Thousands of people have enjoyed and sought solace in beautiful countryside and stunning Wildlife Trust nature reserves over the last few weeks. But these places and other attractive beauty spots have taken a battering as the lifting of some lockdown rules coincides with warmer weather leading to a surge of people outdoors.

As a result, The Wildlife Trusts – a movement of 46 nature charities across the UK – are reporting a huge increase of damage to reserves and the wildlife that lives there. These include:

• Devastating fires across wild areas where portable BBQs have been used
• Ground-nesting birds and rare plants have been disturbed and trampled by people and dogs
• Antisocial behaviour – including littering, using wild places as outdoor toilets and vandalism have been widely reported

Some Wildlife Trusts are describing antisocial behaviour on site, including abuse directed towards their staff as the worst they have ever known.  The Wildlife Trusts have struggled to cope with the scale of the problems because many staff are furloughed.

Craig Bennett, CEO of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“The Wildlife Trusts have more nature reserves than McDonalds has restaurants in the UK, but our precious wildlife sites are bad places to hold a BBQ. These wonderful wild places are vital local havens for people to enjoy with family and friends, to walk, rest and see nature. Our natural heritage is priceless and so important for us all – for our health and happiness – but it is fragile.

“We’re appealing to everyone to love and look after it. Everyone is welcome but please respect our wild places, other visitors and people who work there.”

The Wildlife Trusts are asking everyone to love and look after wildlife and wild places:

• Avoid BBQs and fires
• Take all your litter home
• Keep dogs on leads (check whether they're allowed on-site) and pick up dog mess
• Park considerately
• Cafes and toilets are shut – so limit the length of your visit and stay local!
• Avoid trampling sensitive wildflower meadows
• Smile at our staff – we’re here to help you enjoy your visit!

Examples of issues experienced across Trusts include the following, with links to further information in notes.  

• Wildfires have devastated huge swathes of South Pennines Moorland leading to hundreds of people concerned about the wildlife contacting Lancashire Wildlife Trust. BBQ use has been common across reserves, with many being blamed for causing damage to rare habitat. 
• Lancashire Wildlife Trust reported a lapwing and its chicks was savaged by a dog. There is an increase in dog mess across many reserves.
• Many Trusts have reported an increase in visitor numbers and littering.  Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has also reported increased fly tipping, racist graffiti and fights with broken bottles.
• Many reserves including Cholsey Marsh (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) have reported increased vehicles and irresponsible parking affecting local communities. Some communities and people living near reserves have also experienced harassment from visitors.
• Essex, Hampshire and Herefordshire Wildlife Trusts have seen an increase in dangerous and prohibited activities at reserves including swimming in reservoirs and lakes where the water is too cold to swim safely or toxic algae is a health risk.
• Many areas are also reporting signs about Covid-19 and social distancing have been slashed and torn down, locked bird hides forced open, fencing removed and rules around respecting wildlife and nesting birds ignored.

James Hitchcock of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust says:

“We are pleased to say that, for the most part, visitors to our sites in Herefordshire have been enjoying them respectfully. Two notable exceptions, however, have been Lugg Meadow where the amounts of litter have been horrendous and Bodenham Lake, where, despite the car park being advertised as closed, people have still visited, parking inconsiderately in the village, seriously inconveniencing the local residents. Staff and volunteers are doing their best to keep on top of the rubbish being left at Lugg Meadow which includes large items such as dinghys and bikes. We have been hugely heartened that members of the local community are helping too and have been litter-picking at the site while out on their walks and runs. We really appreciate this.”

Alan Wright of Lancashire Wildlife Trust says:

“Lockdown is eased and people have taken barbecues onto the moors, which are tinder dry after weeks of no rain. They leave the barbecue which is too hot to touch and it starts a fire, which, subsequently, spreads across a dry moor. Moorland fires spread quickly and will take wildlife by surprise, destroying nests and killing chicks, and many of the insects they feed on.”

Debbie Tann, CEO of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, says:

“Of course we want people to be outside and enjoying green spaces and we appreciate that lockdown has taken its toll, but these nature reserves are fragile places, covering just 1% of our overall landscape, and they are vital to protect our most vulnerable wildlife.”

Land Management & People Engagement Director for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Chris Williams says:

“I’ve worked in the sector for nearly 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like this.  We have seen a dramatic increase in vandalism, fly tipping, litter, fires, out of control dogs worrying our livestock, people feeding and abusing our grazing ponies. Our land management teams are already struggling to cope with the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak and this is causing additional and unnecessary stress to those dedicated staff and volunteers who care for these places.”