Leave No Trace

Why do we do what we do?

For me, being in nature is a fundamental part of my life.  Sometimes simply walking in a park can recharge my batteries and bring back my focus. I don't get that walking down a high street, browsing in a shop or watching television.

One of the things about my nature that is clear is that the modern, always on, always in-demand world I live in can sometimes get too noisy, and I literally can't see the wood for the trees. That is why I do what I do, escape into nature, disconnect from the world, use my hands, my eyes and  the more primitive parts of my mind.  

Though I pride myself on being prepared for any emergency and am looking forward to one day trying out my survival skills, nothing I do in nature is ever overly dangerous or challenging: being out in nature is about simply being out in nature.  I am using my knowledge and experience to live – for a while – without the trappings of modern life. To bend nature to my will, and to let nature bend me to hers.  I come back with a deep sense of calm, strength and purpose.

Leaving a mark

Some of the stuff we do with Stone Circle will leave a carefully considered mark on the landscape, and to some this will seem a contradiction to the main thrust of this discussion.  But it's important to consider why we would choose to leave trace of our passing.

In my opinion, re-creating something that our ancient forefathers performed with routine confidence is a way of connecting to our valuable past and putting our modern,

consumption-obsessed lives in perspective.  

We have been asked to build stone structures in traditional forms (some of these will form trips for future adventure weekends and holidays), and we will do these in a way that honours nature, the wishes of the land-owner and our own sense of tradition.  Many of these structures will erode naturally over time, or rot away as Nature takes back her resources.  When we do build something, it is important to consider how it impacts the experience of other explorers in the future.

Considering others

The most important consideration in my mind when leading or attending an adventure is to enjoy the experience. If that experience is marred by other people's carelessness, then I don't get to relax fully into the experience, and nor does anyone who follows me.  Apart from the obvious environmental impact of careless exploration, and some very serious potential outcomes – such as forest fire – the esthetic experience can often be marred by things like litter and thoughtlessness.  So, when out in nature consider these rules and if you agree with them, add them to your own standards.  In doing so, you'll help to ensure that more and more people can get the maximum value through their own adventures.

• Leave no litter or waste.  Blindingly obvious, just don't.  However a few things to consider:

  • Pack with litter in mind, reduce non essential packaging, and where possible use recyclable packaging like really strong zip-lock bags which you can use over and over.

  • Try to take your waste home with you where it can be properly recycled,rather than using local facilities: in remote places they tend to be emptied infrequently and overflowing bins are a health hazard and an eyesore.

  • If you are of a mind, take a plastic bag in your pocket and pick up bits of stray litter that you come across… If everyone did this, well, you know the argument.

  • Cigarette ends are NOT biodegradable. Organic waste may rot, but it is not natural for gorse bushes to process banana skins, so just stick it all in a bag and take it home.

  • Waste food being left out ‘for the birds’ will upset the natural ecosystem of ANY area, encourage scavenger numbers to grow which will upset the balance of rare wildlife.  Let the birds fend for themselves, they've been doing it just fine for thousands of years.

• Consider what you take as a souvenir: less obvious, but it falls into the ‘if everyone takes a handful of bluebells home with them…’, just use your eyes where possible.

  • Use a camera to record your experience, post them to your friends, share them with the the world, the environmental impact is virtually zero.  

  • Don't pick flowers.  Just don't.

  • At sites of historical significance, don't take souvenirs of the object(s) in question, obvious really, but a splinter of wood here and there will quickly erode it to nothing.

  • Beware people selling souvenir pieces of something, they're either con artists or damaging the thing in question.

• Watch where you tread: a very subtle one this, but consider that your passage may damage the flora and fauna of the environment you are in:

  • Certain geological features have established an ecosystem that has taken literally thousands of years to evolve: your careless footprint can actually ruin that.  Stick to paths where possible, and if not, try to follow other people's footprints.

  • Stick to well established paths where possible, they're safer and usually lead to the good stuff.

  • On waterlogged ground, around a campsite, try to vary your common routes (from fire to tent for example) so as not to churn up the ground unduly.  Be creative: we have made use of things like slices of trees (pilfered from a local felling operation and returned discretely when we broke camp) are ideal stepping stones around a fire pit for example.

  • Don't stand on flowers or small plants if you're walking off the beaten track. They've spent a lot of energy getting established. Consider where you put your feet.

• Campfires and open flames: if in doubt don't. Consider your environment carefully before setting flame to anything.  In hot, dry weather a single spark can ignite an entire forest or field of grass:

  • It's not just what you burn, but what you are burning in for example… Peat is prevalent in the subsoil in many parts of the U.K., and careless fires can easily set off underground fires that literally burn for years.

  • What is around you that may ‘flash’ if your fire gets too big? Overhead branches are an obvious concern.

  • Try to use the smallest and most contained source of heat possible: campfires are romantic and manly, but carry a more significant risk.  Only ever light one if you are really sure you know what you are doing, can control it at all times, and know how to PUT IT OUT in the worst case.  A spirit stove / burner is safer than a gas burner, which is safer than a pressurised fuel (primus type) burner which is preferable over open fire.

  • Always clear your burning area of debris, especially flammable materials like pine needles, dry grass and dry leaves. Sensible to also clear it of trip hazards: knocking over a burner can cause all sorts of problems.

  • If you are going to burn on the ground, don't just set a fire on the ground, you will scar it permanently: dig out turf using a camping spade and put it aside carefully, keep it wet, clear out and bag all ash from the pit when you break-camp, and replace the turf with a good drink of water.

  • If you find evidence of another campfire, use that as a base, and try to burn up all the embers and partially burnt wood you find around it.

  • Try to tidy your fire pit or burn area as much as possible, unburnt ‘fire-dogs’ should be stuck in a bag (when cold and dry) and taken to your next site, they make excellent fire starters.

  • Ultimately, big black holes in the ground can be seen from a distance and can spoil the experience of others. When making a fire, consider the lasting mark you will leave behind, and make it as small as possible.

• Consider the location of your campsite: one thing that can spoon a beautiful vista is a haphazard collection of orange and red tents on the middle of the view.

  • Camp discretely. You'll do your fellow explorers a favour, stand more chance of seeing wildlife.

Ultimately, it should be your ambition to leave no trace of your passing.  We always aim for zero: clearly it's not always possible, but by doing your bit to preserve the landscape untouched, you are enhancing the experience

Of those that follow you.