'Green' council's eco-bins cause donkey invasion of New Forest village provoking furious backlash
Plastic caddies to recycle leftovers have been distributed to residents in villages across Hampshire's picturesque New Forest this month for the first time.
Yet locals are now raising concerns about hazardous knock-on effects.
There are concerns that livestock historically roaming free in the area - such as not only donkeys but also ponies and pigs - will find the discarded food irresistible.
And now within just weeks of the caddies' introduction, donkeys have been spotted eating food out of the bins at locations across the southern English region.
Photos taken in Brockenhurst, a large village in the national park, show several of the animals gathered around a toppled bin - tucking in to scraps strewn across the road.
Councillors at the Conservative-controlled local authority running the rollout have admitted the new arrangements 'may take some time to get used to'.
But local campaigners say the damage being done so far was 'exactly what we thought would happen' - and forecast even worse ahead.
Posting photos of donkeys on Facebook, New Forest resident Gail Whitcher advised neighbours to keep their food waste bins inside their gates - as she described the scenes so far as 'chaos'.
She urged: 'Please can people who live down Sway Road take their bins in and put their food waste bins inside their gates.
'The donkeys have knocked over the waste bins into the road and have had a feast all the way down the road on the food waste bins which I witnessed them opening. It's chaos.'
There are thought to be about 200 free-roaming donkeys in the New Forest national park, all cared for by the Commoners - locals who have the right to graze animals.
The animals are said to be vital to the area's ecosystem, yet have prompted worries.
The Commoners have said they are worried that the roaming livestock could contract foot and mouth disease or African swine fever from the food waste and might prove to be 'extremely dangerous'.
Their comments comes as New Forest Disirict Council pushed ahead with a contentious bin scheme that had been first approved in 2022.
Under the £5.6million programme, food waste caddies have been delivered to residents in Brockenhurst, New Milton, Lymington and surrounding areas between April this year and this month.
Posting photos of donkeys on Facebook , New Forest resident Gail Whitcher advised neighbours to keep their food waste bins inside their gates
Andrew Parry-Norton, chairman of the New Forest Commoners Defence Association voluntary group, is among those alarmed by the impact so far.
He said: 'This is exactly what we thought would happen and I think it is only going to get worse.
'If the donkeys start working out how to get into these bins then they will keep doing it and the diseases will continue to spread, which is just not fair on the animals.
'And it will only get worse in the autumn when the pigs come out as they really will eat anything.
'If the diseases spread then it could cost the farming industry, which is already in a tough place, millions if not billions of pounds to deal with. That is not an exaggeration.
'We are all for recycling especially as the area is so connected to nature but it needs to be done in the right way.
'We just want the council and other agricultural institutions to come together to create a solution. It's a different issue to that in urban areas.
'I believe that the bins need tougher locks that don't come open if the bins fall over and to be put out at the right time by the homeowners.'
Mr Parry-Norton previously raised concerns at the Verderers' court, which 'regulates and protects the New Forest's unique agricultural commoning practices'.
He said earlier this year: 'New Forest District Council is going to be supplying food waste bins for weekly collections - the advice is that these bins are left outside the gate and then residents top them up from a smaller kitchen waste bin.
'In the UK it is illegal to feed or allow kitchen waste to be fed to pigs.
'Not only could this a problem for pigs but also donkeys and ponies who will quickly realise this could become a potential food source.
'We, the CDA, ask the verderers to persuade New Forest District Council to retract their advice and request that these bins are kept on the residents premises where stock do not have access to it.'
Households in the national park have each been given a 23l brown outdoor food waste recycling caddy and a 5l grey indoor food waste recycling caddy.
The council said food waste is being taken to an anaerobic digestion facility where it would be used to create fertiliser and renewable energy.
Jack Davies, councillor for Pennington and former mayor of Lymington, said his ward was being used as a 'guinea pig for the rest of the New Forest'.
He told the Telegraph: 'The teething problems that we are having will be ironed out, but that is no comfort to us in the first phase as there are clearly issues. The new bins feel cheap.'
