A national park authority has described an "unjustifiable" accumulation of human feces and decomposing food as the "worst example" of fly-tipping encountered in the area.
Park wardens at Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in Wales have reported a noticeable increase in "abandoned 'wild camps'" and litter, according to Bronwyn Larry, head of communications for the park authority. She noted that the scenic beauty of the park is being marred by the refuse, stating, "People come to the area to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the beautiful views, but now we are being faced with litter and it's disturbing that beautiful view."
Larry expressed bafflement at the rise in fly-tipping, indicating that park officials are struggling to effectively communicate the importance of responsible waste disposal. "It's not just here, for our park, it does seem to be across the national parks. We are constantly putting out messaging around The Countryside Code... that's what I see, for me it's second nature to take back what you go with."
While social media has been suggested as a contributing factor, with some tourists visiting the park for its "Instagrammable" qualities, Larry clarified that many influencers promote responsible visitation. "Generally their messaging is around visiting responsibly because they want it to be nice too," she said. "So it's really difficult to understand where this change of attitude is coming from."
Images shared by the park authority depict discarded plastic bags, lunch boxes with food remnants and maggots, and even a small barbecue left on the grass. One image showed a quadbike piled high with rubbish bags and camping equipment. 
