Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chair Carl Lis. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Bosses in the Yorkshire Dales have pleaded with visitors not to trash the national park.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said visitors should take a fresh look at guidelines on social distancing and littering.
It also said no-one should bring barbecues into the Dales, which is at risk of wildfires because of dry conditions.
Park rangers have also witnessed some people breaking guidelines.
Authority chairman Carl Lis said: “In the last couple of days we’ve seen some extraordinary images of packed beaches and beauty spots across the country, and some shocking examples of littering and dangerously abandoned barbecues.
“It’s also sad to hear reports from our own teams here in the national park that some are choosing to ignore the social distancing rule, are not taking litter home, and are continuing to bring barbecues into a tinder-dry countryside.
“Of course we want people to enjoy the national park, to use it as a safe place to relax, exercise and recharge the batteries – it’s important for our mental and physical health – but that has to be balanced with a basic respect for the land, for the community, and for each other.”
The authority issued the following guidance:
- Respect the land – no more rubbish excuses; take all your litter home and don’t bring barbecues of any description into the national park
- Respect the community – many in the local community are among some of the most vulnerable groups of people. Please keep a safe distance from homes, schools, and farms
- Respect each other – follow the social distancing guidelines. Be kind and respect one another, whether visitor or local.
There is more information on the Yorkshire Dales authority’s website, including the Countryside Code; first-time visitor information; weekend car park status updates; social distancing and national park rules; short walks from national park car parks and an additional 60 short walk ideas.
Mike V
26 June 2020I witnessed instances of Littering and use of disposable berbeques in woodland near Ullswater in the Lake District on Wednesday. - By the time I'd finished my walk, I'd collected half a bag of litter, mainly single use plastic drinks bottles.
It saddens me deeply that people a number who visit these beautiful places treat them with so much contempt.
I've always picked up litter whenever I've been fell-walking, but over recent years it seems to have increased disproportionately.
This year in particular, presumably due to the Covid-19 situation, and with many people who wouldn't otherwise visit such places having plenty of time on their hands, it seems to be completely out of control.
I don't know how this sort of behavior can be stopped. - I doubt very much whether appealing to the better nature of such people will have any effect whatsoever. They have no respect for nature or the environment in general.
Ken Willis
26 June 2020Mike V has explained the situation perfectly and if I can add something it would be this:
The sooner these people can start travelling back to places like Benidorm and Ibiza the better.
Actually I'd like to add a second thing. Mike used a very old fashioned word in his post "respect". Remember that folks........ it's something our parents used to teach to have towards our elders, the police, teachers, rules, other peoples property, and towards each other. Clearly something has gone very wrong for so many people to end up such a disgusting attitude towards other people and anything that doesn't belong to them.