Announcing the latest rollout earlier this month, the district council's portfolio holder for environment and sustainability Geoffrey Blunden had said: 'We're asking residents in the first phase of the new waste service to make the change of putting food waste into the caddies instead of the black sacks of old.
'Like with the sack service, food waste will still be collected every week, but crucially it will now be recycled and reduce what goes in the general waste bin.'
The local authority said it was providing leaflets explaining what can and cannot go in food waste recycling, as well as a starter-roll of caddy liners.
Cllr Blunden added: 'We know this is a new way of doing things and may take some time to get used to.
'Our collection crews will also be adjusting to collecting food waste for the first time, and new collection routes.
'By working together, it will make a big impact for our environment, our district, and future generations.'
A New Forest District Council spokesperson said: 'Our new waste collection service launched in a third of the district two weeks ago, including a new food waste recycling service using caddies, and the introduction of wheelie bins for general waste and recycling.
'The move to bins and caddies is already leading to a massive improvement in street cleanliness. The previously used rubbish sacks were often ripped open by the free roaming animals, as well as seagulls, and foxes.
'We ask residents to store their food waste caddies within their property boundary, except on collection day, and to lock them using the handle.
'We appreciate the concerns being raised about animals accessing the food waste and are continuing to monitor this in the early days of the new service.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
I've lost my family because I cheated on my wife instead of sorting out our problems
DEAR DEIDRE: I'VE lost my family and the chance of a happy future with the love of my life because of my stupidity. I cheated on my wife instead of sorting out our problems, and the woman I left her for dumped me because I didn't want kids with her. The harsh truth is, I've messed up everything and I have nobody to blame but myself. I'm an idiot and a coward, and don't know how to get my life back on track. I'm 47 and was married for 15 years. We had two daughters. But five years ago, our marriage went through a rocky patch. I was under a lot of stress at work and took it out on my wife. Instead of talking to her, I shut her out. When a work colleague ten years younger than me showed interest, I jumped into bed with her. My wife discovered our affair and kicked me out. My girlfriend took me in. But I didn't treat her as well as I should have done. Instead of learning from my past mistakes, I again failed to communicate properly. And when she said she wanted to have children with me, I said 'no way' and refused to discuss it. I was still reeling from the loss of being a full-time dad to my daughters. My girlfriend said she couldn't wait to be a mum, as she was heading for 40. She didn't have time to waste, so broke up with me. It was only then that I realised how much I loved her and that I did want kids with her. But it was too late. She'd moved on and started dating someone else. I still think about her all the time and want to contact her. I don't know how to move on. DEIDRE SAYS: You're learning from your mistakes, and that is the first step in moving on. Contacting your ex, who now has another partner, is looking backward rather than forward, and this won't help you – especially if she responds negatively. Your feelings for her will fade in time. Instead, look to rebuild your life and make positive changes for the future. Be the best dad you can to your daughters. Try to form a new relationship, and don't repeat the same mistakes this time. Speaking to a counsellor could also be of help to you. See my support pack, Moving On, for more advice. HAUNTED BY LOVER WHO LEFT WITH NO EXPLANATION DEAR DEIDRE: MANY years after the love of my life left me, I still can't move on. I can't even go to the area where she lives in case I bump into her. I don't want her back but I do want to be able to stop thinking about her. I'm 64 and was with her for 20 years. Our relationship was wonderful and other people said we were the perfect couple. But after her 40th birthday, things changed and she stopped being affectionate. One day, I came home from work to find a note saying she'd left. I was blindsided and devastated. That was 12 years ago. Since then, although I've had a few girlfriends, I've never found love again. I just can't let her go. She's always on my mind and her spectre follows me around. Birthdays and anniversaries are especially hard. How can I get her out of my system once and for all? DEIDRE SAYS: The way your ex left you was shocking. Although there were signs she wasn't happy, she never talked to you. As a result, you didn't get closure and still can't move forward. Sometimes, we have to find closure elsewhere. It would help you greatly to talk to a counsellor. My support pack, How Counselling Can Help, tells you how this process works. Also read my support pack Moving On. On significant dates, make sure you have an