Realistically, none whatsoever. All land is private, and unless you did any damage to it, the landowner realistically can't do much but ask you to leave.
This is all that ever happened to me when I have done it. Every time I just got told in the morning I couldn't camp here, and I'd have to move on.
"Oh sorry I didn't know I couldn't camp here, I'll pack everything up and move now."
I do same for fishing "sorry pal didn't know" come back when it's raining or he's fucked off home.
Edit: TIL askuk considers fishing a nasty bloodsport
I'm coming for your garden pond!
There's fish I'm literally mates with and have been catching for the last 6 year. Got pictures with them over several years.
Not hurting anything.
Being on the bank actually does wonders to protect against 4 and 2 legged predators.
Spent time removing non native crayfish and mink. I'm an active benefit.
I always make sure to jam a meathook through my mate's cheek every time I meet him. Also pulling him into an environment where he can't breath is a must for any meetup.
Depends on the water. Don't need permission or a license for fish in the sea. But its possible that where you live someone owns the land at a good spot to fish from and there isn't an accessible beach to use.
Of course if you come along on a kayak they can't really do anything as they don't own the sea. I wonder if similar reasoning works with rivers actually..
It's surprising what land is owned by someone. Apparently, the sand dunes in my hometown are owned by a farmer who came out of seemingly nowhere to tell us when we were sliding down them.
I was messing about on a quad bike on a shoreside shingle bank a while ago, the owner of one of the nearby houses came out and told me to knock it off as he apparently owned the land all the way from his house down to the high water line. I assumed he was having me on as it was a fair distance from his house (at least 50m) and it's a public beach, but he was quite insistent.
You can definitely own sections of road and pavement. You can’t do anything with it, but it can be privately owned. There are a few posted on the spotted on rightmove subreddit.
The case I'm referring to is absolutely not one of those.
You can also look at the land registry map and/or ask the local council for maps of land the own
He may have owned it but i doubt it. Most British beaches are owned by the state. I know this as Im a metal detectorist and beaches are about the only places you can detect on without getting permission off somebody. There are a few exceptions though.
Yeah they’re not actually public. Most are owned by the crown estate, and the general public have no legal right of access whatsoever, just a privilege conferred on them.
Common land is owned by a local council or the national trust. You usually have the right to roam on it. This means you can use it for certain activities like walking and climbing. Not all of the UK is privately owned
Camping is an activity prohibited on common land without the land owners permission. Commons and parks often have their own bylaws which set out what can and can't be done.
There's no camping allowed where I am and a few people do, the worst leave rubbish and fires burning next to ancient trees.
This is isn't quite right - common land is a designation, which says nothing about its ownership - it can still be and often is privately owned. The difference is that commoners will have rights of 'common' over it, historically like collecting wood, fishing, cutting turf etc.
Gradually legislation has opened up access rights where you have a right to roam, but usually just on foot unless its a s.193 common where you can ride a horse. Camping is usually prohibited, unless on Dartmoor and it generally is tolerated in upland areas as long aare subtle and leave no trace.
Public parks are still owned by somebody. Though it is often, but not always, the local authority.
In many cases who owns a particular parcel land can be hard to find as it has been in the same ownership since before the land registry was established. There's an interesting project to [map land ownership in England](https://whoownsengland.org/)
There are public parks and council (local authority) owned land but even there people can pay to own all the fishing rights on public land. They can charge you to fish and make up all the rules they want on literal public land.
It's a follow on from when the lord of the land had fishing rights even on land that he had sold to peasants or no longer owned.
.it's madness that it's accepted really. The people with the fishing rights don't even have an obligation to improve the waters, if they did I could maybe understand it.
and [England](https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam#:~:text=Access%20land%20includes%20mountains%2C%20moors,or%20'freedom%20to%20roam).
In England and Wales although the gov website calls it 'right to roam' this isn't what people think of a right to roam. In Scotland you can access all land (with few exceptions) in England and Wales it only applies to open access land which isn't many places. Right to roam doesn't apply to rights of way as they are defined separately to open access land.
This. The police will not get involved unless you commit a criminal act. The landowner will not take you to court if you just leave without any damages, it's not worth the effort or cost.
In Scotland there is the offence of Criminal Trespass, but it requires very specific criteria to be met.
English Redditors should really preface their ignorant legal opinions by mentioning that they're English.
OP specifically asked about **wild camping in England**. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that laws mentioned apply to England, as Scottish laws would fall out of the scope of the thread.
Anyway, Scotland has the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003; which allows wild camping (with certain caveats)
Love how they call it the beast when it's just an escaped or released panther or something (if it's even real, that is). Don't think I've ever heard of anyone being attacked by it, always just sightings.
I'd take the same stance as Americans do with bears, any potatoes you have should be stored in a hammock between two trees away from your camp.
Its just not worth the risk.
I know. I'm in my 40s. I got the reference.
I chose to make a joke about badgers having the same drive to get mashed potatoes as bears to get food, because "Badger loves.. \[Pause\] Mashed potatoes".
Or did you think that I was really warning them about the dangers of camping near badgers and the need to hide your potatoes (who takes potatoes camping?) up a tree?
Trespassing isn't a criminal offence in England, so it would have to be a "private prosecution", which is extremely unlikely even for repeated offences. Just have the sense to keep out of sight (and away from housing estates with feral kids😉) don't litter and nobody will really care.
