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Fly-tipped waste blocks access to nature reserve

Chris McHugh
BBC News
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Fly-tipped rubbish, including large wooden planks, a chair, plastic bags and a bicycle, are pictured dumped on a country lane, up against a metal gate. A forest can be seen either side of the country lane. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
The waste blocked a visitors entrance on the south side of Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve

A large pile of waste blocked access to the car park of a nature reserve.

The fly-tipped rubbish was left on the south side of Blashford Lakes in the New Forest, preventing visitors from driving into the site.

The entrance was closed on Monday due to the blockage but cleared and reopened later that day.

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said cleaning up fly-tipping is a "financial burden" which diverted funds away from protecting wildlife in the area.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust A close up of the fly-tipped rubbish, including large metal bars, several bags of different material and an office chair. A wooden fence can be seen in the background. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said cleaning up fly-tipping is a "financial burden"

It added that "fly-tipping poses a serious threat to wildlife and the environment".

A spokesperson for the environmental group explained: "Dumped waste can damage plants, disrupt habitats, and have devastating consequences for the many species that call Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve home.

"The time and resources required to clear waste take away from vital conservation efforts, and the financial burden of dealing with these incidents diverts funds from our core work of restoring landscapes and protecting wildlife."

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