Ireland

Concerns raised over ‘forest parties’ in Dublin and Wicklow mountains

Intensive dumping reported in the area following events over recent weekends

The aftermath of a ‘wild camp’ in Co Wicklow.

Tim O'Brien
Fri Jun 26 2020 - 21:58

Authorities for the Dublin and Wicklow mountains were to meet on Friday after a series of “wild camps” and “forest parties” resulted in intensive dumping in the area over recent weekends.

Tents, barbecues, bottles, sleeping bags, plastic bags, cans, glass bottles, food items, and more unwanted material have all been left behind by partygoers, most recently in the Glenmalure valley.

Gardaí, local councillors, and Wicklow County Council officials, as well as members of the Protecting Uplands and Rural Environments (Pure) Project and the Wicklow Uplands Council, were to meet on Friday in a bid to prevent a recurrence of the problem this weekend.

Glenmalure Pure Mile Cleanup June 2020

The recent fine weather, coupled with the easing of travel restrictions, has seen an increase of visitors to the Wicklow Uplands, and with this, many areas have witnessed and increase in abandoned camping sites and litter. One area affected over the weekend was the Glenmalure Valley, who responded quickly by organising a well-supported emergency litter pick to tackle the waste left behind after the weekend. Over 40 people attended the cleanup and items removed included, tents, camping chairs, sleeping bags, barbeques, bottles, cans, and numerous other items, which all were discarded on the landscape. Pure Truck Collected all material this morning – THANK YOU ALL – WORKING TOGETHER WE WILL CLEANUP THE UPLANDS (ID) Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment wicklownews.net Wicklow People EAST COAST FM @Wicklow Times Wicklow Uplands Council Wicklow County Council Newstalk Glenmalure PURE mile Ballinabarney/ Ballintombay/ Ballyteige PURE Mile

Posted by Pureproject on Tuesday, June 16, 2020

According to the Wicklow Uplands Council, one State-owned forest featured waste over several acres following one event there, with the scale of the rubbish likely to require multiple days to remove and the aid of a truck.

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This dumping appears to follow events published on social media over several weekends.

Teams from Glenmalure Pure Mile and other volunteer groups regularly clean up litter in the area, which is popular with hillwalkers, campers and day-trippers.

Covid-19 restrictions

Ian Davis, director of the Pure Project, said the forest parties or wild camps appeared to be happening right across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. He said they appeared to be associated with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr Davis said the uplands were an amenity to be enjoyed and it would be sad if the area had to be closed off to those who wanted to enjoy the environment there. He said visitors were welcome but asked them to remember to “take out what you bring in”.

Last year the Pure Project removed 150 tonnes of rubbish, a figure which compared with 344 tonnes in 2009, which Mr Davis said marked a significant reduction.

Over 885km of roads, mountains, woodlands, valleys, and upland amenities in the area have been cleaned by the Pure Project since it was set up in about 2008.

Mr Davis said the vast majority of visitors followed the “Leave no trace” principles.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist

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