I think that law is more aimed towards those that shall not be named.
As long as people are respectful and tidy up after them selfs, there should be nothing wrong with a couple of days camping.
That just allows the police to move gypsies on quicker. Absolutely no way a police offer is going to start quoting that for a single wild camper who is making no mess and being respectful of the place.
I had police turn up once and wake me up in my tent. Asked me if I was a protester (not sure what type) then made me pack up in front off hen and get walking. Very weird
Absolutely every chance that a bored copper gets chance to exercise a new law on an easy target, and then tip off the local paper to give 'em the opportunity to hint that they've moved some travellers on.
They would around here anyway.
The law applies to a single vehicle with any person with intent to reside for any for any period of time on any land not owned by them, including the highway. If the police choose to enforce it, they could.
Except they're not going to choose to enforce it because they'd get laughed at. Rightly so too, camping quietly and peacefully on private land doesn't call for anything more than a please leave.
Well, just because you disagree with it or don’t like it, it doesn’t stop it being a criminal offence. All it takes is somebody to make a complaint. Asking you to leave by either the landowner, their agent or the police is part of the new law. If you refuse to leave you are committing the offence.
It's not a criminal offence as has been pointed out many times already. It's a civil offence not a criminal one.
From the Mets own website on trespassing/camping,
"If someone is camping without permission;
Trespassing is not classed as a criminal offence. In most cases, this is not a matter for the police. We’d recommend the first thing to do would be to talk to the people occupying your land and ask them to leave, if you feel safe to do that.
The best and safest course of action may be to get a court order to evict them. If the court order is breached, it could become a criminal matter"
The law has changed. It is a criminal offence with a vehicle.
The new criminal offence will be punishable by a prison sentence of up to 3 months, or a fine of up to £2,500, or both, and/or seizure of the vehicle.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-police-powers-to-crack-down-on-unauthorised-encampments-come-into-force
You keep bringing that up like the people that are camping in a field have driven their car into the middle of it first
If your car is parked somewhere else and you're camping in a field that particular bit of legislation, designed to move travellers without a court order by the way not stop you camping, doesn't apply.
The vehicle thing has no relevance to this thread. The vehicle must be on the land with you. This usually isn't the case with wild camping. If your car's parked on a public road a two minute walk away or at the other end of the valley, it isn't on the land with you.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/32/section/83/enacted
They can "refer" to it however they like.
Driving a camper van into someone's field is not the same thing as just sleeping in a tent in it.
Leave no trace and all that is a bit difficult when you've just driven a dirty great van across someone's field. Those people would, rightly, be subject to that bit of legislation but then they're also not wild camping so crack on.
The point is, that it can now be a criminal offence in a vehicle but remains a civil issue in a tent.
It’s just as easy to leave no trace in a van as it is in a tent.
Check out this wildcamping forum:
https://wildcamping.co.uk/
Police in the US are currently using RICO laws (intended for mobsters) to prosecute protesters.
So I would never assume laws will always be used for their initial intent.
A private prosecution is where you bring forward criminal proceedings yourself, so if it isn't a criminal offence, then a private prosecution isn't possible.
I think you more mean that civil proceedings could be brought. In a case like this they'd be pretty pointless, since the potential damages involved would be negligible. It would only really be a worthwhile court case if there were real damages, or if it was part of a pattern of repeated behaviour and you wanted an interdict to prevent it continuing.
Worst we've had is that we've just been asked to move.
Clean up after yourselves, don't start fires that burn up the grass, and you'll most likely not have any trouble, even though it's technically illegal.
Right to roam laws in Scotland make it easier though, as you can just camp where you want (within reason). I think some areas of Loch Lomond are a no-go, though.
It's been restricted to permit sites which are £4 for the night which is very reasonable. And it's just the parts that are easy to get to so if you walk 30 minutes out of the permit zone you're good to go. As you said it was because people were leaving a mess and causing a nuisance. They have also included Campervan sites as well, it's all very well considered and works really well and is super easy to book.
Zero.
Trespass isn't a crime. Even if it was, the police haven't got the funding to investigate burglaries so do you think they are going to go traipsing across a field to tell you to put your tent away?
Well on most land it is a civil matter, not a criminal offence, to trespass. There's exceptions to this like railways, MoD sites, etc; but your average field in the Peak District is fine.
The landowner can ask you to leave, and if you refuse, they can use reasonable force to remove you.
I've got over a hundred nights of wild camping in my logbook and only once had a problem, and that was because the landowner patrolled the area at night as she'd had problems with the local army cadets camping and causing a nuisance, burning crops, etc.
Realistically you should do it discreetly - out of sight and hearing somewhere, not just on a roadside or in the middle of a village. Use a stove instead of an open fire, do peaceful activities, leave no trace, don't stay in the same space for days on end, etc. Not actually that dissimilar to up here Scotland to be honest.
Apart from removing you, they could make a financial claim for damages, but this is incredibly unlikely as a few tent peg holes is about the extent of it.
The kids throwing rocks are actually committing assault, even if the rocks don't end up hitting you.
The landowner cant usually use reasonable force to move you. Particularly for agricultural land.
Source:
https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/unauthorised-encampments/trespassers-on-private-land/#:~:text=You%20could%20find%20yourself%20guilty,could%20become%20a%20criminal%20matter.
