Appeal for visitors tokeep beauty spot tidy

BARBECUE trays discarded on a memorial bench

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ORGANISATIONS have teamed together to launch a heart-felt appeal to protect a Saddleworth beauty spot.

Staff from the RSPB, United Utilities, Peak District National Park, Life for a Life Wood, the Police and Fire Service have urged people planning a visit to Dovestone to respect the area by tidying up after themselves, not bringing barbecues and giving a thought to the birds and wildlife living there.

Last year, a high profile crackdown took place at the Greenfield site to tackle vandalism and anti-social behaviour after it was plagued by litter and discarded barbecues that are believed to have caused large scale fires.

With warmer weather on the horizon, managers are hoping to prevent a repeat.

Miriam Biran, RSPB Visitor Experience Manager, said: "It's fantastic to see people relaxing in the great outdoors.

"However, we are appealing for visitors to treat the site with respect and take pride in the area by taking their rubbish home with them and obeying the signs asking that no fires or barbecues are lit at Dovestone."

Litter not only spoils the appearance of the site for other visitors but also presents a danger to wildlife.

Miriam added: "If you bring it to Dovestone, please take it away with you. The responsibility really does lie with those visitors bringing food and other items here to take their rubbish away with them."

Visitors are also being encouraged to act responsibly at Dovestone as staff are reminding people of the dangers of using open fires, including barbecues. Dovestone can be windy and the grass is very dry, so there is a real danger of open flames getting quickly out of control and destroying large areas of moorland and trees, including memorial trees in the Life for a Life Woodland.

Philip Kersh, Life for a Life Operations Manager, added: "It may seem a nice innocent activity coming for a barbecue but this dry material does not need much to start a dangerous moorland or woodland fire which will spoil Dovestone for all visitors and the habitat for ground nesting birds.

"All the partners involved here would therefore respectfully ask that visitors do not bring barbecues and if you do come for a picnic then please take your rubbish home."

The RSPB are working in close partnership with United Utilities, the Peak District National Park, Life for a Life and the emergency services to keep Dovestone clean and safe, but visitors can play their part by behaving responsibly and by calling 999 if they see a fire or anyone seen starting fires.

Dovestone reservoir is owned by United Utilities and the water company works in partnership with the RSPB, who manage the estate. The partnership aims to encourage public access and recreation, while also protecting water quality and wildlife for future generations.