Leave No Trace
1 Plan Ahead and Prepare
· Before you go check, where possible, if access is allowed and your activity is permitted in the area you wish to visit.
· Respect any signs, regulations, policies and special concerns for the area that you wish to visit. Permits may sometimes be needed for activities on public lands.
· Where possible travel by public transport or share cars; consider the availability of parking.
· Ensure you have the skills and equipment needed for your activity and to cope with emergencies that could arise.
· Check the weather forecast and always be prepared for changing weather conditions.
· For environmental and safety reasons, and to minimise your impact on other users, keep group numbers small; split larger parties into smaller groups.
· Respect the people who live and work in the countryside.
· Park appropriately - avoid blocking gateways, forest entrances or narrow roads. Remember that farm machinery, local residents and the emergency services may need access at all times.
· Take care not to damage property, especially walls, fences and crops.
· Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
· Let nature's sounds prevail. Keep noise to a minimum.
3 Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife
· Dogs should be kept under close control and should only be brought onto hills or farmland with the landowner's permission. Some public areas stipulate that dogs must be kept on a lead at all times, please adhere to local guidelines.
· Observe wild animals and birds from a distance. Avoid disturbing them, particularly at sensitive times: mating, nesting and raising young (mostly between spring and early summer).
· Keep wildlife wild, don't feed wild animals or birds - our foods damage their health and leave them vulnerable to predators.
· Farm animals are not pets; remain at a safe distance.
4 Travel and Camp on Durable Ground
Durable ground includes established tracks and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
In popular areas:
· Concentrate use on existing tracks and campsites.
· To avoid further erosion, travel in single file in the middle of the track even when wet or muddy.
In more remote areas:
· Disperse use to prevent the creation of new tracks and campsites.
· Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show.
If camping:
· Protect water quality by camping at least 30m from lakes and streams.
· Keep campsites small and discreet.
· Aim to leave your campsite as you found it, or better.
· Respect property. For example, farming or forestry machinery, fences, stone walls etc. Leave gates as you find them (open or closed).
· Preserve the past: examine - without damaging - archaeological structures, old walls and heritage artefacts e.g. holy wells, mine workings, monuments.
· Conserve the present: leave rocks, flowers, plants, animals and all natural habitats as you find them. Fallen trees are a valuable wildlife habitat; do not remove or use for firewood.
· Avoid introducing non-native plants and animals e.g. zebra mussels in rivers and lakes.
· Do not build rock cairns, structures or shelters
· "If You Bring It In, Take It Out" - take home all litter and leftover food (including tea bags, fruit peels and other biodegradable foods).
· To dispose of solid human waste, dig a hole 15-20cms deep and at least 30m from water, campsites and tracks. Cover and disguise the hole when finished.
· Bring home toilet paper and hygiene products.
· Wash yourself or your dishes 30m away from streams or lakes and if necessary use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Bring home any solids and scatter strained dishwater.
· For more information on sanitation in the outdoors read the "Where to go in the outdoors" leaflet
7 Minimise the Effects of Fire
· Fires can cause lasting impacts and be devastating to forests, natural habitats and farmland. Therefore when camping use a lightweight stove for cooking.
· Where fires are permitted: Use established fire rings, barbecues or create a mound fire.
· Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. Do not use growing vegetation for use as firewood.
· Avoid burning plastics or other substances: which emit toxic fumes.
· Burn all fires to ash, put out fires completely, and then scatter cool ashes.