Members of the public are 'disgusted' after litter was left by youths overnight in Abbotswood, Barrow.

The litter was dumped just off the Abbots Wood Nature Trail and first noticed by a member of the public on Friday morning.

Abbotswood is a popular area for dog walkers to enjoy and for children to play but rubbish being left is an all too familar problem during the summer months.  

Gill Jepson, chairman of Furness Abbey Fellowship, said: "Like everyone in the local area, I'm disgusted because it's just unnecessary.

"Nobody minds people having leisure time in the woods and surrounding areas but take your rubbish home with you - don't just leave it. 

"We definitely notice an increase in the school summer holidays and with people wild camping who think that they can leave everything behind."

Fragments of glass, empty cans and takeaway wrappers were among the items left on-site close to Furness Abbey and the amphitheatre.


The Mail:

 

Before COVID, the Furness Abbey Fellowship group used to do three or four regular weekly litter picks at the Amphitheatre and the surrounding woods but have not been able to regroup since.

 

Mrs Jepson added: "We are hoping to continue litter picking next year but it shouldn't be down to us, it should be down to people taking responsibility for their own rubbish.

 

The Mail:

 

John Drape, 33, first noticed the rubbish and believes parents and schools could do more to help educate children.

"Schools should be taking an active stance on this and parents should be more responsible, but it happens every year so matters are unlikely to change," he said.

"I feel frustrated because who's going to clean this mess up? The people who left it don't care.

"I think there should be more police patrolling but it's a remote location so they're never going to do that."