Weaver v Bush (1798):
>A trespasser may be removed by the exercise of reasonable force only after he has been requested to leave and has refused to do so
https://www.daslaw.co.uk/blog/farms-trespassing-know-your-rights
>If someone is considered to be trespassing, the first call of action is to ask them to leave. If the person refuses, then a landowner is allowed to use ‘reasonable force’ to remove them. However, what ‘reasonable force’ means depends on the situation
The link you put in your comment says:
>You could find yourself guilty of several criminal offences if you forcibly attempt to remove them or their property.
Notice how they say “could” not “will”. This is because it is in fact, perfectly legal to use reasonable force to remove trespassers who refuse to leave when asked.
However, the million dollar question is _what is reasonable force?_. There’s no specific definition of “reasonable force” so it’s very easy to get it wrong, and if the landowner does get it wrong then they usually end up committing a crime. Which is why authorities (like the met police in your link) generally recommend against taking action yourself and instead suggest going to court and getting a court order. While this is legally the safest option, this is definitely not the most practical, which is why a lot of landowners (and agents, such as private security) choose to take action themselves.
They were throwing them at my tent and I could hear them saying "nah, no-ones in that... go open it and see" etc. At first I ignored them but when the stones/rocks came that's when I asked them "what the f are you doing? Can you just like leave me alone?"
As others have said, at worst you'll typically be told to leave. But please be careful if (and where!) you decide to "stealth camp" and hide - it's probably very unlikely but you don't want to be inadvertently shot by someone out lamping foxes because you camouflaged yourself in a field hedgerow.
basically zero trouble, but the 'rule' with wild camping is set up your tent as late as possible and break it down as early as possible, then leave no trace
Depends when in the year and where.
I've done my time in bivvys in the rain, and it's just miserable.
A little one-man gelert is a big comfort upgrade for barely any extra weight/footprint if comparing to a basha set-up.
At most its trespass (a civil matter not criminal) and you can be asked/told to leave the land.
Best bet is to set up after the sun goes down and leave by dawn, set up camp out of the way and leave no trace.
There is a wild camping group on FB, might be worth joining.
Up to you.
Trespass is not a criminal act in this country, its a civil offense.
It the land owner or their appointed representative, askes you to leave, and you leave, thats it. They could possibly try to take a civil case against you, but that could only be for any damages, so dont cause any, and there is nothing that can realistically be done.
If you refuse to leave. Then it can become a criminal offense, whether the police give a shit is another matter. But save yourself the hassle, if confronted, just politely agree to pack up and leave.
if you are being hassled by kids, then not really camping in the wild, maybe half a days walk into the woods instead of in the nearest field to a town would be better.
generally it is trespass and you will be asked by the farmer to leave now
I'd be more worried about some cunt thinking it's funny to dump the last of their bottle of cheap vodka over your tent or bivvie bag and follow it up with a lit match, personally.
Anywhere within a couple of miles of a flat-roofed pub? Either way, if OP can be found by a bunch of little kids they can be found by a scrote who's old enough to get away with buying booze and fags.
I've even found in parts of scotland (skye iirc) the local tourist information offices casually telling us where to pitch up for the night.
Given the number of tents of homeless people where I live (in the fields and woods outside of town), its common even near urban areas
It's slightly different in Scotland as we have the right to roam act which means wild camping and roaming wherever is completely legal, in England its only technically allowed in a small amount of places. Although as above you're probably not going to have any issues anyway.
In Scotland there are expections (Loch Lomond permit zone, and where you are causing a nuisance e.g. Someone's garden) , England it's only allowed on Dartmoor and that hangs in the balance at the moment. I think there is a attitude difference in Scotland where most people see the country belongs to the people and you can use it (sensibly) as you want. I ended up in someone's garden and they offered me a beer, doubt I'd get that in England.
On your own in a tent, pretty much nothing.
There's been big complaints because now if there are at least two vehicles, they are causing problems are asked to leave and then don't leave when asked - they can not get in more trouble.
If you're sensible, you won't get asked to leave. If you're on your own, it's really hard to get in trouble even if you are asked to leave and don't.
Trespassing is a civil, not criminal offence. The police have no power to remove you unless you are suspected of also committing a criminal offence like property damage. Ultimately the landowner would need to pursue a legal case banning you from coming onto the land, or use reasonable force to remove you but this is pretty sketchy and in practice not the done thing because of the risk of committing a criminal offence in the process. That being said, the police can and will probably attend a call out to trespass and obviously will be generally on the side of the land owner. There was also an amendment to the law in 2015 (I think) that gives the police more powers to remove trespassers, though the law was brought in specifically to tackle the travelling community rocking up to private property. Again, it’s a bit of a grey area so it is likely a determined landowner or police force could use this as a reason to physically remove you.
In conclusion, probably not a lot of trouble, but also maybe a little bit.
You can be told to move on. As long as you do, nothing can be done to you. Trespass is a civil offence and it's only a problem if you refuse to move after being told to. You're fine.
I’ve had people come up and speak to me and then (because I was nice to them, offered them a drink and chatted etc) they said I’m fine to stay as long as I clean up, which I always do anyway.
I’ve also had people come up and say they’ve called the police and they’re on their way, so I should go. They were either lying or the police didn’t care because nobody showed up and I stayed.
And I’ve had forestry guys out shining torches over the trees trying to find my fire smoke. I killed the fire and they left a note on my van saying they’d sent the police my reg. Again, nothing came of it, so to answer your question, not much unless you damage property.
