In Stewart We Trust

When I can, I catch the “Daily Show” on a wee Freeview side-channel of UK’s Channel 4. It’s after the news on a channel which has house-building programmes and the like, so it is about the only thing I watch on that. I’d caught the build-up to  Cramer’s appearance, and I have to say that it was the most interesting piece of reporting that I have seen in a good while.

Stewart’s timing and body language was great. At one stage it looked like Cramer was going to cry. There is nothing like this on UK television, as we too seem to have “commentators” (as Cramer described himself) rather than reporters or investigative journalists.

I awoke this morning to an article on Radio 4, talking about “The Daily Show”.

At the time of writing, there are still videos on the show’s website. If you didn’t see it, watch some of the background first, and then the slug-fest.

Triple S – Aye? Nae

It has been a funny old day.

The US presidential race ends at Manassas, where the British journalist noted that there was an American Civil War battle – actually, there was two battles fought on the site, which is sometimes referred to as Bull Run. Both pre-dated the emancipation proclamation made after Antietam/Sharpsburg later in 1862.

Speaking of American conflicts, Donald Trump got handed the keys to a nearby site of special scientific interest so that he can build homes and a golf course. There seems to be a very slight chance (i.e. one politician interviewed) that he will not destroy the dunes and the wildlife. BBC news link. Photos.

No doubt a certain zoo … oops, heelan’ safari … is planning to unleash the hounds sooner.

Mick and Gayle posted a video clip of the bad weather at The Kingshouse, and Glen Nevis campsite.

I collected my BackpackingLight.com goodie box from the local corner shop – good for Parcel Force to save me a cross-town journey (especially as the car battery is dead).

That book “Fixing your feet” by John Vonhof is massive! Sections on feet, footwear (hmm, why is it not feetwear?), prevention and treatment. Two wee tubs of BodyGlide, and a pair of possum fur gloves. I tried the gloves on and they were toasty. But I was in the house at the time, as I didn’t want to get them manky as I worked on the car.

And there was an email at work, asking if anyone wanted to visit the local landfill site. Like I said, it has been a funny old day.

They're GrrrrRevolutionary

As the Olympics starts in China, I can't help but notice that so many companies are advertising "Oriental" themed products. And then one that stands out is the Tibetan centred Kelloggs advert for Frosties. Tibetan monks feature. But no sign of the military watching folk.

Unlike other companies not worrying about embarrassing China, Kelloggs is blazing the way. Well done.

Any bets on it disappearing from the screens as the ad company gets a wee nudge from the weakwilled executives.

--> Previous posting

Saiyûki

I wasn't sure what this was an advert for. Perhaps Albarn's Chinese opera project?

Nope, it is the Olympics. There are more details on Monkey at the BBC site. I'm sure I read the tales at school, but all I can remember is the great Japanese tv series. A rebel who escorts a Buddhist monk on a mission, fighting demons and corrupt people on the way. Hmm, I wonder if the BBC will be told off by their political masters for upsetting the boat?

CRoW - Amazing Legislation

These Southerners find that their Countryside and Rights of Way Act just gets stranger and stranger - now it may be used to prevent people from using rights of way. Go figure!

Details on Grough's newsdesk.

The Real Monarch of the Glen ep1

Message sent to BBC iPlayer folk:

Cracking job on the iPlayer, but when will you include BBC Scotland and not just BBC England? For example, some mates down south wanted to watch "The Real Monarch of the Glen" (BBC2 Scotland), so I pointed them to your iPlayer. Only then did one of the chaps point out your lack of regional programming.

I'm not interested in when the TV down south will show the prog, but just why your iPlayer is biased against us up here. As you are constantly working hard to improve the iPlayer, I hope that this oversight will be corrected shortly.

The programme - merely reshowing clips from the original, with expanded material. Mr Lister playing to the camera when eating ants in Scandinavia. Terms like "the cycle of life", "enclosed reserve", "fenced reserve" and "let's just do it". Sweeping statements from the programme-makers "make a remote spot ... a little wilderness", and "now the first animals are back".

