Illegal campers leave a trail of destruction on the shores of Buttermere.

[Chippy_Tea]

I never understand why some people visiting the lake district choose a particular place to fly-camp (which is illegal) then wreck it by chopping trees down, littering and leaving their camping gear behind the national trust is a charity they cannot afford to pay to clean up after them.

Conservation chiefs say they will contact police after campers left a trail of destruction in the Lake District.

The National Trust was left with a two-day clean-up bill estimated to be in the region of £1,000 after a group discarded camping equipment, mattresses and clothing on the shores of Buttermere.
An axe was also found having been used to chop nearby trees and several fires had burned patches of ground.
The organisation said it would pass a number of online posts and videos believed to involve the suspects to Cumbria Police.
Potential offences include criminal damage and fly-tipping, as well as heritage crime as the Lake District is a designated Unesco World Heritage Site.
The trust added such behaviour had become "far too common in recent years".

'Ruin the experience'​

Neil Winder, from the trust, said: "Rangers were taken away from their conservation work to clean up the mess and the skip rental and time cost the National Trust close to £1,000.
"It is a shame that a minority of people choose to behave this way, ruining the experience for locals and other visitors.
"Such criminal damage and littering negatively impacts the landscape and the local community who, along with our rangers, are left to clean up."
The damage was spotted by a park ranger on 2 July.
The trust is urging people to use established camp sites rather than take part in what is known as fly-camping, which is illegal.
It is also reminding visitors to follow the Countryside Code, not to light fires or barbecues and to "leave no trace" by clearing up after themselves.

 

[Stu]

And this is why we can't have wild camping.

Leave only footsteps.
Take only fond memories.

I've done wild camping on Dartmoor. Other than the flattened grass, you wouldn't have known we were there!
Was always taught to take everything with me. I teach the Scouts the same thing.

 

[The Baron]

You can not have wild camping for a few reasons, usually the land belongs to somebody and also they are not all responsible enough to leave it as they found it which is a shame for the genuine ones but because of them it will have to be a no

 

[Galena]

Yes, many things that were previously technically illegal, but done by a few without impact and a blind eye was turned. It's down to the selfish modern age that these things will no longer be possible. The trespass law is another one.

 

[Stu]

Yes, many things that were previously technically illegal, but done by a few without impact and a blind eye was turned. It's down to the selfish modern age that these things will no longer be possible. The trespass law is another one.

Trespass alone is a civil, not criminal law.

Dartmoor tried to ban wild camping a couple of years back and it was rejected.
https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/enjoy-dartmoor/outdoor-activities/camping

 

[Galena]

Trespass alone is a civil, not criminal law.

Dartmoor tried to ban wild camping a couple of years back and it was rejected.
https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/enjoy-dartmoor/outdoor-activities/camping

There are offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sections 61 and 62 of trespassing on land and trespassing with vehicles. Also includes squatters, raves and hunt saboteurs.

 

[Stu]

There are offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sections 61 and 62 of trespassing on land and trespassing with vehicles. Also includes squatters, raves and hunt saboteurs.

I think we both know which minority group that Sections 61 and 62 are for.
An individual wild camping does not trigger either of those (61 specifically says 2 or more people, 62 talks about vehicles).

And frankly, if you were out of sight on the corner of a farmer's field, not creating a problem and left quickly the next day, I think they'd probably turn a blind eye.

Bear in mind too, again, as long as vehicles are not involved and you follow the code, Scotland positively allows wild camping.

 

[Galena]

And frankly, if you were out of sight on the corner of a farmer's field, not creating a problem and left quickly the next day, I think they'd probably turn a blind eye.

Sadly not always the case these days
https://road.cc/content/news/cyclist-camping-field-sprayed-slurry-farmer-309019

 

[matt.]

Same up here in Scotlandshire. The N500 now has a terrible reputation.

 

[Stu]

Same up here in Scotlandshire. The N500 now has a terrible reputation.

I'd like to do the N500. Not particularly at speed. And I'd definitely take the Travelodge option.

 

[Graz]

As someone who has done the odd wild camp this sort of thing really pisses me off.

Ok the legality of it all is iffy but if you pick your spot carefully, arrive late, leave early and most vitally Leave No Trace the 99.9% of the time no one will know you've been there. However if incidents like the above continue to happen then land owners are more likely to be on the look out for wild campers and moving people on because they fear that rubbish will be left, ground will be burnt, trees damaged and so on.

 

[The Baron]

Most Farmers/landowners just want no damage and no mess to clear up and as you have said it is as usual down to a minority.
In the 70's I and many motor bikers used to go to the Transatlantic races at Scarborough. We always used a farmers field who was kind enough to let us camp there so we always cleaned up after ourselves and had a whip round for him too.
Ps we were 17/18 at the time and were part of the maligned people of the era (bikers) but he gave us a chance and we went there for quite a few years and showed respect for his decision.