An Opportunity, Not a Right, Nor a Privilege

Red Flags Weren't Flying (Gates Are Open)

No, not the demise of communist China, but a (damp and mizzly) Bank Holiday Monday afternoon of otherwise closed Danger Training areas of MOD land being accessible to the public.

According to the Govt website, Salisbury Plain Military Area covers one-ninth of the entire, already large county - and on most maps, it's just one slab of white, with no information whatsoever given, rather like those 'Unexplored' areas of deepest Africa were in Victorian times.

So, armed with my indispensable large scale OS, which DOES show every clump of trees and winding track, I basically walked from Tidworth garrison town to Bulford Camp, via....

Well, it won't mean too much to you and whilst the area is a fairly standard looking undulating scrubby downland, with a few trees and a few tracks, with the occasional signpost only saying "Right of Way" (absolutely no indication of where to) I have to say that this area nearer to the Hampshire border than the majority of Salisbury Plain did look a little prettier, with a few (emphasis on 'few') more trees than is usual than on the wilder, higher and more open areas of such Danger areas of the Plain.

Now, I've walked around the outside of these perimeter fences on a number of occasions and for many tens of miles, mostly last summer, but today was the first time I simply strolled past all the big angry signs saying Danger and Unexploded This and Incendiary That and walked and walked and walked. These are big areas and unless you go back the way you came or walk out of the area on a tangent, then you have to have a certain degree of confidence and sense of exploration in you.

Of course you are not going to get blown up. As long as you walk where vehicles have been driven. I'm sure you could ramble all over the place and (probably) get away with it - there was and is absolutely no one to watch you or check up on you - but of course, why even risk it? 

BUT, why bother at all?? As the MOD website says, Wiltshire and their Plain has some of the most important chalk downland in Europe, species of flora and fauna that simply do not get disturbed by humans - ironic, isn't it, that playing war games with real soldiers and real ammo with bangs and thuds and booms, and the native animals do not bat an eyelid. 

So, I saw no humans whatsoever. I did see (but not photograph, as the areas are so vast, even 400mm lens had no effect) birds of prey, hares, rabbits and such. And again, the MOD says that within their 'Area' lie countless archaeological gems - I lost count at about 30 the number of grassy hillocks of iron age Tumuli burial mounds.

Going back to my title. The Govt and MOD do realise now that such areas are very special areas and habitats and as taxpayers contributing to the MOD budget, we sort of own this land. They also realise the huge benefits of exercise - not just that, but as I outlined, the obvious necessity to be able to map-read and if the weather is really bad, methods of coping with such.

Some might argue that therefore it is a public right to enjoy the freedom of this land. Or that it is now a special gift that we must be thankful for.

But, of course, no sensible person would, or should, expect any activity the MOD deem fit to undertake in the defence of our realm be undermined by or hindered by the public being allowed to wander whenever they like. 

Periods of inactivity on these firing and training areas are quite rare - my rationale that bank holiday might be the best opportunity I was going to get, as you would expect, they hardly publish these activities at all.

As for photography - I went straight in with the 120-400mm lens, making it obvious what I was after. HAD there been anyone to see me!! The ONLY written and published matter on the subject is that you do not interfere in any way any activity military personnel are undertaking. Well, there were none, there was none and in any case, you can see the firing ranges from the flipping road, IF that is what you wanted to see!

My better images were rather restricted to the brief few minutes when the sun was out later on in the day. At least in this one, you can see my starting point on the far hill and the white pole - with no red flag flying. The long lens has compressed the perspective and it dipped right down in the middle too. 

Such walking will not be for everyone, by even my standards, the landscape is a little featureless, but how many other folk could say that they had done the same thing on their bank holiday? It sure beat going to B&Q!! Though it was really rather tiring, partly as the recent rain had made some surfaces quite cloying and difficult.