r/BushcraftUK • u/4dcatman • Aug 01 '17
Questions about uk laws related to bushcraft.
Hello. I am thinking about going on a wild camping trip sometime in the following months and using a tarp shelter while I am (and having a campfire) and are wondering if there are any laws on cutting down trees and if I have to apply for a wood gathering licence
2
u/Herr_Shlippyfist Aug 01 '17
I believe Scotland allows wild camping but most land in Wales and England is owned whether by a private owner or business /company etc even in places such as lake district and peak district wild camping is frowned upon unless necessary and even then there's many rules that need to be followed.
But personally, I think it's a bit silly, I'm out of sight, I barely leave a mark on the land as I burn my campfire over a grill/ base plate so most charcoal and ash is caught, couldn't tell I was ever there so be sensible and go for it. You don't need a licence to collect dead/dry wood for burning.
3
Aug 02 '17
You absolutely do need a license to collect dry wood for burning, if you're on publicly owned land, or permission from the land owner on private land. That is of course, technically speaking. I doubt any landowner will miss enough dead standing wood for a small fire, but still, OP needs to be aware that it's not a free for all.
Wild camping in the Lake District is not frowned upon, and is actually pretty common - the only 'rules' are leave no trace, which you should follow anywhere, and camp above the highest fell wall.
1
u/4dcatman Aug 02 '17
I also think you may be fine as it says that there is an exception to felling less than 5 cubic meters
2
u/Ulysses1978 Aug 02 '17
You shouldn't need to fell anything to keep a fire for a few days if you choose your spot. You've more chance of a grumpy farmer being your problem than a straight legal issue. Where are you thinking of going?
1
u/4dcatman Aug 02 '17
North of London somewhere, possibly up in Surrey hills
1
u/Ulysses1978 Aug 03 '17
Sorry bud, I don't know that neck of the woods but space is at a premium that way and folk may be more precious about a man in the woods.
Do you have transport for further afield? North Wales too far?
1
u/4dcatman Aug 03 '17
Possibly. Hopping on a train is possible
1
u/Ulysses1978 Aug 05 '17
It's just that I found a perfect camp site one year near a village called Llanbedr. It's a lake/tarn up through a sessile oak valley near "The Roman Steps" an old drovers road that winds up and over into past a few decent peaks into the next. Your going to have no worries up there. Honour system camp site (nothing there so just charging for the field) but you would have no problem setting up in the ancient woods (too steep to fell) that line the stream that rolls down from Llyn Cwm Bychan.
1
u/Silvatic Aug 02 '17
Cutting down a tree on private or public land is illegal and entirely unnecessary for a wild camping trip. There should be plenty of dead wood to make a fire. If not, take some with you.
1
u/Xertious Aug 01 '17
All land in the UK is privately owned. You must seek the landowners permission. With the landowners permission, unless you meet any of these exceptions https://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6dfkw6 then you need to apply for a forestry licence (from the forestry commission).
2
u/ElectronicByte Aug 01 '17
You are probably better asking on the Bushcraft UK forum (forum link)