We speak often of the need to get outdoors. We are all aware of the many mental and physical health benefits - fresh air, exercise, sunshine, the list goes on. However, less regularly do we discuss our intentions when we do venture out into rural and wild spaces.

Any regular outdoorsman will testify to the dramatic increase in foot traffic in the countryside over the last year. Moreover, a dramatic increase in those who don’t quite seem to belong in the countryside, and unfortunately, do a great deal of damage to our natural historic landscapes. This is less so a deliberate malicious attack and more so a matter of mindlessness and complacency.

These ‘touch grass’ tourists are entirely disconnected from the history and significance of the areas they roam - their primary focus being the perfect Instagram shot or something equally hollow. As a result they leave litter, their off-lead dogs frighten and injure livestock, their ignorance of the importance of following signed guidelines has them trampling rare recovering grasslands, destroying threatened species habitats and more.

Our intentions determine our actions, and these people have no real intentions.

Their vast swathes aid in the commodification of these rural zones, and inevitably, following commodification comes regulation.

You are not exempt from this because you’re “based”. You’re not an exception to the rule because your photos are for a Telegram channel and not a “vapid” Instagram account.

So consider, what are your intentions? Why are you heading out? Why are you going to the area you have selected? What is significant about this place? What are its stories and legends? Take a minute to identify some local flora, read about the rare species that nest there. Stop just going out, and start moving with purpose.

We are fighting a losing battle to protect these spaces. If you wish to be within our historic landscapes, you have a duty to be proactive in not only educating yourself but being mindful of your intentions within them.

This will benefit not only the preservation our countryside, but also your sense of belonging within and connection to it.