Volunteers make a difference to loch litter problem
Volunteers collected more than 100 bags of litter and other discarded items from around Loch Lubnaig recently.
As part of a recent Make a Difference Day volunteering event organised by conservation charity the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, the loch was targeted for a clean up.
PVC doors and carpets were among the items removed from layby verges and the shores of the loch.
Volunteers from the Friends, Forest Holidays, Terrenus Land & Water Ltd and the National Park tackled large accumulations of litter and fly tipping beside the busy A84 lochside road.
Other tasks tackled included removing broken plastic tree guards and cutting back vegetation as part of an effort to protect wildlife and improve biodiversity. The event was co-hosted by Forest Holidays who operate the Strathyre Cabin complex at the north end of the loch.
And they provided lunch and refreshments for the hard-working volunteers who made a real difference in this stunning part of the National Park.
John Urquhart, vice-chair of the Friends who participated in the event, said:“it was great to see such a large turnout of enthusiastic volunteers who tackled litter blackspots alongside Loch Lubnaig.
“This is one of the most popular destinations in the National Park as well as a busy through route with traffic heading to and from the West Highlands.
“Given the scale of littering there is case to reintroduce litter bins at some of the more popular stopping places.
“This has proved to be a great success on Loch Lomondside where we piloted a bin scheme last year which resulted in the removal of the equivalent of a staggering 6,500 bags of litter.”
Pauline Lynch of Forest Holidays said:“we were really pleased to support this event as we prepare for a very busy period with lots of visitors enjoying the great outdoors in this part of the National Park.
“It was disappointing to see the scale of littering and fly-tipping taking place and I would urge visitors planning to come to the lochside to act responsibly by taking litter home and leaving nothing behind to protect the rich variety of wildlife on the shoreline of this special loch.”