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Poo bags another brick in the wall - 27th April 2026
Archaeologists have issued a stark warning that dog walkers are putting Hadrian's Wall at risk. They're stuffing poo bags into the crevices of the ancient Roman landmark, which dates back 1,900 years, causing chemicals and micro-plastics to leach into the stones.
Once taken up by the porous stones, this leads to irreversible changes in their chemical composition. Such alterations are then responsible for increasing the speed at which the stones decay.
The most iconic Roman remains in Britain, the wall was constructed under orders issued by Emperor Hadrian in 122 CE as a boundary protecting the northern border of both the Roman empire and the province of Britannia. It was a means of controlling movement and trade, and it divided the Roman citizens of Britannia from what were seen as the 'barbarian' tribes of the north.
Its construction, which lasted 6 years and involved 15,000 soldiers, resulted in a 117.5-kilometre barrier across northern England, which was then guarded day and night for almost three centuries. Added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1987, Hadrian's Wall currently receives over 750,000 visitors annually.
Whilst visitors tend to show an appropriate level of respect, a worrying trend's emerged of dog owners shoving used poo bags into the cracks and crannies of the wall. This disregard for the monument appals Margaret Anderson, head ranger of Northumberland national park.
"For somebody to think it's acceptable to wedge poo bags into a UNESCO World Heritage site, well actually, it makes you quite sad."
While to errant dog owners the lack of bins may seem to justify their actions, Anderson and park authorities are averse to the idea of littering the ancient landscape with modern edifices. One responsible dog owner stated that picking up poo bags "is just what you do." Others have condemned the offenders as "simply lazy," calling the habit "absolutely horrific".
National Trust archaeologist Mark Newman claims "this kind of littering risks accelerating the decay of the structure and undermining its long-term conservation".
Meanwhile, Tony Gates, CEO of Northumberland national park is baffled. "You come to see this amazing piece of history, would it look the same if every 50 metres there's a poo bag hanging out?"
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