Treefrog said:Because it not only looks horrible, but it helps to/does destroy the
habitat of what ever lives there... there are some rare butterflies
in the lakes for example, that only live in very small areas
Isn't this where I came in 5 years ago? The butterflies in the wood
argument? Good grief...
Quoted message said:Also, it only a takes a few decadent souls to start the wild camp
fire trend off, then all of a sudden, everbodies doing it and there's
huge fires in summer and big black patches everywhere in winter.
Yeah right. I've had a few camp fires here and there and no, everybody
isn't doing it now, and there aren't big black patches everywhere.
Methinks you exaggerate the significance of the odd fire.
Quoted message said:It's
like bannana skins, yes they're bio degradable so in theory okay to
throw, but, if every started chucking their "bio-degradable" litter
it would be a right mess in our countryside.
There's that little big word "if" again. The fact is that everyone is
not going to start doing it.
Quoted message said:Ok, I said no exceptions but there's obviously one; If it's going to
save a life, get your lighter out!
And how pray tell are you going to start a fire with just a lighter if
you've never lit one before? Do you know how difficult it is to start a
fire in the kind of conditions where your life may be at risk? Middle
of winter, dying of hypothermia, the only wood around is frozen or
waterlogged. It's really difficult to get a fire going in those
conditions. Where's Ray Mears when you really need him? I've poured
half a pint of petrol over a fire in waterlogged winter conditions and
failed to keep it going. It ain't easy, not without a bit of practice.
And what about Ray Mears anyway? He's been lighting fires all over the
British countryside for who knows how many years! Why is it okay for
him to do that? Is it because he does it in a responsible fashion?
There is a big difference between lighting a fire in a sensitive
location and making a huge mess and lighting a fire in a sustainable
location and tidying up after you.
In most places on the hills there's no wood for a fire anyway. And if
there's only a few scenic trees, some ancient natural woodland, I
wouldn't think of touching it. But in a convenient spot next to some
boring forestry, where's the harm? Positioned sensibly of course, away
from the trees. Neat and tidy surrounded by stones. Pour water over it
the next day to make sure that it's out.
You will find the odd location here and there where someone has
previously made a fire. The logical thing to do is to use the same
spot, rather than creating new ones. If the damage has already been
done then you won't do any more harm by confining it to that spot. Also
make a point of choosing suitable dead branches that aren't waterlogged.
Probably the best spot is on the coast, where the driftwood washes up.
Ideally just above the mean high water mark when it's not a spring tide,
so that you won't get washed out but that the fire will be washed out
later.
Fires in the summer? Why? You don't need a fire in the summer, it's
not cold enough. I only ever light fires in the depths of winter when
it's bloody freezing! Try sitting in dark tent during a long winter's
night with the temperature below zero and tell me you wouldn't prefer to
be sitting outside under the stars around a nice hot fire.
Paul
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http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
