A survey about litter, illegal camping and anti-social behaviour has been launched by a Lake District charity.
Friends of the Lake District want to know if people think the issues are becoming worse in the national park.
It said: “In recent years, littering and fly-camping seems to have grown as a problem in the Lake District in the wake of a slew of social media videos of ‘influencers’ sharing their experiences in the national park without sharing how to visit responsibly and follow the Countryside Code – the difference between fly camping and wild camping.
“We want to find out whether Cumbrian residents think the problem has increased.
“The findings will be used in campaigning for improvements to policy and practice relating to visitor behaviour: more frequent visits by rangers to fly-camping hotspots, tougher action on those responsible and better preventive measures.”
Kay Andrews, Friends of the Lake District’s engagement lead, said: “The lasting effects of leaving rubbish in the landscape isn’t just visual.
“Litter can kill wildlife and livestock, damage soils, leach into water systems and cause health hazards, while barbecues and fires can easily cause wildfires in summer.
“When people act in such a thoughtless manner, it ruins the enjoyment of the beautiful countryside of the Lake District for other visitors and causes affected communities stress and upset.”
The survey should only take around five minutes to complete and is available at www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/litter-survey.
