Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is marking National Parks Week (25 – 31 July 2016) by launching a new campaign encouraging visitors to help take care of this special place
The ‘Respect Your Park’ campaign focuses on litter and responsible camping, and also includes messages about noise, safe fires, going to the toilet in the wild, fishing, and safe driving on the often busy roads of the Park.
It aims to ensure people understand how to show respect for the environment and for other people, so that everyone who comes to the National Park can make the most of the outdoors.
Reducing the quantity of litter discarded in National Parks features heavily in the campaign. Findings published by Zero Waste Scotland show that over 250 million pieces of litter are cleared up each year.
National Park Rangers can now give out Fixed Penalty Notices £80 littering and £200 for fly-tipping, but these powers will only be used as a measure of last resort. The initiative’s aim is to educate the public and encourage them to enjoy and look after the Park.
Gordon Donaldson, Manager of Forest Enterprise Scotland’s Cowal & Trossachs Forest District commented: “Environmental protection is one of our biggest priorities. A good proportion of environmental damage is caused through a lack of awareness, for example, the harm caused to flora and fauna by unsafe campfires. The more that we, and other organisations, can do to help promote messaging that encourages respectful, safe, sensible behaviour the better.”
The campaign also aims to establish a connection between national park officers and the public. Park Rangers will meet members of the public during National Parks Week, sharing tips and advice about how best to make the most of the National Park, responsibly.
