Litter pickers from three Highland communities have described their shock at the scale of littering in their areas.
Game keepers and members of Tomatin Moorland Group and Cawdor estate, along with local residents, decided to do a countryside clean-up for the second time in a year, focusing on the areas around Tomatin, Carrbridge and Cawdor village.
They filled a skip with more than 35 bags of rubbish – just months after the last litter pick – and said were shocked at how much rubbish had been dumped, often close to available litter bins.
A bike frame, a pair of boots, a television, fly-tipped rubber tyres and a bed turned up, along with dirty nappies and work supplies such as road paint.
Lydia Nibbs, of Tomatin Moorland Group, said: “It was a bit of an eye-opener.
“Because we did something similar six months ago, no one really expected there to be so much stuff.
“In one lay-by where there was a big black bin, we picked up eight bags of rubbish just thrown around, or beside it.
“Everyone wants to have a nice environment where they live. It is also important for people to respect the countryside.”
The litter pickers were concerned by the number of single-use bottles and abandoned dog poo bags.
An old bed frame had also been broken up and tossed onto a piece of heather moorland, where red-listed wading birds were gathering for the breeding season.
“Access laws are fine but not everyone respects them in the same way,” said one of the gamekeepers who took part in the effort. “These are environments and habitats where there is nesting wildlife.
“It is not uncommon for gamekeepers in this area to be clearing stuff from the countryside that could endanger wildlife. Part of it is education and getting people to take more care.”
The groups say they are keen to do more and get wider community support to keep their local areas tidy.
A spokesman from Cawdor Estate said: “We would like to thank everyone who took part, from people living in and around Cawdor village, teams from Cawdor Castle, the Cawdor family and all our staff.
“We accumulated a huge skip of rubbish, including 35 tyres and a television, so we suspect this is something we may have to arrange on an annual basis.”
