I feel a bit of a swine sometimes.
There is a small patch of land near where I live that gets used by the local Neds for camping, amongst other less savoury activities.
The result is that the "Friends" group that looks after the place in the councils absence, spend a lot of time clearing up litter, fire scars or badly cut and damaged trees on a regular basis.
We also lost several acres of important habitat when a camp fire got out of control last year.
So, on my way to walking the dog tonight I see a nice looking couple struggling under overloaded rucksacks heading for the approach road. I parked up and waited to see if they would turn onto the track.
"Can I ask you where you are intending to camp tonight" say I
"Up in the woods" they say.
I then have to inform them that they cannot camp without permission and the council doesn't give permission to camp here, etc. etc.
"Oh.. but we're responsible and we wont leave any rubbish around" is their immediate reply.
I look them up and down and say "I don't see your shovel."
They look puzzled... "We haven't got one. Why would we need a shovel?"
"Well, where are you intending to go to the toilet? Or were you expecting us to clear that up for you?"
You could almost hear the penny drop as they realised they hadn't even considered that.
I suggested they walked another half mile up the hill to the scout camp, if they are quiet they sometimes let people camp there but I suspect they will have no luck and try to sneak onto the land later tonight.
I'm not the only one looking out for campers and I suspect someone else will just call the police.
It's a shame really because my impression of them is that they would have tried their best but even that usually involves cutting trees and leaving a fire scar.
I feel a bit like a poacher turned gamekeeper when this sort of thing happens but even I never camp on that land, though I would love to at times.
I wish the Scots would invade us and push the border south of here sometimes but in the meantime what else can we do.
There is a small patch of land near where I live that gets used by the local Neds for camping, amongst other less savoury activities.
The result is that the "Friends" group that looks after the place in the councils absence, spend a lot of time clearing up litter, fire scars or badly cut and damaged trees on a regular basis.
We also lost several acres of important habitat when a camp fire got out of control last year.
So, on my way to walking the dog tonight I see a nice looking couple struggling under overloaded rucksacks heading for the approach road. I parked up and waited to see if they would turn onto the track.
"Can I ask you where you are intending to camp tonight" say I
"Up in the woods" they say.
I then have to inform them that they cannot camp without permission and the council doesn't give permission to camp here, etc. etc.
"Oh.. but we're responsible and we wont leave any rubbish around" is their immediate reply.
I look them up and down and say "I don't see your shovel."
They look puzzled... "We haven't got one. Why would we need a shovel?"
"Well, where are you intending to go to the toilet? Or were you expecting us to clear that up for you?"
You could almost hear the penny drop as they realised they hadn't even considered that.
I suggested they walked another half mile up the hill to the scout camp, if they are quiet they sometimes let people camp there but I suspect they will have no luck and try to sneak onto the land later tonight.
I'm not the only one looking out for campers and I suspect someone else will just call the police.
It's a shame really because my impression of them is that they would have tried their best but even that usually involves cutting trees and leaving a fire scar.
I feel a bit like a poacher turned gamekeeper when this sort of thing happens but even I never camp on that land, though I would love to at times.
I wish the Scots would invade us and push the border south of here sometimes but in the meantime what else can we do.
