Our litter and fly camping survey returns

Friends of the Lake District runs survey to discover scale of litter and antisocial behaviour problem for a second year

We are once again running a short survey to take a snapshot of people’s experience of littering, fly camping, and antisocial behaviour in the National Park.

Last year, we received 785 responses to the survey which ran over the summer months. The results revealed an epidemic of litter, fly-camping and thoughtless parking that blocks access and clogs roads across the Lake District.

The majority of those who responded (82%) were permanent residents of Cumbria. 97% of respondents said they had encountered litter, 80% reported wild-fires or barbecues and 77% fly-camping. The lasting effects of illegal camping and leaving rubbish in the landscape aren’t just visual. Litter and the relics of barbecues and fire pits can kill wildlife and livestock, damage soils, leach into water systems, trigger wildfires and cause health hazards for people too.

Since last year’s survey, there are signs that those responsible for visitor management are giving these issues more attention. New Public Space Protection Orders have come into force in parts of the National Park and stories of crackdowns and fines have appeared in the local and regional press. We want to understand if the commitment to ramp up enforcement is having an effect on the ground.

The findings of this new survey will be used in campaigning for improvements to policy and practice relating to visitor behaviour: more frequent visits to fly-camping hotspots, tougher action on those responsible and better preventive measures.

For Jeremy Smith, our head of campaigns and engagement: “We know from our survey last year that there is genuine concern and frustration about the scale of littering, inconsiderate parking and fly camping across the Lake District. We welcome the fact that these issues are being taken more seriously, but it’s vital that words translate into action and results. As the summer season ramps up again, we’re hoping this survey will shine a spotlight on the problem areas that still exist, while also highlighting where tougher enforcement is making an impact.”

The survey will run from the end of May until after the August Bank Holiday weekend. Anyone, regardless of whether they are a resident or a visitor to the Lake District can take part via www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/litter-survey  

Photo: Fly camping at Isthmus Bay (Keswick Binfluencers)