I'm sure the BBC will bring out inconsistencies, like bringing employment to the area, but the construction workers were Polish (heck, maybe they live in the area, I don't know). 700 brown bears in the whole of Sweden (stated the script), yet Mr Lister wants wants to introduce 12 to his small estate. Estate: 23,000 acres. Sweden: 111,188,530 acres. Obviously pure maths doesn't work here as the scientists know how much room these bears need. The same bears that  "won't be shy as they'll have less woods to hide in".

Anyone up for pony-trekking in amongst un-shy brown bears? I think I'll need to bag that Munro before the whatever-it-is-just-don't-call-it-a-zoo opens.

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Filed under "Celebrity Interviews", there's an interview with Mr Lister in the Daily Record (story-link). Just don't bother doing a search for the word "zoo" in the interview. Nor is there mention of the Local Authority's objection to part of the proposal. In fact, the only mention of opposing views is in the statement that "Ramblers - some of whom have raised opposition to Paul's plans - currently number 300 on the estate each year." Therefore it could be implied that the number of objections are a subset of 300 (here's a link to the MCoS newsletter in case you want to hear objections from non-Ramblers).

But, hey, I wasn't going to start listing faults with the media. Good luck to the project. I've said things elsewhere that you can read if you are interested, so I won't repeat them here.

"Scotland is a nation on the move. We will accept nothing less than success." Oh, that was the First Minister, during his "Free to Prosper" speech and not Mr Lister.

I look forward to the rest of the series, and hope that the later programmes reveal more facts about Scotland being open for business, though perhaps the term "Monarch" in the title says all about the due deference being paid so far.

Keep it Simple, Stupid

Hike your own hike. Dance your own dance.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Sometimes people think too hard about the subject of global citizenship. It is a shame the world has too many backstabbing, money-grabbing, sleazy, lying, balloons who ruin it for the rest of us who just want to get on with their lives.

Yup, I'm working back through another Net@Nite podcast.

Numb3rs

So, the pro-wild camping ePetition "only" got 2021 votes. Guess what? The governing Labour got about half that last night at the Henley bi-election.

Conservative 19,796
Lib Dems 9,680
Green 1,321
BNP 1,243
Labour 1,066
Source BBC News

Spookily, they got 1066 - which is part of Darren's blog's URL!!!  Cue the music!

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There's been other things going on with the Campaign, including a call from the Mountain Leader Training England via Trail/Country Walking forum and Grough. Me? I'm tired of the nay-sayers, tired of poorly worded laws that people feel free to ignore because no-one's getting hurt, tired of the authorities lording it over the populace and yet losing records, pochling expenses, and failing to answer questions in the house.

Wild Camping in London

After the knockback from the English government, these Englishers are allowing an opportunity for a wild camp in the centre of London! Darren, get your quill a-writing on the application form.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7468750.stm

This Government appreciates the potential benefits of wild camping

The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can view it here:

http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page15826.asp

This Government appreciates the potential benefits of wild camping in England and its attractiveness to campers who already have the opportunity to camp in the wild in Scotland.

The Land Reform Act in Scotland allows for wild camping, but the land issues and the legislation in England are somewhat different. The introduction of wild camping in England would be a controversial issue, which would require both significant consultation and legislative change.

On open access land wild camping is prohibited under Schedule 2 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which lists all restricted activities. Therefore, new Regulations would be required to exclude wild camping as a restricted activity. Any change to the current rules on wild camping in National Parks and Ministry of Defence land would require new primary legislation.

The Government has no plans to allocate the necessary resources to consider proposals for such legislation at present, and is concentrating on following up the successful introduction of 750,000 hectares of open access land with new legislation on access to the coast in the Marine Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

Here's my thoughts.

1. No mention as to whom in the "government" or "Prime Minister's Office" wrote this reply.

2. It states that the land issues in England (no mention of Wales) are different to Scotland. if you keep saying it often enough, everyone believes it.

3. "The introduction of wild camping in England would be a controversial issue, which would require both significant consultation and legislative change." Aye, you can't have a government do anything that would be controversial. Strange that us Scots managed it.

4. "new Regulations would be required to exclude wild camping as a restricted activity." Untrue. The Lake District National Park managed it with a few lines of text. Local Authorities can allow wild camping if they so desire.

