Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox Something went wrong, please try again later. Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox Countryfile fans shared frustration as host Datshiane Navanayagam highlighted a "really sad" reality on Sunday (April 27). The latest instalment of Countryfile brought the audience along with presenters Margherita Taylor and Joe Crowley to experience the springtime wonders of the Forest of Bowland. As the show delved further, Datshiane investigated the escalating problem of fly tipping in rural areas, hearing from aggrieved farmers about their plight. Introducing the feature, Margherita voiced concern: "Fly tipping is unfortunately something we see far too often in our countryside and last year, the overall number of incidents soared." She continued by stressing the hidden costs: "But that doesn't reflect the true impact of illegal rubbish dumping on some rural communities, with the clear up thought to be costing farmers and councils millions," before handing over to Datshiane for her report, reports the Mirror. Taking over, Datshiane revealed grim statistics: "Fly tipping is getting worse. The latest government statistics show there were over 1.15 million fly tipping incidents in 2023 and 2024 in England alone,". She noted the increase: "That's up 6% on the previous year. The same figures show a rise in fly tipping on farms of nearly 2%." However, Datshiane underscored that these numbers are likely underestimates given that many incidents on private agricultural lands are believed to go unreported, implying actual figures could be much higher than reported, as stated by the Express. Datshiane later conferred with a cereal farmer named Evie Hunter, who shockingly disclosed that she had discovered over 40 tonnes of waste illegally dumped in her field last month. "We had sinks, doors, toilets, showers, food waste, everything," Evie confided. Expressing her feelings about the incident, she said: "[I felt] disrespected, angry, it feels like farmers are being hit from all angles at the minute and when something like this happens, it's all too much." The situation sparked an immediate reaction on X (formerly known as Twitter), where viewers aired their concerns. One individual expressed, "Fly tipping is disgusting and sad for the wildlife." Another stated, "Really sad that people dump rubbish in the Countryside, bad enough in cities like London etc," and a third voiced, "This is a huge problem." A fourth commentator brought attention to a recurring issue, arguing, "Typical. Blame and criminalise the farmers for burying fly-tipping waste instead of acknowledging why they're forced to do this."