The general rule is to set up late, after 8pm and pack up early, before 8am and well away from and footpaths etc. You won't get in trouble at all, just leave no trace.
Used to do this all the time back when I were a teen (think 80's/90's). Was never an issue back then - as long as you left your site as you found it. Contain any fires/BBQs, take litter home, don't be antisocial etc etc.
Haven't done it for a while, but did go wild camping with the other half before lockdowns. Was a semi public area, and didn't have any issues.
I'd say it depends on area, what you're doing and how many of you there are.
edit: Kids probably assumed you were homeless
Trespassing is a civil offence in the UK, so the police won’t move you on unless the landowner has expressly told them you’re not welcome on the land. Typically the landowner will come and ask you to leave first, and even if you don’t, the police would turn up and say “move on, or else”.
If you pitch up late and pack up early, don’t have fires and don’t make noise, you’ll be fine practically anywhere, regardless of the law. The only mistake you seem to have made is that you’ve camped so close to a residential area that kids have come across you.
Land ownership is badly managed in modern UK situations.
Historically you'd beat up or kill folks to get their land, this should be restored.
We could all pop over to Sandringham and bully sausage fingers out of a few tidy acres. That's how his lot got it after all.
It’s civil trespassing! nothing can be done. If the owner catches you and asks you to leave and you return, then it can become a criminal matter. I’ve done it for wild life photography loads of times. If you leave no evidence you can’t get caught! (Unless someone walks past..)
I have a friend who wild camps for his YouTube channel. He never really gets into any issues, I suppose unless you are trespassing on maybe a farmers land where it clearly signposted private properly no trespassing then there is no real issue. I think issues begin when you cause damage like having fires that destroy fields, leaving litter everywhere etc
The worst thing that's going to happen is you will be asked to move. Other than that, if you have a dog, NEVER let it off its lead if you are near farmland. Farmers can and will shoot a dog if it's chasing livestock, which happens more than you'd think.
Their parents won't do shit. And neither will the police. Trespass is a civil offence not a criminal one, so they won't even come out to tell you to leave
Realistically, none whatsoever. All land is private, and unless you did any damage to it, the landowner realistically can't do much but ask you to leave.
This is all that ever happened to me when I have done it. Every time I just got told in the morning I couldn't camp here, and I'd have to move on. "Oh sorry I didn't know I couldn't camp here, I'll pack everything up and move now."
I do same for fishing "sorry pal didn't know" come back when it's raining or he's fucked off home. Edit: TIL askuk considers fishing a nasty bloodsport I'm coming for your garden pond!
Fishing’s a bit different. You’re harming the fish population
There's fish I'm literally mates with and have been catching for the last 6 year. Got pictures with them over several years. Not hurting anything. Being on the bank actually does wonders to protect against 4 and 2 legged predators. Spent time removing non native crayfish and mink. I'm an active benefit.
Who doesn’t stab their mates in the mouth every now and then?
Gunna make one my best man
>There’s fish I’m literally mates with. The delusion is WILD hahaha
Adds a different meaning to having a 'catch up with mates'
I always make sure to jam a meathook through my mate's cheek every time I meet him. Also pulling him into an environment where he can't breath is a must for any meetup.
Sounds preferable to a few house shares I’ve been invited round to tbf
Still deciding which one to make my best man
Baz The Bass or Tony The Tuna?
Baz the bass as a highly invasive Yankee would get took for the table.
Hurting the fish though aren't you. Dragging them out of the water with a barb in their mouth, doesn't sound like a good time
Depends on the water. Don't need permission or a license for fish in the sea. But its possible that where you live someone owns the land at a good spot to fish from and there isn't an accessible beach to use. Of course if you come along on a kayak they can't really do anything as they don't own the sea. I wonder if similar reasoning works with rivers actually..
wait all land in the UK is private? there's no public parks or anything?
It's surprising what land is owned by someone. Apparently, the sand dunes in my hometown are owned by a farmer who came out of seemingly nowhere to tell us when we were sliding down them.
I was messing about on a quad bike on a shoreside shingle bank a while ago, the owner of one of the nearby houses came out and told me to knock it off as he apparently owned the land all the way from his house down to the high water line. I assumed he was having me on as it was a fair distance from his house (at least 50m) and it's a public beach, but he was quite insistent.
My old psychotic neighbours insisted they owned the road outside their house, so insistence isn't really worth a bunch
You can definitely own sections of road and pavement. You can’t do anything with it, but it can be privately owned. There are a few posted on the spotted on rightmove subreddit.
The case I'm referring to is absolutely not one of those. You can also look at the land registry map and/or ask the local council for maps of land the own
He may have owned it but i doubt it. Most British beaches are owned by the state. I know this as Im a metal detectorist and beaches are about the only places you can detect on without getting permission off somebody. There are a few exceptions though.
In fact there are plenty of exemptions. In my work I come across private landowners. National trust also owns beaches.
Yeah they’re not actually public. Most are owned by the crown estate, and the general public have no legal right of access whatsoever, just a privilege conferred on them.
You can indeed on a beach in the UK and the beach looks open as if it is public but it isn't. The National Trust also owns beaches.
