For seven long years, one of Britain's most shocking environmental scandals has been unfolding on the doorstep of a popular family farm attraction in Gloucestershire. A colossal illegal waste dump, now believed to be the largest of its kind in the country, has been spewing toxic fumes across the countryside, with authorities accused of failing to act.
A Family Day Out Amidst Toxic Smoke
The Countryside Adventure Park at Over Farm markets itself as a haven of fresh air, offering visitors tractor rides, mini-golf, and encounters with friendly animals like llamas and donkeys. Yet its owner has been forced to admit that on certain days, the scene is blighted by billowing, noxious smoke from burning plastic, leaving guests spluttering and struggling to breathe.
Satellite imagery indicates the illegal tip sprawls across an area exceeding two acres. This staggering size makes it at least ten times larger than the previously notorious 'Britain's biggest' fly-tip in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
Seven Years of Industrial-Scale Dumping
The crisis began in 2018, when up to 50 lorries daily began arriving from across the UK to offload their cargoes of plastic, construction rubble, and general waste on land behind Over Farm. Since then, tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish have been illegally deposited.
The dump is perilously situated between the adventure park and the old Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal. Shocking photographs reveal smouldering waste piles already subsiding into the historic waterway. The entire area lies on the floodplain of the River Leadon, a tributary of the Severn that is home to protected species like the critically endangered European eel.
Residents describe witnessing an industrial-scale operation, with waste piled high and then flattened by bulldozers. "I've seen dump trucks arrive from Watford, the Midlands, Bristol and South Wales," one local told the Mail. "This is thousands of tons being systematically tipped onto prime English countryside."
Frustration and Fear in the Local Community
The sheer scale of the dump is compounded by its frequent self-combustion, a result of heat generated by decomposition, with layers of waste reaching depths of up to 20 feet. The local fire brigade is regularly called to tackle the smouldering blazes.
Villagers from nearby Highnam, who have made weekly complaints to the police and the Environment Agency, say their concerns have been ignored for years. Many have asked to remain anonymous, citing threatening phone calls received after speaking out. "When the wind is blowing in a certain direction it becomes unbearable, our children have to breathe those fumes," one parent said.
Land Registry documents name Sean Butcher as the owner of the land. Locals allege the tip itself has been operated by businessman Marshall Gorman, 45, who runs a local driveway company. Gorman is also listed as the owner of another site in Rudford, where he faces a council Planning Enforcement Action for similar waste activities.
In response to the scandal, Highnam Parish Council has lodged a formal complaint with the chief executive of the Environment Agency over its perceived inaction. Council chairman Charlie Coats expressed profound frustration: "We've been asking them to do something for seven years... All we ever get back is, 'yes we are aware of it'. It's very frustrating."
The Forest of Dean District Council stated it had taken action against the landowner over serious environmental breaches. A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We are actively investigating the illegal deposits of waste at Over and we share the community's disgust at these cases of environmental vandalism."
For the families trying to enjoy a simple day out in the Gloucestershire countryside, and for residents living under a pall of toxic smoke, the wait for decisive action continues.
