Beauty spot being blighted by litter
STUDENT CLAIMS RUBBISH AND DOG MESS IS RUINING SITE
DOG mess and takeaway wrappers have been endangering wildlife at a nature reserve near Burton, a university student who regularly visits has said.
Chelsie Brandrick regularly goes for a run or walks the dog at Tucklesholme Nature Reserve, just off the A38 between Barton and Walton, but says the growing amount of litter and dog mess has been ruining her enjoyment of the beauty spot.
Dog mess, takeaway wrappers, cigarette ends and “anything and everything” all blight the reserve, which was set up as a conservation area for wildlife.
The 21-year-old noticed that the site did not have any litter bins, which she believes was one reason that some visitors were simply dumping their rubbish, so she launched a petition to get some installed.
The nature reserve was opened by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust in 2019 and Miss Brandrick visits three or four times a week when on holiday from studying at King’s College, in London.
Since starting her petition, the student has now been informed that one bin has been placed at the entrance to the site.
Miss Brandrick said: “Since the reserve opened, there has been frequent and consistent littering throughout the entirety of the nature reserve. As there are no waste or recycling bins present, rubbish cannot be disposed of appropriately, which sadly encourages this behaviour.
“The littering endangers the inhabitants and wildlife at the reserve, has a detrimental impact on the natural beauty of the landscape and presents a negative image of the surrounding villages to visitors of the nature reserve.
“For me it’s really frustrating. I can understand one side of why people are doing it as there are no bins but people should take it home with them.
“It’s a place opened for conservation and to protect wildlife and it’s a really nice place for local people to go around, particularly in lockdown, to get some exercise and for young families.
“It’s also really good for bird watching and to get an education on wildlife but it’s being spoiled by the litter there.
“It ruins the experience of going.” She is now pleased that the site does have a bin which has been provided by East Staffordshire Borough
Council but plans to go litter picking when she is back from university as a volunteer to help keep the site free of rubbish.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We’d like to thank Chelsie for her enthusiasm and commitment to help us in the fight against litter.
“As a charity dedicated to protecting the wildlife and wild spaces of Staffordshire, it’s fantastic to see so many people who are so passionate about protecting wildlife and nature.
“We have been in touch with Chelsie and are impressed by the passion she clearly has for our wild spaces.
“Staffordshire Wildlife Trust encourages everyone to follow the Countryside Code and take their litter home with them. ‘Leave no trace behind’ is our aim.
“Bins may appear to be an obvious quick fix to the problem, but in many instances, they actually make the problem worse and are an additional burden and cost to purchase and empty.
“The nature reserves we care for which have bins are actually the worst hot spots for litter.
“To fight the problem, as well as our own staff we have an army of amazing volunteers who give us their help when they visit our reserves.
“These boots on the ground show that there is another way people can get involved and change the culture of littering by a very small minority of people and protect our wildlife and wild spaces.
“If you would like to engage with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, or help us as a volunteer litter picker, please email info@staffs-wildlife.org.uk”
In July we launched our campaign “Don’t Trash Our Future” in a bid to tackle the issues. We, together with the local community and information platform www.inyourarea.co. uk/dtof and our nationwide network of sister newspapers and websites, teamed up with Clean Up Britain to push for changes we believe will wage war on litter louts.
We want them to think twice before they dump their bin liners full of rubbish in our country lanes, or hurl their beer cans in the river.