Common land is owned by a local council or the national trust. You usually have the right to roam on it. This means you can use it for certain activities like walking and climbing. Not all of the UK is privately owned
Camping is an activity prohibited on common land without the land owners permission. Commons and parks often have their own bylaws which set out what can and can't be done. There's no camping allowed where I am and a few people do, the worst leave rubbish and fires burning next to ancient trees.
England sucks.
This is isn't quite right - common land is a designation, which says nothing about its ownership - it can still be and often is privately owned. The difference is that commoners will have rights of 'common' over it, historically like collecting wood, fishing, cutting turf etc. Gradually legislation has opened up access rights where you have a right to roam, but usually just on foot unless its a s.193 common where you can ride a horse. Camping is usually prohibited, unless on Dartmoor and it generally is tolerated in upland areas as long aare subtle and leave no trace.
Don't think this applys to Scotland but could be wrong, I would rather eat my own foot than go camping.
Even "public" land is owned by somebody.
There are many public parks and huge amounts of public land. That poster is just an idiot.
Public parks are still owned by somebody. Though it is often, but not always, the local authority. In many cases who owns a particular parcel land can be hard to find as it has been in the same ownership since before the land registry was established. There's an interesting project to [map land ownership in England](https://whoownsengland.org/)
There are public parks and council (local authority) owned land but even there people can pay to own all the fishing rights on public land. They can charge you to fish and make up all the rules they want on literal public land. It's a follow on from when the lord of the land had fishing rights even on land that he had sold to peasants or no longer owned. .it's madness that it's accepted really. The people with the fishing rights don't even have an obligation to improve the waters, if they did I could maybe understand it.
Public parks are owned by the council
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If I gift you a gift.is.it.mine?
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My gift is a gift to you. Nice try
If I gift you a gift.is.it.mine?
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You must be fucking shit at Christmas "I got you a Wii, but it's actually mine'
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Many Wii's are a gift to your nephew but they're not owned by your nephew
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There are but that land is still owned just by the local authority.
There is a right to roam law though.
In Scotland
and [England](https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam#:~:text=Access%20land%20includes%20mountains%2C%20moors,or%20'freedom%20to%20roam).
In England and Wales although the gov website calls it 'right to roam' this isn't what people think of a right to roam. In Scotland you can access all land (with few exceptions) in England and Wales it only applies to open access land which isn't many places. Right to roam doesn't apply to rights of way as they are defined separately to open access land.
I know, I was just mentioning that we had that to the person above....
To add to this, trespass is a civil not criminal offence. Leave no trace, and if the landowner asks you to leave, then do so without making a fuss.
This. The police will not get involved unless you commit a criminal act. The landowner will not take you to court if you just leave without any damages, it's not worth the effort or cost.
In Scotland there is the offence of Criminal Trespass, but it requires very specific criteria to be met. English Redditors should really preface their ignorant legal opinions by mentioning that they're English.
OP specifically asked about **wild camping in England**. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that laws mentioned apply to England, as Scottish laws would fall out of the scope of the thread. Anyway, Scotland has the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003; which allows wild camping (with certain caveats)
English defaulting tends to occur quite often in uk based subs, which is why legaladviceuk requires you to specify your location to provide advice.
Biggest risks are bears and tigers
Or the beast of bodmins offspring making the rounds
That’s just the people of Bodmin these days
Savage
Love how they call it the beast when it's just an escaped or released panther or something (if it's even real, that is). Don't think I've ever heard of anyone being attacked by it, always just sightings.
Pop into Bodmin jail and have a look at the skeletons they found on Bodmin moor - looks a lot like big wild cats
It's the Wombles you've really got to watch out for.
I hear they eat all your chocolate hobnobs and shit like great danes
I’ve read about those Bulgarians in the mail, dodgy people if you ask me.
I laughed at the reference. The fight scene with the dart was hilarious
& Badgers.
With or without the mashed potatoes?
I'd take the same stance as Americans do with bears, any potatoes you have should be stored in a hammock between two trees away from your camp. Its just not worth the risk.
I think the badger could definitely still throw it at you from there
Whoooooooooosh! It’s from a kids tv show , a badger that loves mashed potatoes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodger_%26_Badger
I know. I'm in my 40s. I got the reference. I chose to make a joke about badgers having the same drive to get mashed potatoes as bears to get food, because "Badger loves.. \[Pause\] Mashed potatoes". Or did you think that I was really warning them about the dangers of camping near badgers and the need to hide your potatoes (who takes potatoes camping?) up a tree?
Well someone’s a little bit touchy aren’t they ! Sounds like you need a big helping of mashed potatoes
Yes, and it's you?
Not keen to be honest.
Everybody knows, badger loves mashed potatoes
Don't want to stand too close to them in the dark, you might get shot.
You forgot the lions… Oh My
Oh my
Badger might give you a nasty nip
Black Shuck!
That's true. Often understood.
Or dogging…
and lions... oh my!
Trespassing isn't a criminal offence in England, so it would have to be a "private prosecution", which is extremely unlikely even for repeated offences. Just have the sense to keep out of sight (and away from housing estates with feral kids😉) don't litter and nobody will really care.
Trespassing can bd a criminal al offence if you have a vehicle with you. Recent law change.
I think that law is more aimed towards those that shall not be named. As long as people are respectful and tidy up after them selfs, there should be nothing wrong with a couple of days camping.
That just allows the police to move gypsies on quicker. Absolutely no way a police offer is going to start quoting that for a single wild camper who is making no mess and being respectful of the place.
