Wreath from a granny's grave among waste dumped at NI nature reserve

A number of children's bicycles as well as garden ornaments now litter the road through Oxford Island Nature Reserve on the shores of Lough Neagh.

Owned and run by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, Oxford Island is one of the top nature reserves in the UK and Ireland and normally hosts thousands of visitors every year.

However the council area has been plagued with fly tipping since the COVID-19 lockdown began with amenity sites now closed to the public.

A spokesperson for Kinnego Marina at Oxford Island Nature Reserve said: "Staff were dismayed this morning to find the items below dumped on Oxford Island.

"Fly tipping is not acceptable anywhere let alone on a Nature Reserve.

"The fact that Amenity sites are not open is no excuse and those responsible should be ashamed of themselves," said a spokesperson for Kinnego Marina.

Oxford Island is designated as a National Nature Reserve due to the diversity and local importance of habitats such as reed beds, open water, wildlife ponds, forests and wildflower meadows.

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