Travellers ruin Prees Heath beauty spot
Tuesday 31st May 2011, 11:29AM BST.
Bags of rubbish have been left strewn across a Shropshire nature reserve after travellers who set up camp there moved on.
More than 40 caravans were parked on Prees Heath Common, near Whitchurch for a week. But now the travellers have moved on, conservationists said they are facing a major clear up to restore the reserve, which is home to a nationally-important population of the silver-studded blue butterfly.
Stephen Lewis, warden for Butterfly Conservation, which owns the site, said he was disappointed that bags of rubbish had been left behind. He said the travellers arrived on May 22 and left on Sunday.
Mr Lewis said: “They have left now and there is lot of rubbish left behind. Lots of it seems to be garden waste collected from working at people’s homes.
“We will have to arrange some sort of proper clean up but we have moved some of the rubbish away already.”
It is believed the travellers gained access to the site through vandalised gates.
Mr Lewis said the gates in question would be replaced to prevent future illegal access to the land.
Since buying the site in 2006n Butterfly Conservation has embarked on a restoration project to secure the 60 hectare site against fly-tipping and illegal vehicle access, and to establish a nature reserve for the butterflies.
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
