We ran an initial study which sought to identify the key drivers for littering behaviour. We might assume it is a motivational issue: people just don’t care, but actually an important factor was that some visitors didn’t really appreciate what was expected of them in the park. They hadn’t planned well in advance for their visit, such as bringing a waste bag to take home litter themselves. The ultimate aim of the research is to find ways to create a stronger sense of personal responsibility in the national park such that visitors take care of themselves and others – leaving ‘no trace’ and even collecting litter that others have dropped.
The findings led to the design of a behaviour change study, where student researchers engaged directly with walkers at the base of Yr Wyddfa. Using a carefully developed ‘behaviourally informed’ script, the students aimed to boost intrinsic motivation and promote environmentally responsible actions during the walkers’ ascent. The early results were highly promising, with evidence suggesting a positive shift in attitudes and behaviours. The full research is currently being prepared for academic publication.
The culmination of all this work was the first Eryri COPA1 summit on Yr Wyddfa where teams of children from local secondary schools developed projects to tackle plastics and plastic waste. The event drew support from high-profile stakeholders and community figures, including Welsh singer and children’s poet laureate Casi Wyn, Owen Derbyshire, Head of Keep Wales Tidy, and Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
Supported by the National Lottery and the ϲʹ Community Fund, the event provided a platform for school pupils to work alongside expert facilitators, refining their ideas and pitching them to a panel of judges. Following the event, they were treated to a visit to the summit of Yr Wyddfa on the iconic Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Professor Christian Dunn, Associate Pro-Vice- Chancellor for Sustainability at ϲʹ, said, “The success of the Eryri COPA1 summit is just the beginning. The work continues and represents the way that ϲʹ, as one of the top 100 universities in the world for sustainability, is having an impact in our local community.”
Alec Young, Plastic Free Yr Wyddfa Officer, said, "We are seeing real momentum in the community’s efforts to reduce plastic waste, but this is only the start. Through education, research, and collaboration, we’re setting the stage for lasting change."
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