'Litter picking party' taking place in Westmeath bog this weekend

A “Litter Picking Party” is taking place this Saturday morning at a north Westmeath bog that has become a hot spot for illegal dumping.

The clean up is taking place at Shrubbywood Bog, an isolated area just off the Coole Multyfarnham road. Shrubbywood is a popular walking location for local people and anglers looking to access the banks of the nearby River Inny.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, one of the main organisers of the clean-up, Caroline Pilkington, noted that illegal dumping incidents have increased significantly since the bog's owner stopped extracting peat from the site a few years ago.

“It's not just people dumping a few cans. Yesterday I was there and saw that someone had dumped what looks like construction waste into a concrete pit.

“This worries me as more and more people seem to be dumping stuff there because the bog is not being used for anything.

“Apart from being unsightly, it's what it does to the wildlife. Right beside where the waste was dumped there is a big peat pit that is now full of water and lots of birds such as swans, ducks, lapwings and snipe can be seen around it.”

While she would ultimately like to see the entire bog re-wetted, Ms Pilkington says that Saturday's clean-up, which gets underway at 10am and finishes at noon, is a good place to start.

“The council is providing bin bags, gloves and litter pickers. Anyone is welcome to come and we'd love to see a big crowd turn up,” she said.

Earlier this year the Westmeath Examiner reported that a person walking in Shrubbywood found a document addressed to a person living in The Downs. The document was found in the middle of a large load of illegally dumped rubbish.

The walker passed the document on to Westmeath County Council, which subsequently issued a fine.

For more information on the clean-up, call Caroline on 0864517508.