SquirrellCook
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Cutting trees for fire wood, strimmers and I guess lawn mowers too. Might as well go all the way and dump rubbish too. What's happened? Have I missed something?
Machete or gardening shears?
- Thread starter Clunegapyears
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Robmac
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It's a tricky one, you can imagine the reports "Motorhomers cut down trees to gain access!" even though what you have actually done was pretty harmless. Leave no trace as advised is the best bet.
I have a Bahco saw which is excellent for what you describe, I have often used it in the woods when tent wild camping but only on fallen branches. Aldi or Lidl often have cheap versions of these for about £3-4 which are also very good, I have 2 or 3 of these as spares.
I also have a Mora Clipper knife which although cheap is an excellent knife and very good for batoning.
Your call though, I think you would have to be very remote to do this without upsetting somebody or other.
I have a Bahco saw which is excellent for what you describe, I have often used it in the woods when tent wild camping but only on fallen branches. Aldi or Lidl often have cheap versions of these for about £3-4 which are also very good, I have 2 or 3 of these as spares.
I also have a Mora Clipper knife which although cheap is an excellent knife and very good for batoning.
Your call though, I think you would have to be very remote to do this without upsetting somebody or other.
Greenwayjay
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As a scenario, I could imagine that If I was parked up in a quiet spot for the night and along comes some one else who’s hoping to also park up, but sees the only other spot is tight and small, so gets out a saw, machete etc, to clear the branches to fit there van in, I would not much be impressed with that action and feel the site could be as risk of being lost to wild camping. Yes collecting dead wood for burners etc is something else, but I don’t agree with cutting back the parking space to suit overnight needs.
Tookey
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I agree with the sentiment but it is also site specific. The hard pruning of an overhanging shrub and sensible clearing of the prunings can be just a beneficial as a quick litter pick to a car park. Council resources are stretched and spending 15 mins making a parking space available to be used again is a benefit to all. As with many points relating to wild camping it is a case of using some initiative and judging the circumstances correctly, this scenario you might even get a nod of appreciation from a local dog walker.
CarlandHels
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The way the public have looked at us just lately I think you'd be more likely to be frowned upon rather than a nod of appreciation. The public seem to try and find any reason to complain and no doubt there would be someone that wouldn't be able to say nothing and would exaggerate what hey have seen as that also happens quite a lot too.
I can understand the fact that normal folk with common-sense would see and appreciate what's been/being done. But sadly folk have shown a different side to themselves over these last few months. So to be safe I'd be looking at leaving no trace. If you can't fit in even if it's just a bit of foulage I'd be tempted to find somewhere I can and not risk upsetting anyone.. Just my thoughts, please don't think I'm telling anyone what they should and shouldn't do..
iandsm
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I would go along with the "leave no trace" sentiment and I don't see that motorhomers or campers or anyone else has an entitlement to cut away foliage or undergrowth just to make space for themselves and I certainly don't think it right to be lighting fires whether the fuel has to be cut down or is dead wood laying on the ground. Leave no trace is the best way, less likely to offend anyone. Of course those who are likely to be offended will be even more offended if they see sawing and cutting of fires.
Tookey
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Unfortunately I think its a justified point
.................hopefully society might find it sensibilities again 
!!!
iandsm
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Unfortunately I think its a justified point
Yes, I can imagine the "offended" complain that, "Yes that were building a bonfire, poaching rabbits and roasting them, and emptying their toilets in the bushes, not only that, they left their rubbish behind too."
If I do occasionally wild overnight I usually take a picture of the space when I arrive and another as I leave, that way I can show anyone who wants to make an issue how things were before and after and of course the pictures on a smartphone are timed and dated automatically.
n brown
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never under-estimate the gullibility of the general public . in the old days of '' The Convoy'' , a group of 'new age travellers' , i was talking to a middle aged woman who informed me that not only was there a lot of drug taking , but all the sex meant 'they' had lots of unregistered births , and were burying them in laybys . a friend who knows someone who knows a copper told her ,and it was no more than she'd suspected .
i never argue with people this stupid , but you have to be aware they exist. this is why introducing yourself at the local shop or boozer is sometimes a good idea, give them a believable pigeonhole to poke you into ,and they can relax a bit . timorous wee creatures ,the public
i never argue with people this stupid , but you have to be aware they exist. this is why introducing yourself at the local shop or boozer is sometimes a good idea, give them a believable pigeonhole to poke you into ,and they can relax a bit . timorous wee creatures ,the public
Bossangel
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Could be because he doesn’t want to scratch van reversing? I often have this issue
Clunegapyears
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We are also of the leave no trace ilk. We also regularly clear up rubbish from carparks where we are staying. Fully aware of protecting the environment.
The reason for wanting something is that, just occasionally, as in the other day, a car park is difficult to access not just for us, but for cars too, due to shrubbery that has been allowed to grow over the entrance. And cutting up firewood.
Will go for folding saw and secateurs, TY for brand recommendations.
And any cutting and chopping will will be done in the same spirit of the Ramblers Association... keeping paths clear for the benefit of all.
The reason for wanting something is that, just occasionally, as in the other day, a car park is difficult to access not just for us, but for cars too, due to shrubbery that has been allowed to grow over the entrance. And cutting up firewood.
Will go for folding saw and secateurs, TY for brand recommendations.
And any cutting and chopping will will be done in the same spirit of the Ramblers Association... keeping paths clear for the benefit of all.
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In that instance I see no problem with what you intend to do.
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I have a friend over here that was seen cutting a few branches down to get his van down to a wildcamping spot over here and someone called the police he got a eight hundred fine euro for doing that on private land .
iandsm
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I have a friend over here that was seen cutting a few branches down to get his van down to a wildcamping spot over here and someone called the police he got a eight hundred fine euro for doing that on private land .
Serves him right you just cannot go onto private land hacking things about to suit yourself, perhaps if her had asked permission first the landowner wouldn't have minded but to just do it is not on.
witzend
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Well I'd drive on to some where else and leave them do the cutting anyone see you cutting anything they'll not think your doing it for anyone else's benefit. They'll say you know what I seen today a English man cutting down our tree's when they see you picking rubbish they probably think you left it there yesterday.
tidewatcher
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Just a thought but I always considered the “wild” bit of wild camping meant that you fitted into the wildness not that you made the wildness fit you. If you are looking for this mindset on a grand scale with a lot of camper vans involved then have some sympathy with the Dartmoor rangers who are trying to move on a large illegal encampment. Their actions are making any inroads into allowing wild camping on Dartmoor using camper vans even more difficult. And before anyone starts the bylaws allow limited wild camping in tents but not using a vehicle. The hope has always been to get this law relaxed but recent events make this unlikely.
Debroos
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Wherabouts is that happening?
tidewatcher
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Debroos
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At least they won't leave a mess. Shame they picked a spot where camping is banned, given that so much of the moor does allow camping. Wanted to be out of sight I guess. Certainly a lot better than an illegal rave!
Hopefully it is such a different scenario that it won't give us a bad press too....
Hopefully it is such a different scenario that it won't give us a bad press too....