St Swithin's Thorley

She contacted the fire service (999) and they did not want to know and suggested contacting the police. The police suggested contacting the Local Authority. This circular disowning of a real community concern is worrying. Our editor did an off the cuff query on AI to find out how other local authorities address the issues surrounding wild camping, this is what they asked and what AI summarised:

Question: What wild camping projects throughout Europe have inculcated the support of wild campers for keeping the forest areas safe?

Answer/Review: Across Europe, land managers, forestry agencies, and outdoor non-profits have increasingly moved away from outright bans, choosing instead to channel and educate wild campers into active stewards of forest and wilderness safety. These initiatives engage campers to prevent forest fires, reduce habitat degradation, and maintain environmental biosecurity:

1. Designated Forest Trekking Sites ( Trekkingplätze & Bivakzones ) Germany ( Trekking-Camps / Trekkingplätze ): In regions like the Black Forest ( Schwarzwald ), the Palatinate Forest ( Pfälzerwald ), and the Eifel, regional forestry departments established legal, bookable forest clearing spots. Safety & Stewardship: Instead of unmanaged camping that risk wildfire ignition and root damage, these spots provide designated, stone-lined fire rings (or gas-stove-only rules during high-risk seasons) and composting toilets. Campers are entrusted to use designated safety infrastructure and pack out all waste. Belgium ( Bivakzones ): Forestry bodies in Flanders ( Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos ) and Wallonia set up designated basic bivouac clearings. Campers are restricted to a single-night stay and given precise protocols on seasonal open-fire safety and local tree canopy preservation. 2. Poland’s "Spend the Night in the Forest" ( Zanocuj w lesie ) The Project: Poland’s State Forests agency ( Lasy Państwowe ) designated vast woodland areas across nearly every forest district specifically for bushcraft and wild camping. Camper Engagement: Rather than imposing heavy policing, the program relies on an explicit Bushcraft Ethics Code . Campers are required to check local fire hazard ratings before entering and report suspicious smoke or deadwood risks directly to forest wardens. Only gas stoves are permitted in designated spots, turning campers into an extra set of "eyes and ears" against accidental forest fires and illegal dumping. 3. Scandinavia’s Allemansrätten Educational Alliances Sweden & Norway: While the "Right to Public Access" ( Allemansrätten ) legally permits wild camping, surging visitor numbers led nature protection agencies (e.g., Naturvårdsverket ) to launch targeted campaigns like "Do Not Disturb, Do Not Destroy" . Safety & Fire Stewardship: Campers are integrated into wildfire prevention systems via apps and SMS alerts ( Eldningsförbud —strict fire ban periods). During heatwaves or drought warnings, wild campers actively self-police within the outdoor community, substituting campfires with sealed camp stoves and reporting unauthorized blazes. 4. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) & Ranger Partnerships Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park (Camping Management Byelaws): Following severe localized damage, the park authority introduced Camping Management Zones . Camper Inculcation: Instead of barring campers entirely, the park created low-impact camping permit zones paired with active ranger engagement. Rangers distribute biodegradable trowels, provide safe fire-pan demonstrations, and engage wild campers as volunteer "litter pickers" and forest monitors along vulnerable ancient woodland shores.

Core Mechanics Used to Build Camper Cooperation Tiered Fire Restrictions: Moving away from blanket bans to dynamic warning systems where campers actively check daily forest dry-index charts. Designated Fire Pits & Stove-Only Zones: Minimizing subterranean root fires (peat/duff fires) by providing safe, isolated surfaces. Leave No Trace (LNT) Infrastructure: Providing basic bio-composters or communal trowels at trailheads, reinforcing the expectation that the forest must remain untouched. What do you think? Have your say here... Bouldnor Forest Group

St Swithin's Thorley

St Swithin's Bouldnor Forest Walkers find scary wild camping

Celtic Encounters in the West Wight Benefice

WHAT'S ON IN THE CHURCHES?