5. The "open access land" in the Marine Bill will still preclude wild camping.

All in all, no surprise, just a shame that the government seem to be unwilling to change their tune. Now, I wonder how much business local authorities would lose if they illicit wild campers of England & Wales decided to obey the laws. But each to their own. I just love the nice comments that foreigners make about our access laws. Shame that the English government can't see it.

Keep an eye on legalisewildcamping.com for information on Stage 2 of the campaign.

I've Tax to Pay - Yippee

Dead and taxes are said to be unavoidable. But we have a 2nd rate system of handling import duty in the UK. I've written about it in the past so won't waste my time mentioning this Victorian random handling of taxes. Just to say that it seems to be a cheap way for the post office to make about 8 quid out of me. Not their fault. They are subcontracted from the Government. Previous article: immature-customs

So, why am I happy? Well, it means that there's a package from the USA waiting for me. Either my order from Sarah at Freezer Bag Cooking or Tinny at Mini Bull Design. And I'm off to meet George in the Cairngorms for an overnighter at the Corrour Bothy at the start of the Lairig Ghru.

If I am lucky, the package is waiting for me at the sorting office - all shiny and new and waiting for me to collect it and take it with me.

Sadly, this idyllic image is spoilt by the fact that I've a dentist appointment beforehand. As some people know, I'm a big woose when it comes to these things. So the happy thoughts of shiny new gear should help me get a good night's sleep.

Here's the view last summer. The bothy's off to the left side of the shot. (maplink)

Trail End

The new edition of "Trail" magazine came through the door. There's a photo of Claire Maxted wild camping on the front cover. Inside there is an article on lightweight hiking (PTC*'s first full length article, I think), and the promotion of gear reviewer, Graham Thompson to a lightweight guru.

But, with one day left before the ePetition calling upon the government to legalise wild camping in England and Wales, I scoured the pages to find any reference to it.

There it was on page 50.

Amazing.

Really amazing.

4 1/2 column inches of "Eco-Savvy wild camping". Did it cover recycling gas canisters? Nope. Did it talk abut using public transport instead of cars, or trekking at home rather than flying away for a weekend? Nope. It states the following:

...

Well, you know what. I really can't be bothered writing what they say before they write about the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

For me, their inability to state clearly where you can legally wild camp in England and Wales is just poor hake. Even if they do not agree with the campaign, they could have mentioned it in their roll as outdoor journalists. But it is the nail in the coffin for my readership. As I'm not their target readership, it is no great loss all round.

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Today's the last chance to add your name to the ePetition. The more names, the more right we have to move to Stage Two of the campaign. With your support, we can make it work. Despite the ignorance of the "UK's best-selling hill-walking magazine"

Add your name to the petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp/

Read the background at the official website: http://www.legalisewildcamping.com/ - you'll also find out what Trail aren't telling you about where you can legally wild camp already in England and Wales.

1900th name on ePetition

The pro-wild camping ePetition has just reached its 1900th signature. It finishes on the 24th of May, so not long to go.

Add your name to the petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp/

Read the background at the official website: http://www.legalisewildcamping.com/

We don't do Saturdays

Just heard on Radio 4 that the Post Office Royal Mail are now proposing to stop delivering mail on Saturday. What a joke organisation this is. At what point will someone in power stand up to the mismanagement and say "enough is enough". It is just another sign that no-one cares about the public deliveries and are only interested in business deliveries.

Wild Camping ePetition: over 1800

If you think that wild camping in England and Wales is a right worth having. That you'd follow something similar to our Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and its "Leave no trace" ethics, then why not sign up? What's the worst that can happen? We might again get ignored by politicians who listen to the scare-mongering of the landowners who thought that allowing people access to land at night was a licence for burglars.

According to the petition site:

When a serious petition closes, usually provided there are 200 signatures or more, officials at Downing Street will ensure you get a response to the issues you raise. Depending on the nature of the petition, this may be from the Prime Minister, or he may ask one of his Ministers or officials to respond.

Well, they raised 200 signatures in 72 hours. But the petition has already received a negative response from the government. They don't know how many people are interested in this. 2000 would be a nice round number, but the petition closes on the 24th of May. 10 days time.

