Green Laneing
By lizinskip
8 comments
We have a 4×4 which spends most of its time idle. Originally bought for towing a large unit for a charity. However our son introduced us to green laneing last summer and what an experience that was. Our first outing was to Salisbury Plain on a day when the army were not there. What an experience that was too see land as far as the eye can see with no development. Whilst people were queing for miles to see Stonehenge we were strolling around the countryside discovering hundreds of tumilli and ancient monuments all missed by the paying public. (All protected from Army vehicles)
As we pootled through the plain we were able to admire lots of wild flowers I haven’t seen in the wild since I was a child and the number of butterflies was in the thousands. What would become of these if the army was to give up the plain?
A Few words of warning though, if you intend exploring the plain you must check to see if it is clear and it is wise to use more than one vehicle in case of breakdown. The army will keep an eye on you, by helicopter, so behave yourselves, and stay away from any danger signs. 
6 Sep, 2008
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Comments
A lovely place to explore. I'm glad to hear that there are butterflies there. My son has a 4X4 and just before Christmas 2006 when he stayed for a few days he took us green-laning up onto the Quantocks. It was just amazing up there! They've banned it since then, so it really was a one-off experience.
6 Sep, 2008
What exactly does this involve? Are these private roads? Dirt tracks?
Sounds like great fun!
We have something, we call "off road" maybe it's similar.
6 Sep, 2008
I think you would describe these as dirt tracks, they are mainly old public by-ways which have not been developed into roads. Many are only open to walkers but some are available to traffic. Not all counties in the UK mark them or ban the use by vehicles as Spritzhenry says. Some of them remain open as access to very remote farms, love to have one of them.
6 Sep, 2008
Yes what is it ,we have a 4x4 and spend hours in remote parts of the countryside ,usually with our boots on walking ,is it something more exciting ?
6 Sep, 2008
The green lanes are (usually) marked on OS maps and ordinary cars would not attempt them - they are tracks or even grassy wide paths where 4X4 vehicles can go by bumping along down ruts and pot-holes and up banks etc! You have to have a strong stomach for it sometimes - I'm sure that ordinary tyres would be wrecked in a few minutes of this! The Rangers on the Quantocks banned it to save the environment - too many people were exploring in this way. I believe it's now illegal in our area, on Exmoor as well.
6 Sep, 2008
A lot of land is still open to 4 wheel drive in the national forests and it can be great fun to go on some of the forest roads, but a lot of places have banned their use in environmentally sensitive areas. We have not had a four wheel drive for many moons and I think it would be fun. Sounds like you had a great time!
6 Sep, 2008
yes Spritzhenry you a right, many places have banned it, but on the plain you just follow the tracks made by tanks, it can be extreemly bumpy but worth it for the views. The army have taken great lengths to cordon off any enviromentally sensative areas, after all it wouldn't take many chieftan tanks to destroy them! The wonderful thing though is when they are not there nature seems to continue on its natural peaceful course. As I said in the blog, if they were not there no doubt it would have all been developed by now, as happened in Gosport when they gave up their ranges there.
7 Sep, 2008
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I would have enjoyed it there as well seeing lots of wild life.
6 Sep, 2008