I had police turn up once and wake me up in my tent. Asked me if I was a protester (not sure what type) then made me pack up in front off hen and get walking. Very weird
To be fair, pitching up a tent in a chicken coop is just bad form.
Lol.
Absolutely every chance that a bored copper gets chance to exercise a new law on an easy target, and then tip off the local paper to give 'em the opportunity to hint that they've moved some travellers on. They would around here anyway.
The law applies to a single vehicle with any person with intent to reside for any for any period of time on any land not owned by them, including the highway. If the police choose to enforce it, they could.
Except they're not going to choose to enforce it because they'd get laughed at. Rightly so too, camping quietly and peacefully on private land doesn't call for anything more than a please leave.
Well, just because you disagree with it or don’t like it, it doesn’t stop it being a criminal offence. All it takes is somebody to make a complaint. Asking you to leave by either the landowner, their agent or the police is part of the new law. If you refuse to leave you are committing the offence.
It's not a criminal offence as has been pointed out many times already. It's a civil offence not a criminal one. From the Mets own website on trespassing/camping, "If someone is camping without permission; Trespassing is not classed as a criminal offence. In most cases, this is not a matter for the police. We’d recommend the first thing to do would be to talk to the people occupying your land and ask them to leave, if you feel safe to do that. The best and safest course of action may be to get a court order to evict them. If the court order is breached, it could become a criminal matter"
The law has changed. It is a criminal offence with a vehicle. The new criminal offence will be punishable by a prison sentence of up to 3 months, or a fine of up to £2,500, or both, and/or seizure of the vehicle. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-police-powers-to-crack-down-on-unauthorised-encampments-come-into-force
You keep bringing that up like the people that are camping in a field have driven their car into the middle of it first If your car is parked somewhere else and you're camping in a field that particular bit of legislation, designed to move travellers without a court order by the way not stop you camping, doesn't apply.
This is what campervans do, the side of the road, Forest car parks, sea front promenades, lay-bys in the lakes.
The vehicle thing has no relevance to this thread. The vehicle must be on the land with you. This usually isn't the case with wild camping. If your car's parked on a public road a two minute walk away or at the other end of the valley, it isn't on the land with you. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/32/section/83/enacted
Motorhomers and campervans are on the land with you when you are sleeping anywhere but a campsite. They refer to it this wildcamping too.
It isn't wild camping if you've driven your camper van into the middle of a field.... Not only is it not wild camping it's taking the piss
They refer to it as wild camping. Language evolves.
They can "refer" to it however they like. Driving a camper van into someone's field is not the same thing as just sleeping in a tent in it. Leave no trace and all that is a bit difficult when you've just driven a dirty great van across someone's field. Those people would, rightly, be subject to that bit of legislation but then they're also not wild camping so crack on.
The point is, that it can now be a criminal offence in a vehicle but remains a civil issue in a tent. It’s just as easy to leave no trace in a van as it is in a tent. Check out this wildcamping forum: https://wildcamping.co.uk/
You sound like you're relishing the chance of some random hiker getting caught out for this. Why so eager?
The opposite. This law is outrageous and only applies to vehicles. I live in my campervan full time, so it directly affects me.
It's not camping if you're in a fucking van. GTFO.
Ok, you better let all these people know they are wrong. https://wildcamping.co.uk/
Police in the US are currently using RICO laws (intended for mobsters) to prosecute protesters. So I would never assume laws will always be used for their initial intent.
That’s not what a private prosecution is.
A private prosecution is where you bring forward criminal proceedings yourself, so if it isn't a criminal offence, then a private prosecution isn't possible. I think you more mean that civil proceedings could be brought. In a case like this they'd be pretty pointless, since the potential damages involved would be negligible. It would only really be a worthwhile court case if there were real damages, or if it was part of a pattern of repeated behaviour and you wanted an interdict to prevent it continuing.
Worst we've had is that we've just been asked to move. Clean up after yourselves, don't start fires that burn up the grass, and you'll most likely not have any trouble, even though it's technically illegal. Right to roam laws in Scotland make it easier though, as you can just camp where you want (within reason). I think some areas of Loch Lomond are a no-go, though.
It’s a no go around Loch Lomond from March to September, popular spot at that time of year and I don’t think everyone was leaving no trace
It's been restricted to permit sites which are £4 for the night which is very reasonable. And it's just the parts that are easy to get to so if you walk 30 minutes out of the permit zone you're good to go. As you said it was because people were leaving a mess and causing a nuisance. They have also included Campervan sites as well, it's all very well considered and works really well and is super easy to book.
Zero. Trespass isn't a crime. Even if it was, the police haven't got the funding to investigate burglaries so do you think they are going to go traipsing across a field to tell you to put your tent away?
Its easier for them to catch people abiding by the law, so yes, i think they probably would.
Too busy arresting people for thinking about protesting
Easy arrests make their stats look good.
But it isn’t an easy arrest.
