Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is marking National Parks Week (July 25-31) by launching a new campaign encouraging visitors to help take care of this special place.

‘Respect Your Park’ is a joint initiative from Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, Forest Enterprise Scotland and Police Scotland.

The campaign aims to ensure people understand how to show respect for the environment and for other people, so that everyone who comes to the National Park can make the most of the outdoors.

The campaign focuses on litter and responsible camping, and also includes messages about noise, safe fires, going to the toilet in the wild, fishing, and safe driving on the often busy roads of the Park.

National Park Rangers can now give out Fixed Penalty Notices of £80 for littering and £200 for fly-tipping, but these powers will only be used as a measure of last resort. The initiative’s aim is to educate the public and encourage them to enjoy and look after the Park.

Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park said: “National Parks Week is a perfect opportunity to encourage people to come and enjoy themselves and to ask for their help to keep this Park special.

"It is wonderful that 50 per cent of Scotland’s population is just an hour’s drive from Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. With such easy access for so many people, it is important that everyone who comes here to knows how to do the right thing to help us take care of this special place.”

Chief Superintendent Stevie McAllister, Divisional Commander for Forth Valley and Police Scotland lead for the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park added: “For the best part of a decade, officers based within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area have worked closely with the National Park to deter offences such as antisocial behaviour and identify those responsible.

“This has already proven extremely successful with crimes of this nature now significantly reduced, particularly within the East Loch Lomond and other lochshore areas and the vast majority of visitors behaving responsibly during their stay. However, we cannot become complacent and this launch of the ‘Respect Your Park’ allows us to build on the foundations of previous partnership operations within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.”