Wild camping isn't just because people choose not to stay at official reservations, but because they can break up treks or expeditions, because the view is stunning and the noise one of nature and not of cars driving by, because they want to get a start on a hill.

Leave no trace, take only photographs.

Add your name to the petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp/

Read the background at the official website: http://www.legalisewildcamping.com/

Active Magazine: Wild Camping Reprise

In response to earlier post

Once more people have a misguided approach to wild camping in Scotland before the Scottish Outdoor Access Code came in. Wild camping without the landowner's permission was still classed as trespass under the Trespass (Scotland) Act 1865. I have mentioned this a few times. The Act was changed by the Land Reform Act 2003.

The "philosophy" that I was brought up with in Scotland was different. You respected other peoples' land, camped out of the way, and left no trace. The landowners' folk were concerned with poachers rather than campers.

Andrew Shirley of the CLA misses the point of wild camping when he says wild campers are "people who are not satisfied with camp sites". There are not many campsites where I end my days: jumping off points for the next day's walk. Under Scottish legislation, landowners rights are listed and protected. Damage by campers means they lose the right to access, and are trespassing, as well as being open to other civil and criminal damages.

Andrew Shirley of the CLA talks about "demand, not ideology". I wonder if the same rationale applies to all countryside arguments? One landowner, a few farm-workers, versus lots of walkers. Oh, that was the Kinder Scout Trespass. Demand of the masses, versus ideology of the landowner.

I have already written about the chances of bringing new money into out of the way places in Wild Camping Economics. Wild campers are tourists to, and are only a "very small number" if you ignore the sales of lightweight tents, tarps, bivvy bags, readers of the online forums (OutdoorsMagic and TGO). Most people undertaking the TGO Challenge will wildcamp a few times - do they not wild camp when they return south of the border?

I would bet that there are more wild campers in England & Wales than there are chasing foxes-scents or whatever they do these days.

And finally, the support of organisations. Good luck on finding it. There has been a single report in TGO Magazine, and I have not seen anything else in any other magazine or TV programme before "Active" magazine.

In fact, "Trail" reported this month "Dartmoor is the only place in the UK that legally enshrines the right to wild camp..". New kid on the block, "Active" knows that to be wrong, knows that Scotland is in the UK.

"Active" got it wrong about Dartmoor, and National Trust land as wild camping is only permissible in part of Dartmoor National Park (link), and in the Lake District National Park above 450m (link) under the following conditions:

2 There is a presumption against camping on non-recognised sites without permission. This presumption is waived in certain circumstances and areas, eg in the Lake District in upland areas above 450 metres out of sight of the public highway, to allow the wilderness experience to be enjoyed.
3 ‘Wild camping’, where tolerated, should only involve one night stop-overs, a maximum of two campers and leave no trace of its presence.
Recreational Activities at National Trust Properties, p7. PDF link

If the National Trust allow it in certain places, why not all national parks. Are wild campers not taxpayers? Do we not bring money into the area? Or do the landowners and councils only want the wealthy visitors? I wouldn't have walked across Scotland last year if I had to pay for accommodation each night. I lost over a kilo in 15 days. I spent money in towns. I spent money in gear shops before and after. I can not afford to walk across England or walk the length of Wales. Is that not "demand, not ideology"?

Active Magazine: Wild Camping Article

A text from John Hee this morning tells me that there's a 3-[age article on the wild camping petition in the 3rd edition of "Active" magazine. A nip up town and the sight of a kid getting an older lad to buy fags for him (I shook inwardly at the irony of the kid saying "you're a lifesaver").

Gemma Hall (signatory nr 898) gathered a collection of people interested in wild camping in England and Wales.

Darren (signatory nr 1), obviously, as he set up the ePetition on the 10 Downing Street website: petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp 

"We're not asking for permission to camp in lay-bys, cornfields or in your garden."

Danny Moores (name not on list) of Natural England: "The philosophy in Scotland has always been very different".

Sue Hilder (name not on list) of the NFU Scotland: "The floodgates haven't opened."

Mike Dales (name not on list) of the Scottish Canoe Association: "We can now put our energy into educating countryside users.." He believes that England & Wales will follow Scotland's lead but it will depend on the clout of outdoor groups.

