Questions (with images) about our loft insulation - it looks a mess!

For the first time since buying our old 1930's era semi-detached a couple of years ago we are thinking about having the loft boarded for some extra storage space.

It's the first proper time I've ventured up there and it looks like nothing I've ever seen in a loft! I've attached some images - is this normal? I'm guessing this is a mix of blown and rolled insulation as there are some 'normal' rolled out bits, but the blown stuff looks like its been whipped into large groups in some areas.

Also, when we bought the house we asked about the roof not being lined and were told its how these era houses were designed, for air flow etc. Would it be detrimental to line it from the inside to try and stop debris?

Also, is this all safe? Would it be best to just have all that loose material all removed and start over with rolled out insulation?

Thanks for any insight in advance!

Oh dear what a mess! I would feel inclined to close the hatch and forget about it!

If however you want to board it you might as well just smooth out the loose fill and board over taking care over cables which might overheat.

The main thing to do and don't panic it is pretty rare, is to have a sample tested for asbestos better safe than sorry

Most loose fill is a sort of paper product with treated with fire retardant or granules of vermiculite. Some by all means not all, vermiculite has a small asbestos content and there are loose fill asbestos products.
As a rule loose fill asbestos is not used in domestic houses in the UK (I think there is a problem in parts of Australia where a company used a lot of it) but there is always the cheapskate that gets something "through the trade" so I would check it out, whatever you do don't start working on even asbestos free insulation without a good dust mask and gloves.

Good luck I don't envy you!

Thanks for the advice - we did find what looks like vermiculite in bags. can't reach far enough to get a light photo but it looks like this: http://bannerchemical.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Vermiculite.jpg - the rest of it thats spread about (as in the images) looks more paper based - do you think that needs testing too? Have just spoken to a testing company and going to get a sample over to them this afternoon!

I would test both types the roll stuff just looks like normal fiberglass but the loose fill would be best to test both while you are about it

Out of interest did you get to the bottom of this?
The grey colouring may be because the old roof tiles are backfilled with cement which causes a crazy amount of dust. Looks just like my loft!