We have teamed up with nature guide Jakob Kofoed Nielsen, who gives some suggestions for good outdoor activities at this time of year. You can also read what is important to know when you go out into the forest – i.e. what you can and can’t do in public and private forests.
– Here in autumn, there are many things you can collect, harvest and glean in nature. It is largely mushrooms, but many berries are also ripening now. For example, black rose hips, sloe and sea buckthorn, which can still be reached until the autumn holidays, says Jakob Kofoed Nielsen.
He also mentions that you can make delicious bjesk from berries and herbs.
– The herbal biscuits themselves sing a bit on the last verse now, but the berry biscuits, which can be made from, for example, paradise apples, are fine to try.
If you want to go on a mushroom trip, it is important that you only pick and eat mushrooms that you are sure of. Some can be fatally poisonous.
There is help to be found in mushroom books, at Danmarks Svampeatlas online, and if you are completely green, the very best thing is to go on an organized trip or with an experienced mushroom collector.
The thing with the rules
You don’t necessarily need to take something home from nature to enjoy the experience.
– Just getting out into nature just gives you good energy. You will be happy to get out in the autumn weather. And there are many options – for example lighting a fire at a shelter site – children love it, encourages the nature guide, who himself does a lot in both forest walks, mushroom walks and the countryside we walk in, says Jakob Kofoed Nielsen.
Jakob Kofoed Nielsen is a nature guide at the Vendsyssel Historical Museum. Archive photo: Bente Poder
But what about the rules for walking out in the beautiful nature?
Can you collect mushrooms in private forests? Taking a lot of moss home for Christmas decoration? Having sex in the open?
With the Danish Environmental Protection Agency as a source, we have compiled a list of rules that are good to know when you want to go out and enjoy the wonders of nature.
Rold Skov is really beautiful and brightly colored here in late summer. Archive photo
You may walk around the clock in the Nature Agency’s forests and in forests owned by public foundations, municipalities, other state institutions or the national church.
If you are on foot, you are welcome to walk outside roads and paths. If you are on a bicycle, you must stay on roads and paths. All motoring in the forest is prohibited. You must follow the signs.
Limited access
Access to forests may be prohibited or restricted on hunting days and in areas where there is intensive forestry work. It can also happen that the forests are closed during strong storms or during dry summer periods with a risk of fire.
Parking spaces at the entrance to the forests, toilets and other public facilities are available to everyone, and the rules for use are shown on signage. In many forests, there are campfire and barbecue areas, tables and benches that you can freely use.
In some forests, shelters have been set up where you can spend the night, and there are also a number of so-called “primitive overnight sites”. In addition, it is now permitted to spend the night in your own tent in a number of selected forests.
In privately owned forests
In privately owned forests, access is available from 6 a.m. until sunset. You may travel on foot and by bicycle, but only on forest roads and paths. All motoring in the forest is prohibited.
You must not settle closer than 150 meters from buildings. You must follow the signs. If the forest is less than five hectares, the forest owner may well close it off to the public.
Access to forests may be prohibited or restricted on hunting days and in areas where there is intensive forestry work.
Chanterelles are some of the most sought-after mushrooms. Archive photo
In publicly owned forests, as a general rule, you must collect everywhere in the forest.
In private forests, you may only take what you can reach from the road and path.
Berries, mushrooms and fruit may be collected to a limited extent for private use everywhere in the state’s forests and natural areas. As a rule of thumb, collect enough to fit in a carrier bag.
Branches, twigs and leaves
To a limited extent, you are welcome to collect branches, twigs and leaves lying on the forest floor for private use.
In publicly owned forests, you may cut branches and twigs from deciduous trees that are over 10 meters high. Note that this does not apply in privately owned forests.
You are welcome to cut branches from fallen trees – both leaves and needles. However, this does not apply in stands where decorative greenery is made (fir and the like for Christmas decorations). Here you must neither collect nor cut branches and twigs.
Planter
The owner of the area must be in agreement before you possibly dig up roots. Protected plants must never be dug up.
Cones, moss and lichen
To a limited extent, you may collect cones, moss and lichen for private use. This corresponds to approximately one carrier bagful of each.
Burn
If you want to collect firewood, kvass and the like, you must have a so-called collection card, which gives you the right to collect a certain amount of firewood in a certain area.
Nude bathing or sunbathing without clothes cannot be considered indecent behaviour. Archive photo
There is already plenty of sex in nature, and guests of the forest are certainly welcome to express themselves in that field, but you must show consideration towards those who do not have the same interest when they are on a forest trip.
According to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the rule of thumb is that:
You must not display indecent or objectionable behavior that may offend others or cause public outrage.
This actually applies everywhere, but it also applies in nature, regardless of whether you are on publicly owned land or in privately owned natural areas with public access.
Nudity in nature is usually never in itself illegal. This was established by the Ministry of Justice back in 1976. Since then, it has been legally established that, for example, nude bathing or sunbathing without clothing cannot be considered indecent behaviour.
You therefore get nothing out of protesting against naturists. And you must not molest or harass naked forest visitors – for example by lurking.
But you must, regardless of whether you are clothed or not, behave “decently”. If you carry out sexual acts of any severity, i.e. not just being naked, it may be covered by Section 232 of the Criminal Code.
If you cross the line, the police can lay charges, and then it is up to the courts whether the activities were illegal.
2024-09-28 13:14:34
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