No trace camping? Our top tips

It’s a magical prospect, escaping to the forest, finding a nice hidden spot and pitching your tent for a night or two. At Camping in the Forest we talk about the conservation of our forests, wildlife and fauna that call the forests home all of the time. Why? Because we, just like the animals and plants that visit the forest, enjoy every aspect of our green land and we want to preserve it so we can carry on enjoying it for years to come. It’s important to us that we don’t see any negative changes in the forest ecosystem so we’ll do everything we can to prevent any.

One way of making sure we’re not damaging the environment when we camp under the trees is by leaving it in exactly the same state it was when we arrived. Being eco-friendly isn’t rocket science, but it is infinitely easier with a few insider tips. What might they be? We’ve shared our secrets to no trace camping down below. 

Keep your feet on the paths

During the normal working week we usually don’t have time to take the scenic route to our workplaces. We’re used to taking the shortest route possible to get to our destination in the shortest time possible. As we do this day in, day out we’re rarely aware of the environment around us.

This is all well and good in a concrete jungle of a city or town but it can have damaging effects in rural areas. Taking a shortcut means straying off the paths and in a woodland setting this damages wild flowers and leads to the erosion of natural habitats.

So, when weaving your way through the woods or fields, stick to the established paths as much as you can. Bring a map if you’re planning to explore the area quite extensively. Remember: you have all the time in the world!

Campfires are best left in the movies

When picturing your trip, you might imagine hunkering around a campfire, browning marshmallows long into the night as you share stories or play that well-intentioned guitar. But while this might be a heart-warming scene depicted in some of our most loved, camping themed films, our campsites don’t allow it, and for good reason.

Lighting a fire is a no-no where no trace camping is concerned – as well as presenting a fire hazard to your family and other campers, it scorches the earth beneath. Bring an appropriate camping stove or raised BBQ to protect those around you and the forests.

Read our fire safety warning and guidelines.

Keep your furry companions under control

We’re great advocates for taking your friendly pooch along with you on your camping trips and many of our 16 campsites allow you to do just that. Doing these simple things will help you to ensure that man’s best friend is nature’s one too: 

• Dogs love to dig; a good rummage in a new, unexplored spot is just in their nature. This damages not only the ground but the fauna and organisms making use of it. We ask our campers to keep their dog on a lead at all times and please discourage them from digging!
• The dirty business- we all do it but our four legged friends are less capable of disposing of theirs in an environmentally friendly way. We ask campers to monitor their dogs closely and have doggy bags on hand to clean up any mess, disposing of it in the bins provided.
• If you’re dog has a calm nature, is happy to chill by the tent and more than grateful for the quiet life, he/she will fit in on our sites incredibly well. Boisterous pups will need a little more entertaining though, try and bring toys along that won’t bother other campers, chew toys are a great option. 

Keep the wildlife wild

We’re lucky enough to share the woodland and forests around our campsites with a huge variety of animals. To ensure we respect their habitats, we urge campers to:

• Never feed the animals, they manage to do this pretty well themselves.  
• Observe any animal from a distance, if they get too close, slowly and calmly move away.
• Keep the area around your pitch as clean as possible, human food is isn’t good for wildlife.
• New Forest ponies are always a talking point, read our pony safety guide here.

Banish litter bugs

There’s nothing worse than arriving to a littered campsite only to have to pitch your tent or position your awning around a littered camp ground.

Respect your fellow campers by cleaning up as you go along; repackage any leftover food, and bring a stash of bin bags that can be tied to the entrance of your tent for rubbish. Make sure you put your rubbish bag in the bin on site at the end of each day; this will prevent the weather and wild animals from making a mess.  

When packing away at the end of your trip, put someone in charge of a final litter sweep. Most campsites have waste disposal facilities on site; for wilder spots, be considerate and take your mess home!

Leave anything you find behind

Following on from taking your waste with you, please leave any natural materials or historic artefacts right where they are. The first step to preserving the land is to leave everything within it behind. Leave stones, plants and other natural objects too, you can take a picture to keep the memory. 

Be a good neighbour

Finally, remember that no trace camping also means keeping a low profile around fellow campers. Sounds travel far when all that lies between you and your neighbour is a stretch of grass and some tarpaulin, so be aware of the noise levels – especially when it’s time for lights out.

Committing to no trace camping takes a little more foresight, but it’s what makes being a part of the outdoor community so special. Take these tips on board when planning your next venture to the forest, and share our secrets to help others minimise their impact too!

Yet to find your perfect camping spot? Browse our campsites for gorgeous rural escapes that make no trace camping a walk in the park.