A woman was fined £120 for feeding nuts to squirrels in a London park because an officer said she was littering. 

Maria Lachut, 55, was feeding squirrels in Lampton Park in Hounslow when a law enforcement officer fined her for ‘littering’.

She was issued with a fixed penalty notice and told that squirrels were only allowed to be fed in specific parks within the borough of Hounslow.

The fine is £120 but can be reduced to £80 if it is paid within 10 days. 

After the officer confronted her, a woman came up to her and told her she had also been fined for the same thing in the past. 

She told Maria, a chef in Kingston, that she now carries around a printed copy of an email that proves she is allowed to feed them. 

Maria’s daughter, Martyna Lachut, 22, believes the fine is unlawful and has appealed against it. 

Martyna told MyLondon that it is not the first time her mother has gone to see the squirrels and complained that the charge is ‘more than you get for parking’.

She said: ‘There is no information on Hounslow Council’s website stating that it is illegal to feed squirrels in local parks.

‘She (Maria)  was very surprised she did not believe it was a thing. She was a little upset. We have been back to the park but are no longer feeding the squirrels.’

Hounslow Council has been approached for comment.

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