A Heartbreaking Walk at Primrose Nature Reserve

Ah, this post isn't the most fun to write but I still want to share these photos.

In January we popped along to a so-called 'Nature reserve' just about a mile from our house that we hadn't visited for three years. And to be honest, I wish we hadn't gone.

You won't see it in these photos, but I have never seen such complete and utter disregard for a 'nature reserve' in my life. The state of this place is a heartbreaking disgrace. There is so much rubbish piled up and strewn around all over the place, especially in the water. 

Animals live here. This is an area off of the River Don with many species of bird who call it home.

It is always unnecessary to litter, but it is atrocious to allow a place that should be protected to get to this point.

It has definitely had an effect too because, between our previous visit and now, the amount of wildlife spotted has decreased significantly. I struggled to find many things to photograph. Usually, a post like this would be split between two as I'd have so many photos but other than one Chaffinch and two Moor Hens, there were only a few Mallards. 

As if that wasn't bad enough, toward the end of our walk we were passed by a man with four dogs. 

A few minutes later we heard a noise a turned to see that he had sent them all into the fenced-off area where all the water birds were relaxing. I left the walk sobbing and distraught at the thought of what happened.

So yeah, an awful walk. A terrible time. I am sharing these photos and this story to show that these beautiful natural places need extra protection and the general public need to be held accountable for the way they are abusing, neglecting and downright killing our precious nature and wildlife.

The photos above are a mixture of strategically taken angles and photoshop to remove the rubbish.
This place is a magical, beautiful wildlife haven - or it could and should be.

I actually managed to find one photo that I had taken to report this disgrace to someone which I will post below. This doesn't even capture a small fraction of the problem.
Do better humans!