Back in England & Wales, Andrew Shirley (name not on list), Access Adviser of the Country Land and Business Association said future access provision should be "based on demand, not ideology". Interestingly, he mentions the "time and expense involved", "thrashing out the significant liability issues" for the "very small number of people who are not satisfied with camp sites".

John Hee (signatory nr 7) mentions support from kayakers, bushcrafters, horse-riders and cyclists.

The "don't publicise it - keep it quiet" response was mentioned.

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At present, there are 1,453 signatures on the petition, which closes on the 24th of May.

Official site: www.legalisewildcamping.com

ePetition breaks Scottish target

The electronic petition calling for the legalising of wild camping in England and Wales broached 1350 signatures today, reaching 1351 names before noon. The deadline to sign up by: 24 May 2008

With over a month to go, that's a lot of people who think it is broken.

ABC rate Trail magazine's average UK & ROI circulation per issue as 39,259 - that's how many people have not (to date) been informed of the petition in the outdoor news section or "The knowledge" of the magazine. (figures) I don't know if Country Walking have reported the petition to its 44,440 strong UK&ROI readership  (figures)

It is also only 1 in 7 of TGO magazine's readership, where there was a piece written. Maybe that is how many readers are in England & Wales? (figures)

There are no ABC figures for forums, blogs, podcasts. I haven't heard that BBC's Countryfile magazine have carried the news in print, but they have online, as have other magazines online sites (mainly due to John Hee's work).

I'll wait for the day when outdoor magazines give landowners contact details when encouraging people to go wild camping in England & Wales. At least they encourage "leave no trace" ethics, and mention the law on Dartmoor. Complicated is one thing it isn't.

Add your name to the petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp/

Read the official website: http://www.legalisewildcamping.com/

ePetition 4 short

the pro-wild camping ePetition is at 1346, just 4 signatures short of reaching 1350. The importance of that number? Well, none actually, but it is the number of people consulted in Scotland after the Land Reform Act deemed that such consultation into outdoor access must take place. So it seems to be a psychological target to aim for.

Add your name to the petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcamp/

Read the official website: http://www.legalisewildcamping.com/

ListerWorld

I'll reply here to Mike's post across on "Puppy's World" about the BBC "Natural World" program last night about Paul Lister's Alladale development. I've mentioned it a few times here in the past, so isn't new news (posts). I'll state here that I haven't watched the programme yet. I'm waiting for a more relaxing time, as I have heard/read interviews about this in the past and the stance taken by the developers winds me up.

But I wish people wouldn't keep using the Outdoor Access Code, and Land Reform Act as a hammer to knock developers. Would there be objections if the land was flat? Or there wasn't a Munro in the vicinity? But then we have Blair Drummond safari park, and zoos in Scotland already and no-one is suggesting that access laws are used to allow people to walk freely into the enclosures. Of course not. Are there any rights of way being removed? I haven't heard of any, but I could be wrong.

I have objections to the development, but other people have arguments in favour. There have been a number of high level planning 'debates' (totally the wrong word for these arguments) in Scotland recently. It would seem that no-one is happy with the planning laws. But they are the laws that we have, and people should not be allowed to sidestep them. That is what we have state authorities for - to make sure that people from the lowest to the highest in the land all obey the laws. I think I managed to keep a straight face writing that bit!

I'd love to go hiking amongst native woodlands rather than the bland industrially-minded plantations. Deer kept on the move by the threat of a wolf pack would probably benefit the native plants. Bears are different, and when one escaped in Scotland in the 1980's (or was it the 70's?), an intensive search was mounted to catch it. This is what we have licensing and official approvals for - to make sure that everything is up to standards before dangerous animals are released into such a large area (where this differs from smaller safari parks and zoos). I'm sure the insurance companies and backers also demand no less.

If, in future, there are hiking and camping tours through land clear of bears and nasties, I'd pay a fee for that privilege - to hear the wolves howl in the distance, and see the elk plod across the hillside. Just so long as there was no grizzly ripping my tent open and making off with half my face attached to its claws.

I'll second Mike's comment "Right i am off to get the flak jacket and tin helmet and find a big deep hole to hide in".

If you missed the programme and want to watch it, you'll find it in the BBC iPlayer - don't tell me what happens.