Recreation climbing and the law?

[sean fg]

Sorry newbie question...

Is it legal to climb trees in areas like public parks or national parks etc (via rope & harness) with all the right safty equipment?

I have seen a few threads on rec climbing but what are the legal limits?

Thanks

[bob]

you would need the owners consent legally

[Pete Bannister]

Interesting question. I think this is analogous to rock climbing on public land. Climbers (of rock that is) have over the years taken care to negotiate access to climbing crags. Any hint of a risk of damage to property or to third parties and hard won concessions may be lost forever. Although rec tree climbing is far safer for climbers than trad rock climbing is for climbers, climbing trees in public places probably engenders more risk of damage to the trees and to third parties than rock climbing does. So you're probably unlikely to receive permission! However, don't let that stop you finding out.

Do rec tree climbers carry third party insurance? That might make all the difference to an owner

[Paulfreebury]

Is there an insurance company that insures rec tree climbing or would it be classed as arboriculture? Does anyone have public liability for recreational climbing? Would a rec climber without tickets get insured?

[Dak]

Speak your local tree officers if you get on well with them, they could give you permission for parks etc or let you know about good quite trees away from the public

 

Farmers are pretty cool too, a bottle of scotch normally seals the deal!

 

Dak

[Tom2020]

Do it have fun don't get caught the worst thing some one will do Is tell you to get out of the tree and grow up.

 

Just don't Monkey around in the tree:lol:

[pward]

i have finished working at a country park and they had climbers coming in from the university, now what the country park dose is get you to fill in a risk assement and well they say yay or nay from there. there is also a farmer in somerset that as long as ur tidy close gates and let him know ur there will let u climb his trees and there are plenty to choose from, its just a case of a) knowing the right people or b) checking places policys for things like that

[RobRainford]

i tried going down the paperwork route of this at a park near me, phoned up and had to speak to the head ranger which then started on emails and he wanted to see proof of insurance tickets and risk assessment. i asked him why if its recreational and we are out the way of people but he never answered! that was a while ago too!

[pward]

well if the rangers are like the ones i just worked with they will be busy playing hide and seek at world chap standard so the never get back,best bet is to get intouch with the grounds manager, cause these students had one person who was qualifyed the rest it was there first climb, (they were doing the a study about photosythasis at the tops of old trees) they had no idea, some places are easyer than others

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

any land owner with any savvy would be open to experienced arbs recreational climbing on the basis of at your risk and being informed of potential tree defects, helping them with their occupiers liabilities!

 

use your loafs and scratched backs will ease the path.