GUIDE: Tread Lightly. Leave No Trace.

Time spent outdoors in nature is not just good for us, it is necessary. But as we flock outdoors we must always remain mindful of the fact - nature does not always benefit from having us there.

The pandemic has altered our relationship with the outdoors. Amidst all the uncertainty of this time, we have come to truly appreciate the benefits of spending time in nature. In the past we might have read and wondered about the reported benefits of time spent in nature. Now, we no longer need researchers to tell us what we know, in our bodies, to be true.

Time spent outdoors in nature is not just good for us, it is necessary.

“Time spent outdoors in nature is not just good for us, it is necessary..”

“ If we work collectively to change our behaviour we can really turn this situation around.”

But, as we flock outdoors we must always remain mindful of the fact - nature does not always benefit from having us there. As more and more of us spend time together outdoors, our collective mark on nature increases. Litter, water pollution, and the disturbance of vegetation, wildlife, and livestock are all showing us that we all need to behave better when we are outdoors in nature.

Leave No Trace is an organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation. They point to the negative impacts that our human activity has had on our environment. But they also want to remind us of the positives in this scenario - if we work collectively to change our behaviour we can really turn this situation around.

For example, did you know that over 75% of litter comes from passing pedestrians and motorists? But… if we work together, we can all keep Ireland litter-free by bringing our rubbish home.

Also, did you know that wildfires in Ireland do not start naturally, every wildfire here has been manmade. The good news about this is that wildfires are preventable if we change our behavior and act responsibly.

Many people will also be aware that overcrowding at popular beaches in rural Ireland has become a real problem since the pandemic. Visits to popular destinations during peak times, such as holidays and weekends, are often fraught with traffic, crowding, and delays. Instead, try to visit at other times, or explore more out-of-the-way places.

At the heart of Leave No Trace are seven principles based on an abiding respect for nature, culture and people.

These are the seven principles of Leave No Trace. They might seem obvious but we all need a gentle reminder sometimes: