Horsham gamekeeper urges public to respect the countryside

Phillip Lucas discovered a large number of glass bottles, many of which had been broken and buried, on private land off Hampers Lane yesterday, January 21.

The 57-year-old, who is also Horsham’s deer warden, returned today to fill seven sacks full of broken glass and litter.

But he is now urging people to behave in a more respectful manner amid fears a dog or animal could be injured by a sharp piece of glass.

He said: “It could do a fairly nasty injury to a dog.

“It’s not just broken glass it was a bottle in half – both of the halves would be laying there and buried.

“It would not fall over you would just go over the top of it – sever your pad or foot.”

Phillip has removed plastic bottles, cans of beer and more from the area. He said a cow recently died after eating a balloon.

He added: “[People] don’t care they do as they like. They’re not interested.

“The situation is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

Phillip is urging people to stick to footpaths and not venture onto private land. He said more education needs to be done to help people understand how to respect the countryside.

He added: “It’s a question of being considerate. People are very good at taking things into the countryside with them but not taking things back.”