Legalise Wild Camping

FAQ

General Petition Questions:

1. Rating: +1

   
   
   
   
   
   

   How Can I Show Support For The Petition On My Blog/Website?

   You can show your support by adding one of these badges to your website/blog.

   

   <a

   href=”https://legalisewildcamping.com” target=”_blank”><img

   src=”http://www.whitespider1066.com/lwc/2316873205_296e1bd0cf_o.gif” alt=”LWC In E & W”
   title=”Legalise Wild Camping In England And Wales” border=”0″></a>

   

   <a

   href=”https://legalisewildcamping.com” target=”_blank”><img

   src=”http://www.whitespider1066.com/lwc/2316873217_6b27104728_o.gif” alt=”LWC In E & W”
   title=”Legalise Wild Camping In England And Wales” border=”0″></a>

   Just cut and paste the html for the badge you want to use and add it to your web page/blog.

   Thanks to Duncan for producing these.

2. Rating: +0

   
   
   
   
   
   

   Do you have a template email I can use for contacting my MP about the petition?

   You can contact your MP through this site, or use Google to find out if your MP has their own website or blog and contact them through that. If they haven’t got a contact page on their site then I think you should be having a word about that as well.

   Below are a couple of template emails that you can use.

   “Dear Sir,

   I would like to bring to your attention an e-petition that is requesting a legislative change to make wild-camping in England and Wales legal. The e-petition can be found on the 10 Downing Street website at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp/#detail.

   As the law currently stands, the position regarding wild-camping is inconsistent between England and Wales when compared to Scotland. By virtue of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which granted wide-ranging access rights in Scotland, it was made legal to wild-camp (within certain remits) north of the border.

   Although the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 greatly improved access rights in England and Wales when compared to the previous position at law, it specifically excluded the activity of camping from the access granted.

   As is evidenced by the number of people who have signed this petition within the first few days and without any media coverage of which I am aware, the need to bring the position in England and Wales into line with the position in Scotland is well supported.

   I would make clear to you that the right being requested by this petition is not to allow people to pull up at road-sides in their cars and camp willy-nilly on farm land.

   The right being requested, as is already encapsulated in the law that applies in Scotland, is for people who are accessing the hills and countryside on foot to have a right at law to be able to pitch their tent or lie out their bivvy bag for the night, strictly following the ‘leave no trace’ principles.

   If enacted in the same manner as applies in Scotland, anyone abusing this right by causing damage, litter or nuisance would be acting outside of the right permitted at law and thus the position of the land owners would be protected.

   Would you please support this initiative to effect this change in the law?

   Yours faithfully
   ”

   or

   “Dear xxxxx,

   I wish to draw to your attention an e-petition (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp/) urging the government to give walkers in England and Wales the same rights to wild camp that walkers currently enjoy in Scotland under the access code approved in 2004 by the Scottish Parliament (http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/access/ApprovedCode050604.pdf). I am writing to inform you of my strong support for this petition and to urge you to consider its merits. I see no reason why an English and Welsh version of the Scottish code is not workable and feel very strongly that walkers in England and Wales should enjoy the same privileges as those in Scotland.

   Yours sincerely,

   xxxxx”

   Thanks to Gayle and Robin for their template emails.

Legal Side Of Wild Camping Questions:

1. Rating: +0

   
   
   
   
   
   

   What is the legal situation on Wild Camping?

   You can read the excellent article by Gayle E Bird on the legalities here. The Ramblers have also some advice about it, read the posting on this site about it here.

2. Rating: +0

   
   
   
   
   
   

   Where can I Wild Camp Legally?

   The following places allow legal Wild Camping under certain conditions.

   Dartmoor National Park it is allowed. Read here to find out allowed locations.

   In The Lake District National Park, the National Trust allow wild camping if the following rules are followed:

   The Trust does not generally allow camping on non-recognised sites without permission. ‘Wild camping’, where permitted (for example in the Lake District, in upland areas above 450m), should be out of sight of the public highway, entail only one-night stopovers with a maximum of two campers and leave no trace of their presence.

   The above was quoted from here.

   There is also a location in the BBNP that Wild Camping is legally allowed. The following quote is from their Camping On Farms Leaflet.

   Backpack Site
   This site is intended for use by individuals or small groups (of not more than 10 people)
   only.
   Llech Llia OS map ref. SN 922193
   At the head of the Llia and Senni Valleys, west of Heol Senni - Ystradfellte minor road,
   just south of the hairpin bends. Free overnight camping by walkers allowed (at own risk)
   by Cnewr Estate, under agreement with the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority,
   except during lambing season, 15th April - 10th May. No vehicles allowed on site and
   camping must be out of sight of the road, beside the ruins of Llech-Llia. Nearby stream
   and spring. No open fires allowed and dogs must be on leads. Organised groups must
   notify the National Park Authority in advance of use.
   Approach: From road at point opposite Maen-Llia standing stone, go through the gate
   and 275 yards north-west.

   You can download the pdf from here.

3. Rating: +0

   
   
   
   
   
   

   What is the LDNP’s guidance on wild-camping?
   
   

   Posted courtesy of Michael S. who approached the LDNP for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

   Although camping should be confined to authorised sites the Lake District National Park Authority accepts that wild camping on un-enclosed fell land, remote from the roads, is generally accepted if undertaken responsibly by small numbers of people.

   Most land in the Lake District is privately owned and the attitude of most landowners is to tolerate wild camping unless damage or serious nuisance occurs. Unsanitary behaviour can be a particular problem. The Lake District National Park Authority’s Ranger Service continue to make regular routine visits to the more popular fell camping sites and encourage responsible use.

   If you wish to camp on un-enclosed fell land you must:

   seek the permission of the landowner
   be out of sight of any road or dwelling
   not leave any litter
   not light any fires”

4. Rating: +0

   
   
   
   
   
   

   Is issue ever discussed in official meetings?
   
   

   Posted courtesy of Michael S. who approached the LDNP for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

   There has been no documented discussion in the last three years of wild camping at the lake District National Park Authority or any of its Committees.”

5. Rating: +0

   
   
   
   
   
   

   I also asked if any staff were there to look out for wild-campers and move them on:
   
   

   Posted courtesy of Michael S. who approached the LDNP for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

   “We [LDNP] have 12 paid full-time Rangers and 4 paid full-time Field Rangers who could respond to reports of wild camping where either the public or landowners have concerns or are reporting such activity. This type of work is a minimal part of their work and tends to be reactive rather than proactive.

   There are a number of general patrol routes that (approximately 175) unpaid Volunteer Rangers take part in – the activities carried out are rights of way maintenance, patrol of our property holdings, litter collection, and provide advice and guidance to the public and landowners. Some of this activity may include popular visitor sites including some known wild camping sites. Here the task would be to provide friendly advice and guidance to make sure campers meet the spirit of the guidance shown above. If evidence (for example litter and fires) of camping activity is left – this is usually cleaned up and taken away.”