5 Easy Ways to Become a More Eco-Conscious Camper

Do you want to reduce the environmental impact of your camping activities? Then find out how with Winfields Outdoors.

With this summer seeing record temperatures across the UK and ever increasing talk about the degradation of the environment, more and more campers are seeking ways in which they can camp in a way that doesn’t damage the environment.

If you’re one of those campers then keep reading, as the Winfields Outdoors team sets out five easy ways you can become a more eco-conscious camper below.

1. Create as little rubbish as possible

Not only is rubbish and litter unsightly, but it can cause harm to flora and fauna too. Plus, the majority of litter that you tend to find around campsites and natural areas is packaging – which is made of plastic.

With plastic being made of oil, the more packaging you use, the more the environment is harmed.

As such, you should try and avoid bringing packaged items with you on your next camping trip.

In fact, where possible, you should bring your food and beverages with you in reusable containers. This will reduce the amount of potential litter you’ll be creating, as you’ll have less packaging material to get rid of. You should also consider using reusable utensils, tableware and cookware too.

The types of reusable containers, utensils, tableware and cookware you should consider for your next camping trip include:

Cool boxes and camping fridges.
Reusable tableware (ditch the paper plates and disposable plastic knives and forks!).
Flasks.
Reusable cookware.

By investing in good-quality items like those listed above, you’ll not only reduce the amount of litter that your camping produces, but you’ll also have items that can be used time after time for years to come – reducing your carbon footprint further.

The types of reusable containers, utensils, tableware and cookware you should consider for your next camping trip include:

Cool boxes and camping fridges.
Reusable tableware (ditch the paper plates and disposable plastic knives and forks!).
Flasks.
Reusable cookware.

By investing in good-quality items like those listed above, you’ll not only reduce the amount of litter that your camping produces, but you’ll also have items that can be used time after time for years to come – reducing your carbon footprint further.

2. Keep your dog under control

If your dog is going to be accompanying you on your next camping trip, it’s important that you keep him (or her!) under control.

This is because, if you’re not careful, dogs can disturb other animals or birds causing them unnecessary stress. It’s also important that you clean up after your dog.

Because dogs tend to eat a large amount of protein, their waste tends to be highly acidic, which can have a negative impact upon the environment.

Finally, aside from protecting the natural space from your dog, it’s important that you protect your dog from the natural space too! What we mean by this is that there are certain plants that can cause harm to your dog – particularly if they are ingested.

So, we’d recommend researching the plants that are going to be present in your camping spot, and making sure that your dog doesn’t go near any hazardous ones!

With those things in mind, it can certainly be worthwhile investing in a quality lead to keep your dog under control, as well as some toys to keep them away from any other unwanted distractions.

Finally, aside from protecting the natural space from your dog, it’s important that you protect your dog from the natural space too! What we mean by this is that there are certain plants that can cause harm to your dog – particularly if they are ingested.
So, we’d recommend researching the plants that are going to be present in your camping spot, and making sure that your dog doesn’t go near any hazardous ones!
With those things in mind, it can certainly be worthwhile investing in a quality lead to keep your dog under control, as well as some toys to keep them away from any other unwanted distractions.

3. Don’t interfere with wildlife

One of the most important things you can do to be a more eco-conscious camper is to avoid interfering with wildlife.

Be it birds and small mammals, or larger creatures, you should always keep your distance and avoid alarming them with loud noises.

You can do this by sticking to designated camping and walking routes. Whilst it may be tempting to venture off the beaten path, there’s probably designated routes for a good reason i.e. they prevent visitors from disturbing valuable local flora and fauna.

If you do want to observe the local wildlife, then the best way to do so is to invest in a pair of binoculars and watch from a distance. Of equal importance is resisting the temptation to feed birds and mammals food.

Feeding animals disturbs the local ecosystem and leads to them becoming reliant on human-provided food. It can also lead to animals stealing food from campsites and becoming pests. Most importantly, feeding animals may lead to health complications for them.

Finally, you should also avoid the temptation of taking a souvenir home with you. Many ecosystems are quite fragile – for example, if every visitor to an ancient woodland took home a spring bluebell with them, this could lead to a serious disruption of that ecosystem.

4. Be considerate with campfires

Campfires are an integral part of the classic camping experience – and we’re certainly not suggesting you forego the fun and joy of creating your very own campfire on your next camping trip!

But, there are a few things you can do to make your campfire more eco-friendly.

Firstly, you should always use firewood that you’ve found in the immediate vicinity of your campsite. Why? Because, if you bring your own firewood from elsewhere, you risk introducing invasive species that could harm local flora and fauna alike.

Secondly, whilst you should use firewood that has been sourced from the immediate area, you should ensure that you only use deadwood. Don’t go snapping twigs or branches from living trees.

Thirdly, never set up a campfire if there is a ban currently in place. As we saw recently during the UK’s record summer temperatures, it’s all too easy for small fires to quickly spiral out of control.

Fourthly, never leave your campfire unattended. It’s also a good safety precaution to have some water or loose dirt nearby which you can use to extinguish the fire if it starts to get out of control. If you want to ensure you have light throughout the night, consider buying a lantern rather than letting your fire burn continuously.

Finally, you should always make sure that you clean up once the fire has been extinguished and is finished with. Be sure to scatter any unused wood to keep the area looking natural and spread the ash over a large area to help it safely disperse.

5. Be forage friendly

One of the joys of camping – especially during the late summer months – is the ability to forage an abundance of foodstuffs from your surroundings.

Whether you want to enjoy the sweet tang of blackberries or the hearty meat-like texture of chicken of the woods mushrooms, there’s a real joy to be found in ‘finding’ your own meal out in nature.

But, it’s important to forage in a way that is sensitive to the local ecosystem and in moderation.

Foraging best practices that you should follow when camping, include:

Only take what you plan to consume. Don’t strip an area bare of produce as this will affect the local ecosystem, potentially leaving local animals and birds with insufficient food to eat.
Ensure that foraging is actually allowed in the area where you are camping. Foraging isn’t necessarily legal everywhere. For example, in Scotland, it’s illegal to collect wild plants or fungi on National Nature Reserves (NNR) or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Don’t stray from designated paths and areas. There may be certain produce-bearing plants which are being specifically protected against foraging.
Don’t forage any endangered or rare plants or fungi.

Follow those best practices though and you can have an enjoyable – and filling! – foraging experience.

Foraging best practices that you should follow when camping, include:

Only take what you plan to consume. Don’t strip an area bare of produce as this will affect the local ecosystem, potentially leaving local animals and birds with insufficient food to eat.
Ensure that foraging is actually allowed in the area where you are camping. Foraging isn’t necessarily legal everywhere. For example, in Scotland, it’s illegal to collect wild plants or fungi on National Nature Reserves (NNR) or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Don’t stray from designated paths and areas. There may be certain produce-bearing plants which are being specifically protected against foraging.
Don’t forage any endangered or rare plants or fungi.

Follow those best practices though and you can have an enjoyable – and filling! – foraging experience.

Winfields Outdoors: the home of eco-friendly camping online

We hope you’ve found our guide to being a more eco-conscious camper both useful and enjoyable.

If you want to make sure that you’re equipped for your next camping adventure in the most eco-friendly way, then explore our range of high-quality camping equipment and accessories today.