Category Cave Inn Pits   Show all

• Cave's Inn Pits Update - 30 April 2026

  The Environment Agency, working with Natural England, has launched an investigation into the large-scale, illegal dumping of waste at the Cave’s Inn Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near Shawell, Leicestershire.

  The site is well-concealed but on receiving reports of odours from the public, Environment Agency and Natural England officers visited the site last week. They discovered significant amounts of household waste had been dumped at the site, causing pollution to the SSSI.

  Shredded waste found

  The site is believed to hold approximately 30,000 tonnes of shredded waste in layers with soil used to cover it. The public are urged to stay away from the site whilst the investigation is ongoing.

  Alongside the criminal investigation, the Environment Agency is assessing the waste to ensure there are no further environmental impacts, as well as monitoring local air and water quality.

  The Environment Agency has recently released their ‘10 point plan’ to combat waste crime, which marks a step change in the way illegal activity is tackled in the waste sector.

  
  

  Site at Cave's Inn Pits in Leicestershire. Credit: Environment Agency/Natural England

  Ian Jones, Area Director, West Midlands at the Environment Agency, said:

  This is a sickening case of large-scale illegal waste dumping, and we share the public’s disgust. 

  We have launched an investigation with Natural England to find the criminals and ensure they pay the price for their despicable actions.

  We ask the public to stay away from the area, which is on private land, while we investigate.

  Anyone with information about this incident should please call our 24-hour hotline.

  Phil Hukin, Principal Manager, Leicestershire and Rutland at Natural England said:

  This site contained some of the best remaining areas of neutral marsh in Leicestershire. It is heartbreaking to see one of England’s precious sites of special scientific interest damaged like this.

  Our officers are working closely with Environment Agency colleagues to investigate this appalling crime.

  The Environment Agency is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and report it to their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  
  

  The Environment Agency, working with Natural England, has launched an investigation into the large-scale, illegal dumping of waste at the Cave’s Inn Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near Shawell, Leicestershire.

  The site is well-concealed but on receiving reports of odours from the public, Environment Agency and Natural England officers visited the site last week. They discovered significant amounts of household waste had been dumped at the site, causing pollution to the SSSI.

  Shredded waste found

  The site is believed to hold approximately 30,000 tonnes of shredded waste in layers with soil used to cover it. The public are urged to stay away from the site whilst the investigation is ongoing.

  Alongside the criminal investigation, the Environment Agency is assessing the waste to ensure there are no further environmental impacts, as well as monitoring local air and water quality.

  The Environment Agency has recently released their ‘10 point plan’ to combat waste crime, which marks a step change in the way illegal activity is tackled in the waste sector.

  
  

  Site at Cave's Inn Pits in Leicestershire. Credit: Environment Agency/Natural England

  Ian Jones, Area Director, West Midlands at the Environment Agency, said:

  This is a sickening case of large-scale illegal waste dumping, and we share the public’s disgust. 

  We have launched an investigation with Natural England to find the criminals and ensure they pay the price for their despicable actions.

  We ask the public to stay away from the area, which is on private land, while we investigate.

  Anyone with information about this incident should please call our 24-hour hotline.

  Phil Hukin, Principal Manager, Leicestershire and Rutland at Natural England said:

  This site contained some of the best remaining areas of neutral marsh in Leicestershire. It is heartbreaking to see one of England’s precious sites of special scientific interest damaged like this.

  Our officers are working closely with Environment Agency colleagues to investigate this appalling crime.

  The Environment Agency is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and report it to their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.