Countryfile viewers were left fuming as presenter Datshiane Navanayagam explored the significant rise in fly tipping on Sunday
Countryfile viewers issued the same complaint as host Datshiane Navanayagam shared a “really sad” revelation on Sunday (April 27).
In the latest episode of the beloved BBC programme, presenters Margherita Taylor and Joe Crowley ventured into the Forest of Bowland to indulge in the sensory delights of spring.
Later in the show, Datshiane delved into the escalating issue of fly-tipping in the countryside, engaging with several farmers about their distressing encounters.
Margherita introduced the segment by saying, “Fly tipping is unfortunately something we see far too often in our countryside and last year, the overall number of incidents soared.”
“But that doesn’t reflect the true impact of illegal rubbish dumping on some rural communities, with the clear up thought to be costing farmers and councils millions,” she continued, before transitioning to Datshiane’s report.
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“Fly tipping is getting worse. The latest government statistics show there were over 1.15 million fly tipping incidents in 2023 and 2024 in England alone,” Datshiane explained, reports the Express.
“That’s up 6% on the previous year. The same figures show a rise in fly tipping on farms of nearly 2%.”
Yet, the full extent of the crisis remains obscured. The government has acknowledged that the majority of fly tipping occurrences on farms and private lands go unreported, suggesting the true number of incidents is significantly higher than recorded.
During her investigation, Datshiane spoke with cereal farmer Evie Hunter, who shockingly disclosed that last month, she discovered more than 40 tonnes of waste illegally discarded in her field.
“We had sinks, doors, toilets, showers, food waste, everything,” Evie shared.
“[I felt] disrespected, angry, it feels like farmers are being hit from all angles at the minute and when something like this happens, it’s all too much.”
The show’s viewers quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their frustration over the issue, with one person commenting: “Fly tipping is disgusting and sad for the wildlife.”
Another added: “Really sad that people dump rubbish in the Countryside, bad enough in cities like London etc,” while a third fan said: “This is a huge problem.”
A fourth viewer echoed the sentiment, saying: “Typical. Blame and criminalise the farmers for burying fly-tipping waste instead of acknowledging why they’re forced to do this.”
Countryfile is available to stream on BBC iPlayer