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Topic: Windbreaks the scourge of the campsite

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RainMagnet

07/6/2019 at 1:19pm
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I have noticed over the past few years of camping that the use of windbreaks is geeing out of control. It seems to be the norm to pitch a tent or caravan then barrier off an equal pitch size with wind breaks, this is especially common on sites that do not have designated pitch sizes. Take the last site I stayed at, I wasn't allowed to pitch an additional gazebo or tarp, fair enough I thought those are the rules, but the 8 man tent opposite me can use 4 large wind breaks to seal off an area almost the size of his tent, where is the logic in that.
Rant over, I am off to the local camping shop to buy 10 windbreaks.

Bob61

07/6/2019 at 2:05pm
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I had the impression things were moving in the opposite direction. When I first started camping regularly I put up a windbreak for a bit of privacy but eventually just got tired of bothering with it. I note that not many other people bother with them any more either...or is it that I can now see the other people and they never had windbreaks in the first place...it was just me

Ewen c

via mobile 07/6/2019 at 7:58pm
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I think gazebos are more of a scourge.

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lidds0

via mobile 07/6/2019 at 8:52pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Ewen c on 07/6/2019
I think gazebos are more of a scourge.

I was about to mske the same comment!

I also agree with Bob: we used to take a windbreak but haven't bothered for years and haven't really noticed as many in use either.

I'd love to get the pitch after the family with 4 windbreaks had been on it... 😏

Hedgehugger

07/6/2019 at 9:58pm
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I think windbreaks can come in handy if you have a dog or very small children, because you can screen off a little of the outside world and create a bit of 'safe space'. There should really be some sort of maximum spread though, otherwise it can get a bit out of hand. I've seen families on adjacent pitches make the area between into their private space, which is fair enough. I usually just put up a small one to deflect the wind from the side door of the tent and provide somewhere to put the stove just outside, but sheltered.

Bernie47

07/6/2019 at 10:18pm
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I have a small 1 metre high windbreak that I only use when necessary to provide shelter for the stove.

In my opinion fencing off a pitch with windbreaks is anti-social and against the traditional idea of camping.

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seanfdh

07/6/2019 at 10:22pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Bernie47 on 07/6/2019
I have a small 1 metre high windbreak that I only use when necessary to provide shelter for the stove.

In my opinion fencing off a pitch with windbreaks is anti-social and against the traditional idea of camping.

This.

But to be fair there was lady with a severely autistic son near us in Ireland last year who explained that she was setting up a complex windbreak and netting system for his benefit.

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philipb11

08/6/2019 at 7:05am
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I think setups in general are getting bigger. I think it is because EHU allows people to utilise more equipment that would have been impactable in a tent when EHU was not common. Then people made do with a more basic setup and looked for entertainment off site

Bob61

08/6/2019 at 9:49am
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Windbreaks can be also be used for directing the breeze into the tent on a hot day...I might take my own advice one day

iank01

08/6/2019 at 11:31am
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We always erect a windbreak to keep the dogs in and to avoid nosy neighbours.

If you want to erect a windbreak surely that is your business and of no concern to any one else as long as the windbreak are within your boundaries of your pitch?

saxo1

08/6/2019 at 11:49am
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"But to be fair there was lady with a severely autistic son near us in Ireland last year who explained that she was setting up a complex windbreak and netting system for his benefit."

Why should anyone feel the need to explain why they have erected windbreaks?
It's a matter of choice for the individual not for others to dictate what people wan't to do provided it doesn't interfere with them.
saxo1

seanfdh

08/6/2019 at 11:58am
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Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 08/6/2019
"But to be fair there was lady with a severely autistic son near us in Ireland last year who explained that she was setting up a complex windbreak and netting system for his benefit."

Why should anyone feel the need to explain why they have erected windbreaks?
It's a matter of choice for the individual not for others to dictate what people wan't to do provided it doesn't interfere with them.
saxo1

She mentioned it when we were helping her to pitch her tent. It wouldn't have occurred to me to ask her. Hope the view's nice from your high horse.

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TraceyD

via mobile 08/6/2019 at 12:05pm
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We didn't intend putting our windbreak up this week until on the first night kids with bikes were riding within an inch of our guy ropes! Having just spent £700 on a new tent i didn't want the little darlings having an accident so up it went!!

As it's been quite windy it's been pretty useful - strangely enough.

Never ceases to amaze me why windbreaks bother people so much, surely it's each to their own. We've used ours to give us some privacy, stop people approaching our dog, cook behind, provide a bit of shade and even block the wind! Sorry if our choices bother people but you can't seriously compare a windbreak to a gazebo which could do serious damage if it took flight if not guyed down properly.

Live and let live.

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saxo1

08/6/2019 at 12:24pm
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She mentioned it when we were helping her to pitch her tent. It wouldn't have occurred to me to ask her. Hope the view's nice from your high horse.

That's why windbreaks are of no concern to me ,from my elevated position they don't obstruct my view.
My point was why did she feel it was necessary to mention the reason she was using a windbreak,it was irrelevant whether or not you asked, which was not the point in my post, it was the fact that people feel the need to apologetically explain to others why they use them!
saxo1

Colin21

08/6/2019 at 2:55pm
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I don't have any problem with windbreaks either, as long as they don't encroach on my pitch.

As a matter of interest, where would the 6 metre rule come in? Is it 6 metres from the actual unit (tent, caravan, motorhome etc), or from the windbreak? Presumably it's about fire risk, so as windbreaks are almost certainly flammable, maybe the 6 metre rule should apply from the windbreak? Or is it 3 metres from the unit next-door?

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heath63

via mobile 08/6/2019 at 4:04pm
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I've used windbreaks in the past, for a couple of reasons. Combined with a tarp it provided a sheltered outdoor area for cooking.

The other reason, I became so fed up with people walking between my two tents as I was camping with my sister and family. I had both adults and kids cutting through, so I used my wind break as a barrier. They still cut through as if they owned the area.

These people who were together had so many tents, they made a big circle taking up most of the area, they had made a huge empty area in the middle. But they still played ball games next to my tents. How rude.

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