activity planned, so you're not focusing on your ex. SO MANY EXCUSES NOT TO COMMIT DEAR DEIDRE: I'M dying to make our relationship official, but the guy I'm seeing won't ask me to be his girlfriend. He says he wants to wait until 'the honeymoon period is over', which doesn't ring true to me. I'm starting to doubt whether he really likes me. I feel so insecure. We're both in our mid-twenties and have been dating for four months. I have begun to fall for him. When I asked him why we aren't official yet, he said it was because he's rushed into relationships in the past, and then it's gone horribly wrong. He says he wants to make sure we're right for each other first. That all sounds logical but I don't fully believe him. He can be kind and affectionate, but often makes excuses for why we can't meet and sometimes drops me for his friends. He says he likes me and sees a future for us, but I feel really anxious. DEIDRE SAYS: Whatever his reason – he may be scared of getting hurt so is keeping you at arm's length – he's not ready to be official yet and, unfortunately, you can't force him to change. What's important is that you're feeling unhappy and insecure. Perhaps you need to set yourself a time limit. If things haven't changed by then, and you're still not secure, then walk away. My support pack, Learning About Relationships, may be helpful to read. SICK OF PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE DEAR DEIDRE: MY partner is still allowing his ex to run his life. He doesn't seem to be able to say no to her ever, and I'm sick of being second best. He's been separated from his ex-wife for nine years, and yet he still won't divorce her, even though he says he loves me. If we have a row, he goes running back to her for advice. What should I do? I'm 38 and he's 49. We've been together for eight years but don't live together. Years before we met, he was married to a woman with whom he has two kids. He left her for someone else (a relationship that ended quickly). Recently, he came into some money and promised to take me on holiday. But his ex said he should treat his kids instead, and he agreed. He told me our trip was off. He pays maintenance for his kids already, and I don't resent that – it's the right thing to do. But he also gives his ex extra all the time, and that's not fair when it means I lose out. I'm not worried he's still in love with her, or that he's cheating on me, but I do feel she comes first. It's making me very unhappy and we're having lots of rows. Am I wrong to feel like this? DEIDRE SAYS: You're not in the wrong to want your long-term partner to put you first. It sounds like his ex still has a hold over him and perhaps he feels guilty about the end of their relationship. But that's not an excuse to make you feel second best. Try talking to him again and telling him how you feel. My support pack, Standing Up For Yourself, should help you to do this without making him defensive. It might also help you both to talk to a relationship counsellor. Make an appointment with
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Christopher Rowe obituary
My father, Christopher Rowe, who has died aged 81, was a classical scholar specialising in the philosophy of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. He completed his final work, a translation into English of his edition in Greek of Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics, after being diagnosed as terminally ill with a glioblastoma in September 2024. The edition appeared in 2023, and the translation of it will be published in September 2025. Christopher's skills as a linguist, translator and philosopher enabled him to make celebrated contributions in this centuries-old field of study, which he believed had resonance in the modern age. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, in their different ways, argued that philosophical thinking is necessary if we are to live a successful, happy life. Capitalists, the privileged, or people of whatever sort will have nothing of what they really want until they ask the simple question: 'What is it all for?' It was this thinking that guided Christopher in his studies, his politics and his personal relationships. Born in the town of March, Cambridgeshire, to Mary (nee Ashford), and Daniel, both teachers, Christopher was the second of six children, all of whom remained in close contact throughout his life. Christopher attended Christ's Hospital school and then went to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1962. There he met Heather Knight, a fellow classicist from Girton College, whom he married in 1965. She was a critic, supporter, sounding board and cheerleader for Christopher throughout his life. In 1966 he joined Bristol University, where he was later appointed HO Wills professor of Greek. In the 1980s he was a founder member of the International Plato Society. In 1992, Christopher was invited to Madison, Wisconsin, where he began working with Terry Penner, whom he regarded as 'the most important philosophical influence' on his life. In 1995, Christopher became professor of Greek at Durham University, where he had a Leverhulme research professorship. His colleagues speak widely of his steadfast support