Carpet under tarp under soil....in the woods....?

[manfX]

This is probably nothing but it's really really bugging me as to what it could be...any suggestions..?

So, DP and DS took the dog for a walk last night through the woods.
Obviously they can't stick to the path and they had to stray off into the middle of anywhere... They come across a bit of blue 'plastic' sticking out of the ground.. There's a man, a boy and a dog......of course they pulled it up to investigate

Lifted the blue plastic (thicker than tarpaulin) and soil came off the top - only buried around 2-3inches - and also soil in it where the ?tarp? is kinda folded/crumpled. About 5-6ft long and 1.5-2ft wide.
Directly under that is carpet, not full lengths of carpet though, its all cut up. And yep, he moved that too but it was only a little mousey and soil - FRESHLY dug over patted back flat soil...he put about a foot of stick in the ground to see if it was soft (it was) then shit himself and came back home.
This specific bit of the woods is right by a little, very queit, slip road too!

WTH, if anything, could be buried there or what could it be?

Obviously SIL and I are on the phone for hours debating what it could be;

1)Buried treasure ;)
2)Possibly someone has buried their pet there(maybe they loved those woods)
3)Buried weapons/robbery items
4)Absolutely nothing
5)We're all thinking it but I'm not typing it........

P.S. I did call 101 and report it;
'What crime are you reporting Miss'
"Erm, I'm not sure, let me explain"
explained as above
'Okay, so what crime is it you're reporting?'

What did the police eventually say when you explained that you weren't reporting an actual crime, and then went on to describe the discovery?

I would have thought the police would be a bit more helpful.

it's an experiment, someone is trying to find out what plants will survive being smothered like that
(am doing something similar on the allotment)

He just replied "Okay so what crime are you reporting" ...
I said it's not a crime as such but I want to report it as its slightly concerning, odd and DP fingerprints are now on it he said he'll pass it to the local police but no one will come out

And the dog was barking mad !!

Go back and dig it up.

Well someone has recently buried something that's for sure...

Then you need to ring back and ask if no-one's going to come out, how on earth do they know exactly where to look?

Was there a specific landmark or something that you told them it was next to?

If not, you'll need to ring back and speak to someone else.

Or if I were you, I'd find the telephone number/email address of your nearest police station and report it that way.

Either way, it will be more productive than asking for a thread full of suggestions, because no-one here is going to be able to solve it.

It could be something or nothing.

I did tell him to go back but he's too chickenshit it was dark, raining and thundering..

No nothing like that - TBH he wasn't very interested and I think at one point he even tried not to laugh . I did think of emailing, I'll see if I can one..

Any update op?

Very elaborate fly tipping

Go back op!

Dial 999, apologise but tell them the 101 number was unhelpful. Say you are worried there may have been a crime and you think the police should exclude the fact that it is a body. Were there flies or a dreadful smell? If not probably just a haul from a raid on se ret vaults and tons if gold and jewels and cash.

I think dead pet.

Don't dial 999. It's not an emergency. 101 and 999 have the same operators answering the phone...
I'd suggest sending your force an email and maybe go back and take some photos to attach to the email. It could be nothing.

If it's still bothering you then, ring 101 again and speak with someone else. State you are reporting something suspicious rather than a crime at present and also advise that your dog was very interested in what was under the tarp but you didn't want to disturb it any further just incase there was something untoward under the tarp.

Is there a smell around the area?

Really should look at the date of these things...

Did anything happen OP?

Did anything happen?!

It sounds like the remains of a bender.

You lay down tarp/carpet/pallets/whatever's available, then construct a framework of twigs, over which you add blankets and tarp.

They're used by homeless people etc, and can be very cosy and elaborate.

The ground underneath will look fresh because all the foliage will have died back and rotted.

Wait, pic didn't attach.
Ach, google "bender shelter" and you'll see what I mean.

Yours could be a very old one and the sticks & blankets have rotted, and topsoil has formed, or a pretty shit one. Or the start of one.

Agree with last 2 pp, the soil will look fresh and patted down because the covering will prevent plants growing, plus worm casts will gather at the top making it look soft and crumbly. Top soil/leaves etc will also drift over the tarp over time. It's either fly tipping or a shelter as described below.

Yup!
I was going to mention worms, prof. Can just see it now... All rich and crumbly like.

Hope OP comes back, this was some time ago.

I'd call in at your nearest police station, or get DH to, seeing as he's the one who could describe everything accurately. The local PCSO might be interested enough to go and have a look, see if it's anything to worry about.

I know this was a while ago but any news?