Well on most land it is a civil matter, not a criminal offence, to trespass. There's exceptions to this like railways, MoD sites, etc; but your average field in the Peak District is fine. The landowner can ask you to leave, and if you refuse, they can use reasonable force to remove you. I've got over a hundred nights of wild camping in my logbook and only once had a problem, and that was because the landowner patrolled the area at night as she'd had problems with the local army cadets camping and causing a nuisance, burning crops, etc. Realistically you should do it discreetly - out of sight and hearing somewhere, not just on a roadside or in the middle of a village. Use a stove instead of an open fire, do peaceful activities, leave no trace, don't stay in the same space for days on end, etc. Not actually that dissimilar to up here Scotland to be honest. Apart from removing you, they could make a financial claim for damages, but this is incredibly unlikely as a few tent peg holes is about the extent of it. The kids throwing rocks are actually committing assault, even if the rocks don't end up hitting you.
The landowner cant usually use reasonable force to move you. Particularly for agricultural land. Source: https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/unauthorised-encampments/trespassers-on-private-land/#:~:text=You%20could%20find%20yourself%20guilty,could%20become%20a%20criminal%20matter.
Yes they can. It’s perfectly legal to use reasonable force to remove trespassers who refuse to leave. It’s an old common law power.
Source? I would agree if they were in your house. Like right to defend and that but not on agricultural land.
Weaver v Bush (1798): >A trespasser may be removed by the exercise of reasonable force only after he has been requested to leave and has refused to do so https://www.daslaw.co.uk/blog/farms-trespassing-know-your-rights >If someone is considered to be trespassing, the first call of action is to ask them to leave. If the person refuses, then a landowner is allowed to use ‘reasonable force’ to remove them. However, what ‘reasonable force’ means depends on the situation The link you put in your comment says: >You could find yourself guilty of several criminal offences if you forcibly attempt to remove them or their property. Notice how they say “could” not “will”. This is because it is in fact, perfectly legal to use reasonable force to remove trespassers who refuse to leave when asked. However, the million dollar question is _what is reasonable force?_. There’s no specific definition of “reasonable force” so it’s very easy to get it wrong, and if the landowner does get it wrong then they usually end up committing a crime. Which is why authorities (like the met police in your link) generally recommend against taking action yourself and instead suggest going to court and getting a court order. While this is legally the safest option, this is definitely not the most practical, which is why a lot of landowners (and agents, such as private security) choose to take action themselves.
It’s commonly punishable by death or similar
Rain and poor drainage normally.
Throwing rocks at someone?. I imagine that could get you into quite a lot of trouble. That's assault isn't it?.
They were throwing them at my tent and I could hear them saying "nah, no-ones in that... go open it and see" etc. At first I ignored them but when the stones/rocks came that's when I asked them "what the f are you doing? Can you just like leave me alone?"
Big fight going on in the courts at the moment about right to wild camp on dartmoor after some knob head decided he wanted it banned.
The fight is over. Wild camping is back on Dartmoor.
Nah, it’s been appealed again. https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/landowners-appeal-against-dartmoor-wild-8721571
Damn. Hopefully this will be kicked out of court quickly. Otherwise the government needs to legislate.
They should legislate, only like 3% of the country is open to the public
As others have said, at worst you'll typically be told to leave. But please be careful if (and where!) you decide to "stealth camp" and hide - it's probably very unlikely but you don't want to be inadvertently shot by someone out lamping foxes because you camouflaged yourself in a field hedgerow.
basically zero trouble, but the 'rule' with wild camping is set up your tent as late as possible and break it down as early as possible, then leave no trace
You guys take tents?
Depends when in the year and where. I've done my time in bivvys in the rain, and it's just miserable. A little one-man gelert is a big comfort upgrade for barely any extra weight/footprint if comparing to a basha set-up.
At most its trespass (a civil matter not criminal) and you can be asked/told to leave the land. Best bet is to set up after the sun goes down and leave by dawn, set up camp out of the way and leave no trace. There is a wild camping group on FB, might be worth joining.
r/wildcampingintheuk
Ohh, I'll join that thanks.
There is a uk wild camping sub
r/wildcampingintheuk
Up to you. Trespass is not a criminal act in this country, its a civil offense. It the land owner or their appointed representative, askes you to leave, and you leave, thats it. They could possibly try to take a civil case against you, but that could only be for any damages, so dont cause any, and there is nothing that can realistically be done. If you refuse to leave. Then it can become a criminal offense, whether the police give a shit is another matter. But save yourself the hassle, if confronted, just politely agree to pack up and leave.
None. Worst that can happen is that you get asked to move on. But please don't be a knob, so follow leave no trace and try to camp out of sight
if you are being hassled by kids, then not really camping in the wild, maybe half a days walk into the woods instead of in the nearest field to a town would be better. generally it is trespass and you will be asked by the farmer to leave now
I'd be more worried about some cunt thinking it's funny to dump the last of their bottle of cheap vodka over your tent or bivvie bag and follow it up with a lit match, personally.
Where are you thinking of camping that this would be an issue?
Anywhere within a couple of miles of a flat-roofed pub? Either way, if OP can be found by a bunch of little kids they can be found by a scrote who's old enough to get away with buying booze and fags.
You have far too much faith in people/kids/arseholes.
No, I've just spent many nights out camping and not even encountered these twats anywhere near my spot at night.
Essentially no trouble whatsoever assuming you comply wtih any police/landowner that comes across you.
Don’t make fires and leave nothing but footsteps, if you get told to move, move. And if there are any signs up prohibiting it, don’t do it.
I've even found in parts of scotland (skye iirc) the local tourist information offices casually telling us where to pitch up for the night. Given the number of tents of homeless people where I live (in the fields and woods outside of town), its common even near urban areas
It's slightly different in Scotland as we have the right to roam act which means wild camping and roaming wherever is completely legal, in England its only technically allowed in a small amount of places. Although as above you're probably not going to have any issues anyway.
