why is this country so adverse to us being outside?

[Tadpole]

The problem is, people bitch and more about rules and how we should all ignore the ones that 'shouldn’t apply to us', like wild camping and trespass with a canoe, then bitch and moan more about how chavs and neds ignore all the rules and “why aren’t there more police men about to stop them”. I think it helps to remember to 95% of the population, we are as bad as the chavs and ned that are moaned about so much on this site.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Indeed, we Brits have never been a "free" landowning nation, the majority of us are descended from serfs and have more rights today than for most of our history.

True.
At least I can go ferreting nowadays without the offence being punished by death.

 

[British Red]

Indeed, we Brits have never been a "free" landowning nation, the majority of us are descended from serfs and have more rights today than for most of our history. Problem is that land you want to do stuff on belongs to someone else and whilst one or two well behaved passers by may leave no trace in a heavily populated small island if you let everyone do what they want the place is soon trashed.

What a well balanced and erudite post. I find most landowners are not averse to providing some access - but they expect at worst not to be out of pocket and at best to actually make a fair profit out of their investment in the land. Landowners I know provide things like motocross circuits, paintball facilities etc. in exchange for either money or help. Oddly though, in a very crowded country, they object to re-seeding footpaths, making good fences, clearing up fire scar etc. at their own expense.


Red