Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => General Chat => Topic started by: David Thompson on October 19, 2011
-
I recently found a poster advertising outdoor recreation activities it was pinned to a gate post at the entry to the Glen River [Slieve Donard]
just near the Ice House , a place very much of the mountain, wild and wonderful
I did not think it was the right thing having asn advertisement up - it could spoil the experience of getting away from all the trappings of the world Reckon most would see this as out of place in wild places
Any thoughts on the matter ........
-
Hi David (& welcome to the forum),
I spotted the same poster and similar thoughts went through my head, whilst it promotes this forum which i think ultimately benefits the wild, it would be wrong to allow every tom dick & harry to promote in such a way, as it was obviously a temporary thing (stuck on by drawing pins i think) i passed it by with a view to removing it a few weeks later if still there. I've always believed (from experience) that litter creates litter, i.e. a normal thinking person wouldn't dream of leaving their rubbish at the saddle, but if they see the multitude of banana skins, orange peels and worse then they feel it is ok, thats why i try to bring an extra plastic bag up to collect these on the way down. I suppose the poster could be viewed in the same way, and if left then others might appear on the same fence post, you can see how it could get out of hand quickly.
Wouldn't it be nice it there was a notice board in Donard Park to display a list of events and related Mourne activities, but we know it would just get vandalised. I often think there isn't very much on-site info for tourists visiting the Mournes, I've been asked many times "which way is Slieve Donard?" i hope they didn't mean the hotel ::)
-
We thought this had been collected ages ago. Could the next member passing please check it has been removed or grab it on the way by.
Thanks for the reminder David.
-
The amount of litter in the mournes is shocking, I bring a bag of other people's rubbish down every time I go up there! I think anyone that posts regularly on this forum would be the same, the mournes seem to be busier than they ever were, Liam you make a good point about the lack of signage but an equally good one about it being vandalised! I really struggle to understand why people take such delight in wrecking things just for the sake of it! >:(
-
Maybe I'am outside my own depth here,but is it a case of a lack of authority,who really own's the Mournes. I know the mourne heritage trust has influence over building,farming,future planing but I struggle to find any answers for conduct,skill,littering,misuse,of people using the hills. My question is; would the recognition of a national park safeguard this area & bring about better policy making,with more on the ground enforcement's of key issue relating to the preservation of this mountain range?
-
I think the main owner is NI Water, and National Trust own a fair bit of Donard & Commedagh, then there are some groups of farmers that are trustees for other bits, never really did understand it all ???
I know someone is doing a great job removing litter from Donard Forest, I've often seen more than i carry (half burnt tents sleeping bags etc.) around the camping spots near the ice house, then next hike its all gone, so well done to whoever takes it all away. I recently spotted what looked like a half barrell bbq near the saddle, couldn't fit it in my wee plastic bag :'(
-
i can understand some numnut and the family in summer taking up a picnic ,a few bags of crisps and then deciding the sheep needed some plastic feeding!!, but how can you explain some arse takin up a sledgehammer and then deciding that they didnt like the picnic tables and the statue at the car park at the foot of slieve croob and decide to rearrange them!!!! sometimes i think this society doesnt deserve the mournes!!
-
yep i see crap all the time, old shoes, bbqs, plastic, crap everywhere.
Totally against the national trust type national parks all their regulations and admin.
Cannot do anything about the idiots, but if you catch them leaving it there, make sure they arnt able to walk down without it ;)