Appeal
Help us clean up the Lake District
Litter, fly-camping and antisocial behavior are growing problems – help us tackle them.
Litter, fly-camping and anti-social behavior
The Lake District should be a place of beauty, peace and escape. But for many people who live here or who love these landscapes, summer now brings something very different: litter-strewn laybys, abandoned tents, blocked roads, dangerous campfires and antisocial behaviour that leaves communities and visitors feeling frustrated, ignored and unsafe.
These problems are not just unsightly; litter harms wildlife and livestock, contaminates watercourses and damages fragile habitats, and fire pits and disposable barbecues can devastate landscapes in minutes.
What’s perhaps most shocking is that the old social norms no longer seem to apply. Many of those responsible either do not believe they are doing anything wrong or assume there will be no consequences.
Each year, we run a major public survey to understand the true scale of the problem. Last year we had 785 responses in two months and this year we’ve had 624 in the first two weeks alone.
This year our Great Cumbrian Litter Pick brought together 34 groups and more than 300 volunteers, collecting over 250 bags of rubbish.
Friends of the Lake District has led the way in demanding tougher enforcement, better visitor management and serious, coordinated action from those responsible for protecting the National Park. We continue to elevate the voices of local communities and put their concerns directly in front of decision-makers.
There are some encouraging signs, including new Public Space Protection Orders and tougher enforcement in some hotspots. But much more needs to be done, and without continued public pressure, progress could easily stall.
That’s why we need your support today.
Your donation will help us:
- Expose the true scale of the problem through research and surveys
- Campaign for stronger enforcement and better visitor management
- Amplify the voices of communities and volunteers
- Hold public bodies to account
Ultimately, this is about more than litter. It is about safeguarding the future of the Lake District itself. We cannot allow a “free-for-all” approach to tourism to damage the landscapes, wildlife and tranquillity that make this place so special.
Together, we can help keep the Lake District a place of beauty, nature and enjoyment for everyone.
