Campfire ban being discussed in Cairngorms

[William_Montgomery]

You don't need a fire to teach responsibility. Even responsible people do the wrong things.

How do you teach responsibility?

 

[nigelp]

How do you teach responsibility?

Responsibly.

 

[Paul_B]

It seems some are implying a link between outdoor education, instilling responsibility / sense of freedom or whatever people had in the past but would benefit from now with campfires.

I've been involved with groups that took people out for adventurous activities. The challenges we put them through were pretty much what people are calling for. Character building without a single fire. So I ask you, what is the benefit of an open fire to this character building, sense of freedom or instilling responsibility that you can not get by much better means?

It seems to me an open campfire is about entertainment, atmosphere and focal point for socialisation for most. We shouldn't need a fire for those reasons. Perhaps there's a market for rechargeable electric campfires to sit and drink around when campfires are banned?

 

[Ystranc]

I have a few soldering mats for under even can top stoves but certainly meths burners and woodburners. Even the trangia stove can scorch the ground if you rum it on gas, plus I'm terrible at spilling meths so better for that to burn off on a glass fabric mat than the ground.

Imho glass mats underneath are better than heat conducting aluminium foil. Soldering mats are available on eBay for less than £5 for 8x10 inch mats. Big enough for most camping stoves. If you've got a fire pit then I know a company that sells 600mm diameter versions for fire pits. We've got one. Go on ebay and search bbq or chimney mats as well as soldering or plumbing mats. Cheaper than Wickes and DIY places which sell smaller mats for £8-10.

The issue with open fires, you have one and you might responsibly tidy up, but if there's a sign of it left the others might have one there too. Sooner or later it's going to be a mess. Why have open fires when you can take steps to have a fire without leaving damage.

PS damage can be down to hear too. It's not just vegetation burnt that's the issue but heat damage to the soil and the soil ecosystem. I once heard about the biomass of nematodes in soil is significant. I can't remember how much but it was compared to the mass of something above the soil that you can see. After heat damage no nemotodes! They're a very important part of the ecosystem. Indeed a friend contributed to the evidence of climate change in his PhD where he measured nemotode populations in upland areas. Actually a set of very good indicator species for climate change apparently. Microscopic but significant, I find that crazy amazing.

I carry my plumbers heat proof mat wrapped around my Trangia fuel bottle and secured with elastic because they don’t last long if they’re creased or folded. This method of protecting the ground or picnic tables has worked for me for years.
A different trick is to carry an additional frying pan type baking dish that fits over the Trangia frying pan when the set is packed down but is big enough to stand the windshield base in to protect the ground and prevent spilled fuel.

 

[Ianlc]

I live on the edge of the trossachs and travel about further afield when I can. Even when I think I'm away from anyone else, always a fire pit mark and scorched land. Pretty sad to be honest.

I have seen some ridiculously large fires lit in Scotland. There are council staff out to help, but the land is so big.

The metal BBQ stands on picnic tables are a good idea.