The subject of recreational use of the countryside receives a great deal of academic attention. There have been many surveys both looking at the environmental impact of existing use, and to try and determine the ‘carrying capacity’ of certain areas. The carrying capacity can be defined as ‘the level of use an area can sustain without an unacceptable degree of deterioration of the character and quality of the resource or of the recreation experience’. It is easier to define than to quantify, and its assessment is beyond the scope of this book. However, the principle is useful as a way of looking at the problems and potentialities of a site. It can be sub-divided as follows:
Ecological carrying capacity
This is the amount of use a site can receive without damage to the flora, fauna and soils. For example, a bog has a very low ecological carrying capacity, as very slight trampling will cause damage. In contrast, a well drained grassland will be able to receive fairly heavy use without damage. Quantification of the ecological carrying capacity requires the determination of the original ecological ‘base’, and of the level of damage which is unacceptable.
Physical carrying capacity
This is the capacity set by physical limits. This could include the width, height and gradient of a path which will affect the type and the amount of use it receives. On many sites, the most important limit is set by the availability of car parking space.
Perceptual carrying capacity
This is the capacity an area has to absorb use without appearing crowded to other users. This is related to the physical geography of an area, and to the user’s expectations. A remote Scottish mountain may seem spoilt by the presence of another person, whereas an urban park may feel uncomfortably quiet if there is no-one else around. Wooded and hilly landscapes and spaces with convoluted edges have a greater perceptual carrying capacity than open treeless expanses.
What use is the theory of carrying capacity to the average path worker, toiling to clear a bramble patch or to build a stone cross drain? Most workers on rights of way on farmland are sensibly concerned only with the practicalities, and not with the fact that they are raising the ‘physical carrying capacity’. However, it is a useful discipline when planning or doing work on moorland, coast or mountain, or on reserves of any sort. Many tasks involve repair and restoration, which is a situation where the ecological carrying capacity has already been passed. In most cases one wants to raise this capacity by better routing, drainage or surfacing, without raising the physical carrying capacity.
In this crowded country, perceptual carrying capacity usually needs to be maximised. Careful routing of paths, together with tree planting and provision of one-way circular routes all help to give one a sense of isolation. The ‘rule’ is to take the limit of an area for recreation as being either the ecological or perceptual carrying capacity, whichever is the lower.
Surveying use
It is best if information can be gathered over an extended period by someone regularly on the site. If this is not possible, try to visit the site on a busy summer weekend, when use is likely to be at its highest. Also talk to local residents and landowners, who may be able to provide useful information.
Use can also be monitored by installing traffic- and people- counting machines, and further details can be gathered through questionnaire surveys of visitors. These techniques are fully described in the Visitor Monitoring Manual (Scottish Natural Heritage, 1993). Path condition surveys, described briefly here, include measurement of bare and trampled widths of paths, the presence of braiding and other details, in order to measure the present state of paths and monitor changes over time.
The methods outlined below are straightforward techniques which can be used by local groups or project officers for paths or recreation sites in their area.
Cars
Most fee-paying car parks should have a record of numbers which can be obtained from the manager. The most important thing to note is whether the car park is filled to capacity at any time, and whether people then turn away, or try to park nearby. By decreasing the amount of space, or removing or altering a road sign, use may be lessened. Conversely, the provision of a car park or lay-by may be vital for the use of a right of way. Actual numbers of cars are only useful if comparisons are going to be made with other days or times of year, to see how use changes over time. They do give a good guide to the numbers of people on a path, but such numbers are not particularly useful items of information on their own. Patterns of use are much more important for planning path work.
If any counting is done, use a hand tally, or mark down in groups of five, as shown below. This is a standard counting system which reduces the chance of error.
Types of users
This is best noted at the carpark or start of the path. Note whether visitors are family groups, serious walkers, dog- walkers and so on. The classification will of course depend on the site. Note particularly any ‘special interest’ visitors such as fishermen or rock climbers, and also field parties and youth groups. Such groups have a great impact on an area, and once this use is established, a pattern tends to be set up and group leaders return again and again. Find out where the groups come from. Also note the numbers of people who only come to sit in their cars or stroll along the initial stages of a path. They might be better catered for with a different sort of facility such as a picnic site.
Routes used
Often this is the most useful part of the survey, particularly in the frequent case where the aim is to channel use along certain paths and restore eroded areas.
- Find a good vantage point with a clear view of the area.
- Make a sketch map showing the paths and other features. Long paths may have to be divided into easily recognised sections, for ease of recording. Binoculars are useful for long distance observation.
- Count the number of people using each path, or sections of path, and whether this is downhill or uphill use. The counting may need to be split between several observers on busy sites.
- Note down the details of the survey, including the date, time, weather and exact observation point so that the exercise can be repeated after any path improvements are made. Photos of the view and the observation point will be useful.
The same principle can be used to survey the use of a path at selected points.
- Select a line at right angles to the path, or use a transect line (see below). Mark the line into sections using stones or small pieces of twig that you can see, but which will not attract the attention of walkers.
- Record the section used as each walker crosses the line. Without going to extremes, try not to attract the attention of walkers or they will only deviate from the line they are on, or even come over and ask you what you’re doing. If you can’t hide, at least put your note pad inside a plausible-looking guide book.
- Note the survey details and location so that the survey can be repeated. If done before and after a task, this is a useful guide to measuring the effectiveness of path improvements.
Difficulties
As you walk the path, note the points where people avoid rough patches, slither down slopes, take short cuts, or appear confused about the direction in which to go. This is very instructive for the observer, as these actions are taken subconsciously , and it is such actions that one wants to influence. Often observers themselves are too familiar with a site to be aware of these problems, and seeing them through the eyes of a first time visitor is the only way of finding them out.
Mingling a little to hear what people say is also helpful. Family groups especially tend to discuss… “Can we get to the beach this way?” or… “Is the waterfall down here or along there?”.
Indirect recording methods
These can be used as a supplement to observed use, and to make detailed records for changes in path width or use over time.
Fixed transect
Select points along the path which are representative of various sections, or where problems are anticipated.
- Knock in a wooden or metal peg at each end of a line, called the transect, at right angles across the path, and at least one metre outside the existing edge to allow for possible path spread. The pegs should be marked with a reference number, for future identification. Depending on the type of vegetation, knock the peg in far enough so it will not attract attention. Metal pegs can be knocked in below the surface, and a metal detector used for relocation.
- Stretch a tape measure from one peg to the other, holding it taut if the ground is flat.
- Note the measurement at any feature you wish to record, such as bare ground, waterlogging or untrampled vegetation. Record this in note form or directly onto graph paper.
- Note exactly how to relocate the transect for future reference.
- Take photographs both of the actual transects, and to aid relocation.
This exercise can also usefully be done during or at the end of a project, to monitor the effectiveness of any alterations you make. Unless time is very short, this type of work also gives volunteers a welcome change if the work is strenuous.
Walked transect
A more rapid survey technique for longer paths is to measure the path width (width of trampled vegetation and width of bare ground) at regular intervals, for example 20, 50 or 100 paces. This gives a quick picture of a path along its whole length. If the path is resurveyed using the same technique, although different sample points will be used, the results for a reasonably large number of samples will be comparable with the earlier survey.
