From indoor townie to outdoor champ
When you head out into nature, you also help take care of it. But sometimes it can be a bit tricky to treat nature properly – and that should NATURally stop now. Here you’ll find 7 helpful tips on how to move through nature with care and leave it as you would like to find it.
Get to know the do’s and don’ts of nature. You may already know some of the tips, while others are new. Either way, they’re easy to bring along and make a natural part of your trip. Small considerations along the way can make a big difference – both for nature and for those who come after you.
Here is the beginner’s guide to good nature etiquette.
Pinching a loaf in nature
Got to go while you’re on the go? That’s an absolute no-go on the trail. No shit, Sherlock, you might be thinking, but some visitors seem content to conduct their business where it’s no one’s business.
If you can’t suppress the urge, squat discretely in a secluded location, bury any remains and cover with leaves or brush. But it’s best to simply squeeze your cheeks together until you can spot a loo. That’s just good business practice.
Litterbugs? No thanks
It takes nature almost five years to digest a single cigarette butt, and up to a thousand years to swallow a plastic bottle. We want our shelter areas to be a respite from the world’s worries, but sometimes they rather resemble the final days of Glastonbury. Finding your rubbish in nature rubs everyone the wrong way, especially the wild animals who wake up to your paper and plastic in their homes. Throw your rubbish in... you guessed it... the rubbish bin. The same applies to your dog’s little legacies. That’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Psst... do nature a favour and keep a baggie at the ready – any stroll can be a litter pick.
Where to sleep?
Mosquitos and creepy crawlers? No problem. Danes have been bitten by the camping bug. But you can’t pitch your tent just anywhere. Tent camping is allowed at more than 1,000 camping and shelter sites on public woodlands or in one of the 275 forests designated for ‘free tenting’. So you can count your sheep with a clear conscience.
Psst... You may only stay for one night in the same place. It is forbidden to pitch a tent on the beach, but you’re welcome to sleep under the stars.
The sky has limits
With top speeds of up to 140 km/h, drones are losing no time dominating the skies. The small propeller-craft have quickly found wide acceptance – for good reason. But
drones can be a nuisance, especially to breeding birds like the peregrine falcons that frequent steep cliffs and slopes and are easily confused by the droning buzz and unfamiliar silhouette.
As a responsible drone pilot you should only fly in authorised areas, always maintain sight of your drone, and keep a respectful distance from birds and any other two- or four-legged friends.
Skip the “sealfie”
The clubs have been closed and we haven’t exactly been active in our activewear... But even though the pandemic has been short on instagrammable moments, resist the temptation to pursue the perfect selfie with nature’s fluffy friends. Seals on the sandbank, stags in the forest, storks on the meadow – none of them care to be the star of your instagram story.
The truth is, wild animals just want to be left alone and are happy to leave the duck face to you.
Silent like a ninja
Shhh, keep it down! Noise and commotion are a nuisance to many of nature’s wild animals and can even destroy entire ecosystems. Our noise simply has no place in nature – it startles small creatures, disturbs birds’ calls and renders prey defenceless against lurking predators.
So next time you head out to soak up the soothing sounds of nature, leave the bluetooth speaker at home, set your mobile to silent and channel your inner ninja.
There’s no one like man’s best friend…
...but when out and about in nature, your dog should be on a leash, even if ‘they wouldn’t harm a fly’. Nature is the domain of wild animals. Loose dogs scare and stress young hares, ground-nesting birds and wild-game, and small children can catch a fright from even the tamest terrier.
So keep your furry four-legged friend on a leash – and your pooper scooper at the ready.
4 USEFUL NATURE APPS
Did you know…
… that most nature is open 24 hours a day? Privately owned forests, however, are closed during the same hours as the forest trolls sleep – from sunset to 6 am.
… that you may collect what equals a carrier bag full of berries, mushrooms, or other wild treats? This applies everywhere in state-owned nature, while in private forests you may pick what you can reach from roads and paths. On beaches, you may gather what you can carry in your hands.
… that you may only light fires in forests at designated fire and campsite areas? The beach is ideal for small fires. Extinguish it when you leave, and never cover embers with sand, as this can burn both animals and people.
… that Danish coasts belong to everyone? This means you may swim even on privately owned beaches, just as publicly owned lakes are open to all swimmers.
… that in private forests you may only walk on roads and paths? In public forests, it is also allowed to walk – but not cycle – off the paths on the forest floor.
Download 7 tips for good nature etiquette
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