Wild places can be unpredictable and sometimes a little frightening and even dangerous. Children and young people need opportunities to explore the natural world freely, but we must equip them with the knowledge they need to look after themselves whilst minimising damage to wild places.
Outdoor Code
We have a responsibility to safeguard wild places for the
future
Plan ahead and prepare
Take responsibility for your own action.
Respect all wildlife.
Keep to marked paths where possible; always seek permission
to venture on to private land.
Leave gates and property as you find them.
Read and respect signs and notices.
Be considerate of other users.
Leave what you find.
Dispose of waste properly; do not drop litter, take your
rubbish home with you.
If you need to go to the toilet do so responsibly.
Keep dogs under control.
Never make fire unless you have permission to do so and the
skill to make a safe and controlled fire.
Leave no trace.
Safety Tips
Whether going on a walk to your local woods or an expedition to the mountains, always be prepared and keep safety in mind.
Always take a basic first aid kit to deal with cuts, bruises and stings. Make sure you know how to use it.
Remind children not to talk to strangers
Never let children play unsupervised near water
Don’t let children become too widely dispersed when playing outdoors
Agree on a central meeting point where you can all gather at a pre-arranged signal
Don’t eat wild foods unless someone in your party knows what they are doing
Don’t let children and young people use sharp tools unsupervised
This site and our books contain some potentially dangerous activities. Please note that any readers of this site, or anyone in their charge, taking part in any of the activities described does so at their own risk. You must therefore follow the common sense safety tips above and those that appear throughout the books. Neither the authors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any harm, injury, damage, loss or prosecution resulting from the activities described.
It is illegal to carry out any of these activities on private land without the owners permission, and there are laws relating both to protection of land, property, plants and animals, and to the use of weapons.
