Student's video of gulls swarming on streets 'filled with trash' goes viral
A video of seagulls swarming around rubbish in a city's student area has gone viral, showing what was jokingly described as "every seagull in Wales holding a meeting overhead".
The footage was filmed by Cardiff University student, Yasmin Adan, who captured the encounter during a walk down a street in Cathays, which is well-known for its student population.
Adan, 24, said she felt like she had to leave the area in order to "enjoy a nice walk" because the streets are regularly "filled with trash".
Cardiff Council said it had taken "proactive action" to support students when they moved out of the city over the summer and had waste enforcement teams working in the area.
Adan, from London, lived in Cathays while studying a masters degree in international relations.
She said: "Every time I walked out my house the streets were filled with trash.
"I've always liked to go on a daily walk for my mental health but since I moved there it hasn't been great. I usually have to leave Cathays to actually enjoy a nice walk.
"I use my walks to refresh my mind but it's hard to do that when there is rubbish all over the floor."
Adan said she felt like "nothing" was being done to help maintain the area, adding: "It's a shame because Cardiff is a beautiful city and Cathays has a lot of potential".
"Once someone's food bin had knocked on the floor and I stepped on the food bag, it just ruined my day.
"It just brings my mood down," she said.
Adan's video, captioned "mental health walk but you live in the UK", has attracted thousands of likes and comments after being shared by a meme account on Instagram.
The caption describes heading out for a walk "to clear your mind, enjoy some peace and quiet, and reset after a long day".
"Sounds simple enough until you find yourself walking through Cathays with what feels like every seagull in Wales holding a meeting overhead. The only thing louder than your thoughts is the constant squawking coming from every direction," it continues.
Patrick Tucker, 71, who does not live in the area but regularly rides his bike around Cathays said student tended "to just dump stuff" on the side of the road because "they don't have the same sort of ownership as the rest of us".
Tucker said seagulls were "definitely" more of a problem as students move out of the area, with bin bags left on the side of the road often split open.
"Glass is the biggest problem which gets in the cycle lanes, it's hopeless," he added.
Student Anna Hawkins, 22, says when seagulls get into the bins the rubbish goes "all over the street".
The fourth-year optometry student from Southampton who was moving out of her Cathays student home said her bins were already "pretty full" and she still had "a lot of stuff to chuck away".
She admitted she "may need to leave some stuff" next to the bin if it did not fit.
Cardiff Council said it had taken proactive action to support students as they leave the city by "working with universities, students' unions and in Cathays and Plasnewydd to raise awareness of students' waste responsibilities".
Since 15 June, the council's recycling officers have carried out daily door-to-door engagement and events allowing students to dispose of unwanted items responsibly, with reusable goods donated to charity and waste recycled where possible.
A spokesperson added: "Street cleansing teams have also been operating in these wards to keep the streets as clean as possible, as students leave the city.
"During the campaign, more than 3,700 students have been reached and over 3,000 leaflets distributed.
"Waste enforcement teams have also been working in these areas to take appropriate action against those who dump waste irresponsibly, refuse to use Council services, and cause blight in local communities."
