Outrage as fly-tippers cause £10m damage to UK beauty spot

Startling aerial photographs reveal a massive 25-foot pile of illegal waste dumped at a cherished woodland area by as many as 30 trucks daily.

Authorities have launched an inquiry after witnessing huge heaps of garbage surrounding the four-acre Hoad's Wood in Kent, near the famed Ashdown Forest of Winnie the Pooh.

Drone images depict the area resembling a landfill rather than a habitat for wildlife, despite warning signs at the entrance cautioning against illegal dumping.

The local Rescue Hoad's Wood advocacy group criticised the transformation of the once-beautiful bluebell forest into a barren wasteland.

According to estimates shared with The Telegraph, approximately 27,000 tonnes of waste need removal, a task projected to cost around £10million, including taxes and contingencies based on contractor quotes.

A petition demanding an immediate cleanup of the woodland has garnered over 6,500 signatures and received endorsement from television personality Chris Packham.

Recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its diverse bird species, insects, and trees, the area has drawn attention from the Environment Agency, which is collaborating with Kent Police's rural task force and Kent County Council to apprehend the perpetrators of illegal dumping.

Councillor Barker said: “GCwSPC is appalled by this shocking sight. It is disheartening that some individuals find it acceptable to mistreat this cherished land.

“Hoad's Wood should be respected, not tarnished by unscrupulous actions. The implications are morally reprehensible, posing a substantial cost to the community and causing profound damage to flora and fauna with lasting effects.

“We are pleased that Kent County Council and the Environment Agency are already working on this but hope that it is removed quickly unlike other areas where it has been left as it is too expensive to remove at taxpayer's expense.”

One local, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “Honestly, I have never seen anything like it. It's disgusting. I went to view the four acres of land and it was stacked about 12ft high with rubbish. I think there are hundreds of thousands of tonnes of litter dumped there.

“Someone needs to be held responsible for this and people need to be made aware of what is happening in our woods.”

A Rescue Hoad's Woods spokesperson told The Telegraph they feel as if the land is being “poisoned” and the “only way...you can escape it is by leaving your property and leaving the area completely”.

The plot failed to sell at auction, with an auctioneer from Clive Emson admitting there's “a lot of fly-tipping in the area” for which they “do not know who is responsible”.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency confirmed that a multi-agency investigation was underway into who was dumping the rubbish at Hoad's Wood, which spans around 200 acres in total.

The spokesperson had previously said: “We are leading the ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal tipping of commercial waste at Hoad's Wood with support from Natural England, Forestry Commission, Kent County Council and Kent Police rural task force.

“If you are suspicious of any waste crime, you can report it to us on our 24/7 incident number on 0800 807060.”

The county has become somewhat of a hotspot for illegal fly-tipping in recent years, with tonnes of rubbish also having been dumped on Sheppey Beach, which is also an SSSI.

In a letter to the Environment Secretary, charities urged the EA to quickly secure the funding required and restore the woodland.

An EA spokesperson told The Telegraph it is determined to keep “one step ahead” of the fly-tippers.

They added that the agency is “pushing forward” with investigations against those fly-tipping at the site.