Human poo and maggot-infested meals dumped at UK magnificence spot
Lazy and selfish visitors were found to have left kit, food and even their own poo while visiting the popular national park over the Bank Holiday weekend
The fly-tipping has been slammed by the authorities (Image: Bannau Brycheiniog – Brecon Beacons – National Park)
Disgusting food riddled with maggots and even human poo was discovered alongside a popular beauty spot in Wales last weekend.
Bannau Brycheiniog National Park slammed the outrageous behaviour from some of its visitors, who also left abandoned tents, barbeques and litter at the popular beauty location. The egregious fly-tipping was discovered near Llyn y Fan Fawr in the west of the park.
A BBC report found that wardens had had to clear up huge quantities of abandoned gear, as well as rotting food and human waste in what the national park authority termed one of the worst ever examples of fly-tipping
Rubbish was dumped at the popular beauty spot(Image: Bannau Brycheiniog – Brecon Beacons – National Park)
In a statement, they slammed the antisocial behaviour, saying: “This is not wild camping. This is fly-tipping and littering.
“One of our wardens spent their bank holiday weekend in a less-than-ideal way, clearing up a tent full of kit with chairs, a BBQ and two bags of maggot-infested food, and also found human excrement on site.
“When out enjoying nature, respect your surroundings. Leave no trace and take everything back home with you. There is no justification for this behaviour.”
Maggots and human poo were discovered by wardens(Image: Bannau Brycheiniog – Brecon Beacons – National Park)
Bronwyn Lally, head of communications for the park authority, told the BBC that the problem was unfortunately all too common, with wardens increasingly stumbling upon abandoned campsites.
Calling the behaviour “baffling”, she said: “Unfortunately, across this summer, it’s not been unusual. It does seem to be increasing. People come to the area to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the beautiful views, but now we are being faced with litter and it’s disturbing that beautiful view.
“Logic says it’s lighter to carry back once you’ve eaten and drank it all than it is to carry it out there. Come and have a nice time, but leave no trace.”
BBQs pose a real threat considering the risk of wild fires(Image: Bannau Brycheiniog – Brecon Beacons – National Park)
Barbecues are especially worrying to authorities, especially considering the spate of wildfires across the country this summer.
Lally explained: “Our wardens have gone from supporting firefighters with the wildfires and, the first rainy weekend, they’re off finding abandoned wild camps. They have had quite the summer.
“It has a knock-on effect on wildlife. There’s still a fire risk. Pollution can contaminate water. It affects everything, not just it looking nice.”
Warden Steffan Edwards, who was one of the wardens who had to clean the campsite, described the issue as a “shame”, but added that it happens “all the time.”
