Enjoying the Outdoors Ethically

Our quick guide to the rules for responsible camping, walking and eating al fresco.

1. When camping use an organised campsite as this is already set-up for your needs and will have the least impact on the natural environment.

2. Pitch your tent on an organic farm campsite so that you can use the produce from the farm shop for your dinner – food doesn’t get much more local, or in-season than that!

3. Get rid of your waste responsibly – bury your food waste (food only, no packaging) in soil 4-12 inches deep, well away from water and your campsite area. Take cans, bottles and other packaging with you until you can find a suitable place to recycle them.

4. Bring as little food packaging as you can with you on your trip, as it’ll save you trying to find somewhere to dispose of it all.

5. If you’ve gotta go and there are no toilets nearby – bury your business as you would food waste. But not toilet paper, which should be burned and then buried in shallow soil as it will take much longer than the waste to degrade.

6. Use a camping stove wherever possible. If you absolutely have to build a fire, when you’re finished remove anything that’s not burned to ashes and dispose of responsibly, including tin foil, pieces of wood, and other waste.

7. Do not leave food lying around – did you hear the news story about a bear sneaking into someone’s unattended car to pinch a peanut-butter sandwich? We may not run into any bears on UK campsites, but our food is not suitable for animals and it may make them unwell. Not to mention the fact that it might attract more new friends than we can handle!

8. When fishing, do not throw fish remains or food back into the water – this is pollution, it encourages bacteria to build up and it will damage the lake or river you are fishing. Bury the remains in the same way as you would with other food waste.

9. Don’t wash your dishes (or your dirty laundry!) in a river/lake/stream. Wash them in a bowl of water and pour the used water onto soil well away from the river. And whilst swimming is fine, don’t wash yourself in the river if you’re using soap/cleaning products.

10. Use biodegradable products wherever possible (e.g. cleaning products and toilet paper).

11. Keep the noise down – people come to the countryside to hear the sounds of nature, not another camper’s radio!

12. Don’t disturb the animals – be particularly quiet and cautious in designated animal-areas e.g. conservation areas.

13. When travelling in a car, campervan or motorbike, stay on proper roads and routes, and don’t make your own trails through the countryside. Slow down when passing animals and drive with caution.

14. When walking in the countryside, walk in single-file so that you don’t widen the trail already there.

15. Whether in a vehicle or on foot, comply with all signs, especially ‘no trespassing’ signs!

16. Leave gates as you find them – if it’s closed when you pass through it, close it behind you!

17. Keep your pets under control.

18. Leave the wilderness alone! Do not take plant cuttings or stones as souvenirs, or saw off branches to use as tent pegs or for bonfires.

19. Never carve your name in trees or rocks – nobody passing by after you, needs to know that ‘Pete lvs Claire’!

20. Buy ethical camping equipment – a cotton, hemp or recycled tent, a sleeping bag made from recycled bottles, or a wind-up torch perhaps.

Happy camping!

For more information visit:

www.love-eco.co.uk
www.ethicalsuperstore.com
www.treadlightly.org
www.ecoholidaying.co.uk
www.responsibletravel.com