Visitors to Ruddington’s Country Park are being urged to show respect to other users, and clean up after themselves, after pictures emerged on social media yesterday (Tuesday 21st August) of a large amount of discarded litter left strewn dangerously in and around the children’s play area.
Chris Greaves, who was at Rushcliffe Country Park and took the photographs, said it was in the wake of some kind of group celebration – where no effort was made to tidy up after themselves. He posted: “They completely trashed the area to the point where I couldn’t really leave it in that condition. What kind of parent would willingly let their toddler play around half full cans just lying around. After a quick ten minute pick up I’d made a huge pile, and this was just from the play area itself! The sand pit and the large slide were so bad! Outside the play area it was even worse. Something should be said when people leave the area like this. It is dangerous.”
Both litter bins and recycling bins are located nearby – adding to the frustration of those who took it upon themselves to clear up the mess. 
Angela Oates posted: “It is dangerous and unsightly and it makes me cross. I walk the dogs in off-lead areas in this park every day. It’s such a pity that some of the visitors don’t leave it as nice and when they came.”
Rosie Red added: “My one year old kept picking up fruit shoot clear lids which are a chocking hazard for younger children.” She said there was also antisocial behaviour: “My eldest (six years’ old) had an argument with a group teenagers who weren’t allowing children down the large slide, which they then sung a patronising song to her! She was also named called by this group. Luckily enough she can fully stick up for her self. Some six year olds would’ve cried their hearts out!!”
RUDDINGTON.info asked Rushcliffe Borough Council, which runs the facility, if the Park Rangers could be utilised to stop this sort of behaviour? Their Executive Manager for Communities, Dave Mitchell, told us: “We take great pride in cleanliness of the Country Park, and the vast majority of visitors respect this, but park users are responsible for ensuring their litter is either placed in the bins provided or taken home for disposal.
“It has been an incredibly busy summer at the park with huge attendance numbers day in day out but our recent announcement on its 12th consecutive Green Flag award is testament to the high standards our teams achieve and litter volumes of this nature are fortunately very rare. Recycling and general waste bins are located throughout the park and our Park Rangers regularly patrol to provide a visible presence to encourage use of these facilities.“
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