THERE is anger after a Swindon nature reserve was hit by fly-tipping for the first time in ‘donkey’s years’.

Phil Jeffries discovered discarded furniture in the Stour Walk car park at Seven Fields last Sunday when completing a litter-pick.

“I regularly do litter picks round Haydon Wick on behalf of the council, just to try to tidy the place up as best I can,” said Phil.

“I’ve got a route that I normally do, and I just walked into the car park and there was a complete three-piece suite, a wardrobe and all the cushions from the sofa, just dumped in the corner of the field.

“It’s just very disappointing to see that.

“I try to keep the area clean for people to enjoy.”

Seven Fields Nature Reserve consists of 100 acres of countryside split into seven fields lying to the west of Penhill, between Haydon Wick with Abbey Meads to the north.

“This is a nature reserve,” added Phil. “People come here to see the flowers and the bees and butterflies. Not furniture.”

Phil, who is the event director for Seven Fields parkrun, continued: “People are trying to keep the area nice for the benefit of others and then there are those who have no respect and no responsibility, doing this.

“With so much going on, the parish council are working on a reduced basis and this is just putting more pressure on them having to tidy up after irresponsible people like this.

“It’s quite distinctive furniture so perhaps someone might recognise it and think ‘oh my neighbour had furniture like that.'”

Swindon Borough Council announced on Tuesday that the Cheney Manor recycling centre will be shut ‘until further notice’ amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Founder and secretary of the Seven Fields Conservation Group Marilyn Beale said: “It’s sad that people have done this.

“As far as I know, or has been reported to me, we’ve not had fly-tipping like that at Seven Fields for donkey’s years. It is disappointing.

“That’s our entrance, and it’s not big but it’s the best we’ve got. Anyone driving into it would wonder what they come in to, which is why we like to keep it clean,” she added.

“So long as the government lets us all go out walking, it’s hugely important that Seven Fields is there for people to use at the moment. It’s a big enough place that you can actually enjoy exercising but still keep away from other people."

Haydon Wick Parish Council clerk Georgina Morgan-Denn said: “The parish council dealt with the fly-tipping on Stour Walk on Monday.

“Haydon Wick Parish Council’s parks and open spaces team is continuing to deliver critical services and our priority is to keep the parish as clean and tidy as we possibly can – so that’s emptying the bins, fly-tipping, graffiti removal and any essential safety maintenance.

“We are also involved with Compassionate Swindon to help get essential supplies and keep in touch with the most vulnerable in our community.”