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THE SWEDISH UNIVERSITY town of Lund will spread foul-smelling chicken fertiliser in its main park this week to deter revellers holding spring celebrations as part of efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
City officials have asked residents to skip the traditional Walpurgis Eve celebrations today, known in Sweden as Valborg, and plan to fence off the Lund city park.
But they told AFP they would also go a step further and take the opportunity to spread one tonne of chicken droppings in the park.
While giving the lawns a welcome dose of nutrition, they also hope it will keep at bay those who would otherwise be tempted to defy the coronavirus restrictions.
“Well, chicken manure simply smells awful,” Gustav Lundblad, chairman of the city’s environment board, told AFP.
“It’s not very pleasant to sit around drinking beer in that smell,” Lundblad added.
The local Sydsvenskan newspaper says that up to a tonne of the faeces could be spread as part of the plan.
The park is a popular gathering spot for afternoon and early evening picnics on 30 April before the traditional bonfires later in the evening.
Since the festivities — which can attract up to 30,000 visitors — are “spontaneous”, the city cannot outright ban them but given the coronavirus outbreak, Lundblad said the city strongly wanted to avoid them.
Lund is home to one of Sweden’s largest universities and many of the municipality’s some 125,000 inhabitants are students.
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Mark is a lovely guy and I hope he is found safe and well really soon. Sharing this article on social media can help raise awareness. Maybe someone has seen him.
I really hope he is found safe and well. I can’t imagine how hard this must be on the family.
Hopefully he is just being “a very naughty boy”, and will turn up with a rake of cool stories.
Really hope this lad is ok and he makes contact.
I just can’t believe you have just said that!! One of the most ignorant & inconsiderate comments I’ve read on Journal.ie. Life swings in roundabouts… Mocking is catchin….
People like him are just clowns Stephen. Best ignored in my opinion
At last that comment was removed! I hope they find this chap soon.
I understand this is the gardai’s press release, but its not entirely accurate. Mark is in my college class and was last seen leaving a lecture DIT on aungier st on tuesday night at about 9:40 before walking down towards Georges St.
It just seems strange to not provide his last known movements, but like I said I realise this is the gardai press release boilerplate.
Please God he is found safe & well.
I hope mark is found safe and well praying for his safe return a friend of the family
I’m leaving outside of Ireland, so just dropping in and out of the news. Why are so many young men going missing lately?
I do hope he and all the others are found safe but is this a bit quick.
Well I’m his brother and if you’re brother went missing you wouldn’t be saying that.
Last seen Sunday Sacha, 4 days ago….how is that a bit quick?
Hey Niall, really wishing you, your family and friends all the best and hoping for a good result man.
Best wishes to you Niall and family for a safe return.
Niall I wish you and everyone involved in this appeal and all others a very positive outcome and that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Separately I unfortunately do have a brother who goes missing from time to time and the first few times were hard. Even on a 5 day trip to london he went missing for 2 days. His behaviour changed after a hit and run crossing the road. Unreserved apologies for any disrespect my comment may have caused. None was intended.
Chin up Niall. Hopefully he will be found safe and well
Hope he’s found safe and sound lad .dont mind these c***s who live pathetic lives
Fair play Sacha. Your sentiment and feelings understood by all I trust
I hope you find him, if he was last seen with a rucksack, maybe he planned to travel somewhere and you will find him soon, please god.
Was in Maynooth with him hope he’s ok everyone thinking of u and ur family Niall and that mark is too
Hi Niall I don’t know you but I know your sister and your mam our thoughts are with ye all at this tough time don’t listen to negative comments you have enough to deal with x
I hope u find him safe and well and bring him home to the people that love him
Any news on Mark, please god he was found safe and sound
have your say