of younger academics, and he would travel to places as diverse as Georgia, Brazil, South Korea and Japan in order to do so. Christopher and Heather loved to travel, often with friends they had made from around the world, and, for the last 50 years, regularly visited Puglia, in Italy, where his brother lives. Moving to Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, in 2019 to be nearer to my sister, Sarah, and her family, they were regarded warmly by all, from neighbours to cafe owners and stall holders. Family was Christopher's overwhelming priority. He felt his greatest achievements were his children and his grandchildren, and people speak as much about his humility, generosity and kindness as his scholarly achievements. Perhaps he succeeded in living the 'good life' Aristotle wrote about. Christopher is survived by Heather, Sarah and me, his grandchildren, Sadie, Micky and Mia, and his siblings.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Schools accused of allowing pupils to take up GCSEs in their native languages, such as Chinese and Russian, to boost grades
More pupils are taking GCSEs in unusual languages such as Chinese and Russian amid claims native speakers are using them to boost their grades. Government data for this year shows 42,945 pupils took GCSEs in niche languages – up 70 per cent from 25,225 just four years ago. This is roughly 10,000 more than those that take German, and it is a third of the number who take French. Experts said it was likely pupils from migrant backgrounds were taking qualifications in their mother tongue to get an 'easy' GCSE under their belt. Farcically, these GCSEs also count towards the Government's Ebacc, a performance measure aimed at getting pupils to do rigorous subjects. And there have also been concerns the trend could put off non-native speakers, who are learning the language from scratch. The entry data for 'other modern languages' covers any language aside from the mainstream subjects of French, German and Spanish. Included are Arabic, Italian, Japanese, modern Hebrew, modern Greek, Bengali, Polish, Turkish, Urdu and Panjabi. Iain Mansfield, head of education at the Policy Exchange think tank, said: 'Encouraging native speakers to take these foreign language GCSEs en masse has long been used by some schools to artificially boost their rankings. 'While there is nothing wrong with an individual pupil choosing to take a GCSE in their heritage language, the soaring numbers show it's time for Government to clamp down on this loophole – and ensure schools can't claim credit for entering pupils into language GCSEs at which they are already proficient.' Alan Smithers, professor of education at the University of Buckingham, said: 'Many of these GCSEs are mainly taken by native speakers because they can do extremely well and meet the obligations on schools to promote language learning. 'The problem is that there are important foreign languages which other pupils could very usefully learn like Chinese and Russian, but they are nowhere near as good as native speakers, and most I'm afraid tend to get put off.' The number taking 'other foreign languages' has increased every year since 2021, with a 1 per cent increase since 2024. Almost a quarter – 24 per cent – of those taking these languages do so a year early, suggesting they may already know all the course content. Last year, 72 per cent of entries to this category got at least a grade 7 – equivalent to the old A – compared to 22 per cent across all GCSE subjects, making it the highest-scoring. One school, Leeds City Academy, actively encourages pupils to take GCSEs in what it calls 'heritage languages' – defined as 'the first language spoken by the student or a language in which they are proficient'. It offers tuition of just two hours a week after school to help them pass the qualifications, which are run by EdExcel. The school's website says: 'As heritage language students already have a sound knowledge of the language, you will be expected to sit the higher tier exams.' The trend is a concern for native English speakers who take GCSEs in these languages learning from scratch. Some private schools now offer languages such as Chinese, with a view that it could be a useful language to have in the future global job market. Previous research from Ofqual on native speakers taking A-level languages found they perform on average better than non-native speakers. A Department for Education spokesman said: 'Learning a language empowers young people to engage with the world, think critically and understand new perspectives, and we want all children to have this opportunity regardless of their background or postcode. 'High and rising standards are at the heart of the government's mission to break down barriers to opportunity which is why we are committed to increasing the number of pupils studying languages at GCSE, including languages that are commonly spoken in modern day Britain. 'Decisions about which languages to offer at GCSE are taken by exam boards and are partly decided on by the level of demand from schools, and people speaking the language in the UK. Many post-16 and adult learners will take language GCSEs, particularly in lesser taught languages.'
