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Alright, nature lovers, brace yourselves for some bleak news from Kent. Hoad’s Wood, an ancient bluebell woodland that should be a pristine retreat for locals, has been transformed into an illegal dumping ground of epic proportions. We’re talking thousands of tonnes of fly-tipped waste piled up to 25 feet deep in areas, practically smothering those famous blue flower carpets under a massive mound of rubbish. Grim.
According to Hoad’s Wood campaigners trying to #RescueHoadsWood, up to 30 trucks were rocking up daily last summer to unload all the sketchy waste. These days, locals describe wading through ‘murky blue’ contaminated pools of water, with the area giving off a delightful rotten eggs stench strong enough to waft into their homes. Ah, the sweet smells of nature.
Ancient bluebell woodland smothered in illegal waste as campaigners tell authorities - @SteveBarclay @DefraGovUK @EnvAgency - to 'do the right thing' https://t.co/RKs2Gc51P7
— Rescue Hoad's Wood 🍃💚🍃 (@rescuehoadswood) April 29, 2024
Sadly, it’s taken bleeding ages for the authorities to step in. The Environment Agency was first tipped off in August 2022 but only blocked access to the woods in January this year. As naturalist Chris Packham raged on X: ‘Where is the accountability? Where is the law? Where is the respect?’ Preaching to the eco-conscious choir there, Packham.
Still, the EA reckons it is ‘pushing forward with investigations’ into the illegal dumping, while the local council insists it hasn’t yet crossed the ‘statutory nuisance’ threshold required for it to act. The ancient woodlands would not agree, but bureaucracy moves slowly.
In the meantime, this local gem is being utterly trashed, with an estimated £10 million needed to remove the 27,000 tonnes of crap scattered around. Campaigners say they won’t stop fighting to see Hoad’s Wood restored to its former bluebell-laden glory. We’re giving them a standing ovation from the Time Out offices. If this beautiful woodland doesn’t deserve to be rescued from becoming a grotty rubbish dump, we don’t know what does.
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