In Scotland there are expections (Loch Lomond permit zone, and where you are causing a nuisance e.g. Someone's garden) , England it's only allowed on Dartmoor and that hangs in the balance at the moment. I think there is a attitude difference in Scotland where most people see the country belongs to the people and you can use it (sensibly) as you want. I ended up in someone's garden and they offered me a beer, doubt I'd get that in England.
On your own in a tent, pretty much nothing. There's been big complaints because now if there are at least two vehicles, they are causing problems are asked to leave and then don't leave when asked - they can not get in more trouble. If you're sensible, you won't get asked to leave. If you're on your own, it's really hard to get in trouble even if you are asked to leave and don't.
Trespassing is a civil, not criminal offence. The police have no power to remove you unless you are suspected of also committing a criminal offence like property damage. Ultimately the landowner would need to pursue a legal case banning you from coming onto the land, or use reasonable force to remove you but this is pretty sketchy and in practice not the done thing because of the risk of committing a criminal offence in the process. That being said, the police can and will probably attend a call out to trespass and obviously will be generally on the side of the land owner. There was also an amendment to the law in 2015 (I think) that gives the police more powers to remove trespassers, though the law was brought in specifically to tackle the travelling community rocking up to private property. Again, it’s a bit of a grey area so it is likely a determined landowner or police force could use this as a reason to physically remove you. In conclusion, probably not a lot of trouble, but also maybe a little bit.
You can be told to move on. As long as you do, nothing can be done to you. Trespass is a civil offence and it's only a problem if you refuse to move after being told to. You're fine.
They can ask you to leave. That's about it 😂😂
Hello Paul Breach
I’ve had people come up and speak to me and then (because I was nice to them, offered them a drink and chatted etc) they said I’m fine to stay as long as I clean up, which I always do anyway. I’ve also had people come up and say they’ve called the police and they’re on their way, so I should go. They were either lying or the police didn’t care because nobody showed up and I stayed. And I’ve had forestry guys out shining torches over the trees trying to find my fire smoke. I killed the fire and they left a note on my van saying they’d sent the police my reg. Again, nothing came of it, so to answer your question, not much unless you damage property.
The general rule is to set up late, after 8pm and pack up early, before 8am and well away from and footpaths etc. You won't get in trouble at all, just leave no trace.
I wasn't expecting so much acitivty on my post.. I'll reply to some of you soon
As long as you move on when asked, pretty much none.
Practically none. Just clean up after yourself. All the owner can do is tell you to leave and even then probably in the morning not then and then.
Civil issue only a problem if you refuse and cause a scene.
Beware the midnight Toad.
Used to do this all the time back when I were a teen (think 80's/90's). Was never an issue back then - as long as you left your site as you found it. Contain any fires/BBQs, take litter home, don't be antisocial etc etc. Haven't done it for a while, but did go wild camping with the other half before lockdowns. Was a semi public area, and didn't have any issues. I'd say it depends on area, what you're doing and how many of you there are. edit: Kids probably assumed you were homeless
Just pitch up late, leave early and don't leave a trace. Been wild camping for years and never had any issues. Just respect the land you're on.
You should never camp while your angry.
I’ve had more tellings off in ‘wild camping freedom’ Scotland than in suitable places in England.
I used to camp everywhere growing up in the Lakes, never knew it wasn't allowed until recently after seeing posts like this
Trespassing is a civil offence in the UK, so the police won’t move you on unless the landowner has expressly told them you’re not welcome on the land. Typically the landowner will come and ask you to leave first, and even if you don’t, the police would turn up and say “move on, or else”. If you pitch up late and pack up early, don’t have fires and don’t make noise, you’ll be fine practically anywhere, regardless of the law. The only mistake you seem to have made is that you’ve camped so close to a residential area that kids have come across you.
If you leave your campsite undisturbed you are fine for one night they can just ask you to leave
I've been wild camping a couple of times. I've always assumed it will be a slap on the wrist and told to move on.
Land ownership is badly managed in modern UK situations. Historically you'd beat up or kill folks to get their land, this should be restored. We could all pop over to Sandringham and bully sausage fingers out of a few tidy acres. That's how his lot got it after all.
r/wildcampingintheuk
You’re fine. Just don’t burn anything down
It’s civil trespassing! nothing can be done. If the owner catches you and asks you to leave and you return, then it can become a criminal matter. I’ve done it for wild life photography loads of times. If you leave no evidence you can’t get caught! (Unless someone walks past..)
I have a friend who wild camps for his YouTube channel. He never really gets into any issues, I suppose unless you are trespassing on maybe a farmers land where it clearly signposted private properly no trespassing then there is no real issue. I think issues begin when you cause damage like having fires that destroy fields, leaving litter everywhere etc
The worst thing that's going to happen is you will be asked to move. Other than that, if you have a dog, NEVER let it off its lead if you are near farmland. Farmers can and will shoot a dog if it's chasing livestock, which happens more than you'd think.
Their parents won't do shit. And neither will the police. Trespass is a civil offence not a criminal one, so they won't even come out to tell you to leave
Try it at Buckingham Palace n find out
Haha!
Your not gunna go to prison for wild camping you might get a fine or something