Encouraging responsible access to the countryside
But with increased numbers comes increased pressure on our special places, and so we are encouraging people to access our landscapes responsibly.
David Frew, Head of Mar Lodge Estate NNR, said: ‘Our charity’s purpose is to share our places with people, so we’re really pleased to have reached our highest-ever visitor figures in 2024. We saw a 37% increase on the previous year and we want this growth to continue. We also want to continue to improve access for people who may not have had the chance to explore countryside landscapes in the past.
‘A lot of the challenges we face in maintaining our countryside properties come from people who simply don’t know how to visit these places in a responsible way, and so we want to raise awareness.
Seemingly small actions can actually have large impacts on fragile habitats, and this is especially true when multiplied by hundreds of thousands of visitors.
‘Fire safety is also an exceptionally important topic, even more so now we are experiencing increased periods of wildfire risk in Scotland. Sadly, we have seen more wildfires at our places. We encounter dozens and dozens of campfires during these periods and people often just tell us they’ll be careful. Many don’t realise that fires can ignite underground in areas of peatland. Even though it appears extinguished on the surface, it can have devastating consequences. Far too often we see a seemingly well-managed fire get out of control from just one or two errant embers. We would really appreciate visitors listening to our No-Fire guidance and helping us protect our landscapes.’
Here are some key points from our advice for responsibly visiting the countryside:
Don’t leave anything behind
All rubbish – wet clothes, food, tents, camping supplies, disposable barbecues, nappies and even human waste – needs to be taken home with you. Our rangers and volunteers spend hundreds of hours removing these things from the landscape to protect nature and improve the experience of other visitors.
Keep the land as you found it
Creating ‘rock art’ has become more popular, where people stack stones into towers or arrange them in various patterns. While this may seem harmless, the practice can unknowingly disturb precious habitats and creates lasting disruption in the area.
Consider responsible ways to leave tributes or memorials
While many locations have a special place in people’s hearts and they may want to leave a marker for someone dear to them, it’s important to protect the natural beauty and wildlife of these places. Physical markers may inadvertently harm wildlife, so we encourage people to think of other ways to leave a tribute to loved ones.
Protect trees and woodland
There has been an increase in people cutting down and burning precious trees and deadwood to make campfires, which can cause irreparable damage to fragile habitats. Not only is this vandalism, but it is also often pointless – damp and living wood doesn’t burn well.
Remember fire safety
Fire safety is becoming extremely important, especially as Scotland’s temperatures rise and amount of rainfall decreases. We ask people to never light an open fire during prolonged dry periods or in areas like forests, woods, farmland or on peaty ground. Dousing a fire with a few bottles of water, or letting it go out by itself, simply isn’t sufficient to safely extinguish it – they can still reignite days later.
BBQs can also be very dangerous, especially disposable ones, so we always encourage people to use a properly supervised camping stove.
We also ask people not to drop ashes or cigarette ends, which can set dry vegetation alight. Glass bottles and broken glass can also act as a magnifying glass for the sun – please take all rubbish home with you.
Think about sustainable travel
Many countryside locations are most easily accessed by car, but this is not always the only way to get there. Car parks can become very busy, and people choose to park dangerously on busy roadsides and verges, increasing the chances of collisions and damage.
Before travelling, check whether there are public transport options like trains, buses or shuttles – these can also remove some of the stress of the visit. Have a plan in place if parking isn’t available at your first choice of location.
David continued: ‘We don’t want anyone to feel that the outdoors is beyond their reach, or somewhere they’re not welcome, so we hope that our sharing this advice is the easiest way to help people get the most from their visit.’
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