Crowdfunder raises thousands for farmer hit by fly-tippers
Drone footage of the waste left by fly-tippers © Will Dickinson A crowdfunding campaign has raised more than £43,000 to support an elderly farmer in Hertfordshire who is facing a £40,000 clean-up bill after fly-tippers dumped about 200t of waste on his land.
The rubbish, delivered in more than 40 lorryloads, was left on the arable farm near St Albans over three nights beginning 7 June last year.
The farmer, who is aged in his 80s and has chosen to remain anonymous, is facing the threat of prosecution from the Environment Agency if the waste is not cleared.
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The JustGiving fundraiser was launched by Archie Ford, a member of the public with no personal ties to farming, after he read about the case.
Angered by what he saw as an injustice, Mr Ford said he was troubled that the farmer could be held responsible for waste illegally dumped by others.
He set a target of £45,000 to cover the cost of removal and to improve security at the site.
Mr Ford said any funds raised beyond the target would go toward helping the farmer better protect his land in the future.
Neighbouring farmer Will Dickinson with some of the fly-tipped waste © NFU
The farmer’s neighbour, Will Dickinson, described the family as “shell-shocked” and humbled by the outpouring of generosity.
He added that the financial support would make a significant difference.