Leave no Trace

Leave No Trace

Take only memories, leave only footprints!

Unbelievably, some people throw down their empty plastic water bottles on the hills.  Packed lunch litter is left at natural stop or shelter spots, and/or wrappers and cans are stuffed into cracks in rocks and stone walls. But Leave no trace is about more than litter!

The 7 Principles are:

  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Be Considerate of Others
  3. Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife
  4. Travel and Camp on Durable Ground
  5. Leave What You Find
  6. Dispose of Waste Properly
  7. Minimise the Effects of Fire
Visit the “Leave No Trace” website

You might think even your biodegradable waste is fine to leave but here is the truth:

  • A paper towel takes 2-4 weeks to decompose
  • An apple core takes 2 months to decompose
  • Orange peel – 6 months to decompose
  • Banana skin – 1-2 years to decompose
  • Aluminium can – 50 to 100 years to decompose
  • Polystyrene and plastics packaging – 400 years to decompose
  • Plastic Water Bottles are estimated to require 450 years to decompose

… and that’s only if you bury it!

Be responsible and improve the situation by:

  1. Embracing an active ‘Leave No Trace’ policy.
  2. Pre-plan an identified ‘Banana Skin bag carrier’ for each walk in your calendar.
  3. Educate your group, when packing their Rucksack; to remove their paper and plastic shop wrapping from their sandwiches and snacks and replace with reusable packaging.  
  4. Always bring a rubbish bag with you so that you can clean up after your snacks and lunch break. If you forget your rubbish bag, carry any leftover waste/wrappers into your rucksack and dispose of them either at home or when you come across a bin.
  5. Use your rubbish bag to lift ‘others discarded rubbish’ as you come across it.  Help clean the hills as you walk.
  6. Adopt a no tolerance policy to members discarding food waste, even if it is biodegradable.
  7. Follow the example of the UFRC Clubs who undertake regular litter-collection walks included in their annual walking calendar.
  8. Campfires are discouraged.  A cooking stove is more efficient and welcomed.  In places where campfires are permitted, make sure your fire is small and safely contained, while ensuring the fire is completely extinguished when you leave it.  Return the fire site to its original condition.

Practising a “Leave No trace” ethic is very simple: 

“Make it hard for others to see or hear you and LEAVE NO TRACE of your visit”.