Camping in Woodland

[Tony]

So, I know that there's the general 28 day rule saying you can camp in your woodland/land for 28 days a year. Anyone here in the know on what this covers? Are there exceptions to this, as in is it a blanket rule or does it only apply to certain situations?

I know that you can have equipment on site and accommodation or that equipment etc so i'm more focused on finding out about the use of the land...

Hope that makes sense

 

[Dave]

I always wondered if you could dig underground, and make an underground shelter?

 

[Broch]

It's all a little more complex than just the "28 day rule". The 28 day rule is covered in Part 4 of the General Permitted Development Order 1995. However, there is an allowance for forestry work in 'season' (with no definition of how long a season is but is assumed less than a year) in Part 5.
My interpretation, for my personal situation, is that I can camp for as long as I like whilst 'lightly working' the wood and any non-working friends or family can camp for up to 28 days/year (but I always forget to count ).

The Small Woods Association can advise members but always take the pedantic view of course.

Cheers,

Broch

 

[mousey]

I always wondered if you could dig underground, and make an underground shelter?

[video=youtube;8UKNajCgpEs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UKNajCgpEs[/video]

 

[gonzo_the_great]

Have a look at first world war trench building.
There were lots of quiet clever techniques that both sides used, to build fortified underground positions, without it's construction being detected by the
enemy. This was not the mining operations at the front like. But rather, the fall back positions, which they may need, if the front line were overrun.

Things like.... Diging two parallel trenches, and building a brick wall in the trench, or concrete filling them. Then excavate the surface between the tenches and pour a concrete pad over the gap and the trenchs. And put the soil back over. In effect, using the ground as a form for a bunker.
And when they needed to use them, they just dig out the form.
They would do this work, under anthing that would provide cover and not be out of place. One front even used mobile chicken sheds.

I always wanted a bunker. When I brought my house, within the first week, I was digging test holes. But they filled with water immediatly.
If they hadn't, I'd have probably undermined the whole garden by now (and a few either side!)

 

[Tony]

Yeah, I wasn't quite thinking of a bunker thread, although I'll start one if there's interest

So, woodland / land - there's a 28 day camping rule unless you're working on the land and need to be close by. To have anything longer than the camping days I presume it's planning permissions and the only thing you could really request is permission for a campsite... That sound right?

 

[Dave]

If its next to your house, and out of the way, I dont see how the council would know how many nights you spent there tbh.

 

[nitrambur]

try this http://www.permitteddevelopment.org/The-28-day-rule-for-planning-permitted-development.php

 

[Dave]

I love camping in woodland. So long as its only a few miles from the car and you have a buddy with you, and I can take my big mat, i sleep better than at home on some nights!

 

[Broch]

So, woodland / land - there's a 28 day camping rule unless you're working on the land and need to be close by. To have anything longer than the camping days I presume it's planning permissions and the only thing you could really request is permission for a campsite... That sound right?

Yep, about right, but even with planning you won't get a 12 month licence. I think most are 9 months for touring and 11 for static but I may be wrong.

Cheers,
Broch

 

[Tony]

Yeah, I think you're right on the 11 months max and the 9 months for most camping...

 

[Broch]

You didn't say if this was for commercial (paid for camping) or just pleasure Tony.

 

[Hammock Hamster]

I’ve always wondered is the 28 day rule a cumulative figure or 28 days consecutively???
My gut feeling is probably the former as it sounds like the kind of crazy ruling I’d expect.
As has been said I can’t imagine there is any real way this can be policed unless you were doing something really overt that caused complaints or your woodland was bordered by curtain (foliage) twitchers???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Robson Valley]

Many entire winter villages in the BC interior and east on the great plains were built as semi subterranean "pit-houses." Log tops and 24" grassy earth above that.
I don't believe that you could hide one, particularly the construction, as they are normally 20-30' across.

https://www.unbc.ca/releases/34692/official-unveiling-pit-house-saturday

 

[Fadcode]

Yeah, I wasn't quite thinking of a bunker thread, although I'll start one if there's interest

So, woodland / land - there's a 28 day camping rule unless you're working on the land and need to be close by. To have anything longer than the camping days I presume it's planning permissions and the only thing you could really request is permission for a campsite... That sound right?

It would be a good Idea to check on the Caravan and camping club, as it is possible to operate a small site without the need for planning consent, although it may mean providing Toilet and shower facilities etc, not sure about the length of time you can remain open. In a similar way that farmers do in the summer.

 

[MartinK9]

So, woodland / land - there's a 28 day camping rule unless you're working on the land and need to be close by. To have anything longer than the camping days I presume it's planning permissions and the only thing you could really request is permission for a campsite... That sound right?

I find it funny that someone would have to trespass onto your property to tell you that you have spent longer than 28 days on your property.

 

[petrochemicals]

You have to ask yourself what's the law there for? To stop people living on land where they do not want people living. If you have another property elsewhere thats registered for residential use, that you maintain and pay tax on, I do not think the law will mind how long you or anyone who lives in your property spends on your own land. I do not think you could have caravans or sheds or structures errected, but it's fairly well understood that your place of residence is elsewhere, and how long you spend on your land is entirely up to you. The 28 days camping is probably to stop large scale encampments for no other reason than to make it uncomfortable for people, if you areplaying about in your woods intermittently, dismantelling your camp, as you go, trapping and shooting, etc I shouldn't think it would count.

I read something about deer stalking, it is ok to go onto someone's land without direct permission and shoot deer as long as you honestly thought the land owner would give permission, this is so you do not have to find the landowner, ask and them walk back. From this I should think it means prior contact or what is the done thing in the area. I'm likely to judge "overnight resting" on the trail by similar standards I think.

 

[Robson Valley]

Don't risk not asking the landowners here for permission. No guessing whatsoever. Private land is exactly that.
Every autumn, I make a formality out of asking one land owner if I can hunt birds (geese & ducks) for the season.
He always says yes. Big game is for his kids. Sneaky bow-hunters are to be reported.
Being polite doesn't take a lot of spit to ask.

Some are real a$$holes, they won't even give you permission to chase after a wounded animal.
Our law says they must and you must make the effort in fair chase. Mental giants.

 

[spandit]

I read something about deer stalking, it is ok to go onto someone's land without direct permission and shoot deer as long as you honestly thought the land owner would give permission, this is so you do not have to find the landowner, ask and them walk back.

That is called armed trespassing and is highly ilłegal. Ignorance is no defence. It's also poaching and will be against the conditions on your FAC although it sounds as if you don't have one.

 

[petrochemicals]

In the deerregulations bit

http://www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk/best_practice/legislation_health_and_safety_and_welfare.php