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107.8 Radio Jackie - Bulletins aired each hour
Thursday, 16 July 2020
The Royal Parks launches its #BeKindToYourParks campaign after a stag is filmed with plastic tubing round its antlers in Richmond Park
Richmond Park saw a seven-fold increase in littering this June, up from from 6.64 tonnes left in June last year to 42 tonnes this year.
Royal Parks, which manages 8 sites, says that is a greater amount than found at the other royal parks in London, which on average saw litter increase by a third.
To view the video of the stag in full, check the Radio Jackie Facebook page.
To join the Royal Parks' campaign, search for #BeKindToYourParks on social media.
Royal Parks says now groups can gather, park managers have reported never-before-seen levels of littering on the grass every day, including plastic bags, pizza boxes, glass bottles, picnic items and PPE; there was even some office furniture and a Christmas Tree left in Kensington Gardens, with trash levels increasing on warm evenings and over sunny weekends.
This is despite increased numbers of bins in place, more frequent emptying to accommodate greater volumes of rubbish, and staff starting sometimes as early as 5am to ensure the parks are pristine when the majority of visitors arrive.
Royal Parks says plastic waste can get worked into the ground, plastic bags can blow onto waterways harming waterfowl, and wildlife can ingest items causing them pain or even death.
In response, The Royal Parks is launching a ‘Summer of Kindness’ campaign, to inspire visitors to care for the 5,000 acres of historic green spaces as we head into the summer holidays and more hot weather is predicted.
Tom Jarvis, Director of Parks at The Royal Parks, said: “It’s been truly fantastic to see more people enjoying our parks and getting closer to nature for a spot of R&R, to keep fit or to spend time with family and friends in the fresh air. We’ve had lots of really nice messages from people thanking us for keeping the parks open and telling us how the parks have been a lifeline for them, particularly for those without gardens,
“But the downside is the litter. We’ve never seen anything like this before. Every day we wake up to unprecedented levels of litter, with PPE, pizza boxes, plastic bags and picnic scraps strewn all over the grass. And we fear the worst is yet to come, with another spell of hot weather on the way.
“So we’re asking everyone who visits the parks for a bit of help to spread some kindness this summer and help us look after the environment. Binning litter or taking it home will keep the parks beautiful places for everyone to enjoy – and will help ensure that our incredible wildlife continues to thrive and stay safe.”
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 1:01 pm
 
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