A few weeks ago I happened to be out riding and smelt smoke. The fact I was riding through one of the largest forests in Wales gave me cause for a little concern. I poked my head through the trees and found that someone had set up camp in the trees. No harm done, so I continued on my merry way.
Fast forward a fortnight and I found myself riding past the same spot so decided to take a little look at the campsite … you never know, it might come in handy one day. I pushed through the trees and was greeted with total mess … leave no trace was obviously something these people had never heard!
A little bit of paradise!
There was litter strewn all over the place, the fire was full of tin cans (when will people realise tin cans don’t burn) and the remnants of their camping kit adorned the forest floor … fold out chairs, a groundsheet, clothing, all abandoned!
Whilst tidying up I started to think about why there was so much kit left behind (these happy campers had arrived and departed by car) and I wondered if it was something to do with the price of kit. If you’ve spent £200 on a tent then logic says you’re likely to look after it but if the tent cost £25 you might not be too concerned. The big outdoor stores all sell ‘camping sets’ at stupidly low prices, sleeping bags for a tenner, mats for £15, etc. Combine cheap prices with a ‘everything is disposable’ mindset and the results are inevitable … perhaps it’s time for a tax on cheap gear or at least a little investment in educating people?
