stop ‘trashing’ the countryside. 

Lake District National Park Authority partnered with conservation charity, Friends of the Lake District to host The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick this weekend to help clean up the mess left by a ‘minority of people’.

Ruth Kirk, Landscape Engagement Officer for Friends, said: “The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick was due to take place in March but had to be postponed as lockdown came into effect. As the countryside has opened up, many people have been benefitting from the positive effects of our spectacular Cumbrian landscapes on their mental and physical health. And that’s great.

“Sadly, as we are all too aware, a minority of people have been, what can only be described as ‘trashing’ our much-loved environment. The ‘aftermath’ pictures have been truly shocking and we are bewildered as to the reasons why people would do this.

“There’s no quick and easy solution but while we work on ways to educate and communicate more widely and effectively to change behaviours, there is something that we CAN do right away; and we know many of you are itching to volunteer to help. And that’s to get out there, together, to clean up our county.

“We’re delighted to be teaming up with the Lake District National Park, who have done a fantastic job with their messaging and people on the ground to help visitors enjoy the national park responsibly.”

Ruth added: “It just breaks my heart. It makes me want to cry. It’s been replicated right across the Lake District, particularly around the lake shores.

“It’s understandable people want to spend time here, but it has created quite a problem with the amount of litter left behind.

“It’s difficult for communities. They live here and want it to be a lovely place. They don’t want to have to go out as volunteers to collect litter every week.”

One of the volunteers found a ‘shocking reminder’ of litter impact after picking up a 2004 crisp packet still in the reeds near Windermere. 

It’s not the first time landmarks have been covered in litter following visits of crowds of people. Bournemouth beach was covered in 41 tonnes of rubbish due to the heatwave in June. Similarly, Formby and Blackpool beach were also trashed during the same heatwave.