Tent hides in nature reserves (UK)

Hi!

This may sound like a stupid question, but are there any rules regarding setting up your own hides in UK nature reserves? I know some reserves you have to stick to the paths, but other more free-roaming reserves, can I just set up shop wherever? Wildlife trust or RSPB owned land and things like that.

I would think that the answer will very strongly depend on your answer to the question - "Where? Exactly?" As such, I would suggest you contact the warden of the reserve(s) in question and explain exactly where and when you would wish to set up these hides - and why. If you happened to have been working as a volunteer for the reserve for a few months beforehand then you might stand a better chance of getting a favourable response.

I couldn't say for sure but I would imagine if you was free to erect a hide wherever on sites with public access then imaging the chaos that would ensue with every other keen photographer following suit and the objects and disagreements with other observervers out a jealousy...best think is to ask warden for approval first...

I have done, but it very much depends on the reserve and if there is space to do so without blocking paths or breaking any 'stay to the path' requests. Generally speaking, the suitability for hides is inversely proportional to the formalness of the reserve. If it's a car park-shop-colour-coded walk reserve, then you don't have a hope. Whereas a lot of places like Wildlife Trust reserves are little more than unfarmed/developed land and I'd think nothing of sticking up my hide.

One alternative would be a bag-hide, which I reckon you could use without issue are most places (bar blocking paths).

Of course the real problem is that on reserves, you'll have half of your day disturbed by people loudly saying "What's that?" and coming over to investigate or have people think "That must be a good spot to see something interesting" and standing next to your hide!

Nature reserves are a nightmare for photographers and seem to attract weird people more than wildlife, the less people the better.

Thank you all for the replies! I was thinking more of the "no visitor centre, no opening hours" type reserves. Just acquired land that is looked after by WT / RSPB.

I entirely understand what you mean about people being interested and investigating the hide. That'd do my head in. If only I could find a hide that was invisible to people, as well as animals...

I liked the response previous to this post also

slwx wrote in post #14947467
I entirely understand what you mean about people being interested and investigating the hide. That'd do my head in. If only I could find a hide that was invisible to people, as well as animals...

Could you go somewhere where there are no people? I'm not sure what things are like in the UK, but I'd imagine there must be many large tracts of wild land that nobody ever bothers visiting.
It's a lot easier to go where there are no people, than to go where there are others, then try to avoid them or hide from them.

Sadly, the UK is overpopulated and overdeveloped, and we have very little true wilderness. Particular in the south of England, solitude is rare.

Part of the problem is all the best nature hotspots end up being nature reserves which then attract massives of people.

You can guarantee that when you are all alone in the middle of nowhere in the UK at some point there will be either a crowd of undesirables or some wierd fellow that thinks you are his long lost friend turn up completely out of the blue and without rhyme or reason for being at the same place and time as you...solitude and wilderness are virtually non existant luxuries over here.

Yes, way too many people