Last call for our litter and fly-camping survey

Last call for survey responses about the scale of litter, fly-camping and antisocial behaviour in the Lake District

As stories about illegal fly-camping, litter and wildfires continue to appear in the press and on social media, Friends of the Lake District have issued a reminder that we will be closing our annual survey about these issues at the end of August.

Last year, we received 785 responses to the survey, and the results revealed an epidemic of litter, fly-camping and thoughtless parking across the National Park. There have been over 720 responses so far again this year, but we’re hoping for more feedback before the end of the summer holidays.

The survey is open to residents and visitors to the Lake District. The results will be used to press for more 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.

Have things improved since last year?

Last year, around 46% of respondents said they thought things were “significantly worse” than the year before. 34% said they were somewhat worse and 17% said things were about the same. Since then, new Public Space Protection Orders have come into force in parts of the National Park. Stories of crackdowns and fines have also appeared in the local and regional press.

Jeremy Smith, our head of campaigns and engagement, said: “The indication from the survey results we’ve received so far this year are that, while things may not have got significantly better, the tougher enforcement measures are having some impact. A minority of people come to the Lake District not to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the landscape, but to cut down trees, start dangerous fires, set up illegal campsites and leave litter behind. It’s important that efforts to tackle this behaviour are sustained throughout the rest of the summer and beyond.”

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.

The survey will remain open until after the August Bank Holiday weekend and people can submit their responses to: www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/litter-survey.

Alongside the survey, we’ve launched a fundraising campaign to support our work tackling litter and anti-social behaviour in the Lake District. Details of the appeal can be found at www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/lakes-litter-appeal.