View Full Version : camping in garden
Hello I'm new here, anyway I was thinking about just setting up tent in my back garden tonight as I am too afraid to go camping alone....
Does anyone else ever do this and I'm wondering if there is any point to it other than getting cold?
nunzionuk
03-04-2011, 13:51
Its a good way to test things out before you go out. tents, burners, etc etc.
Ofcourse I won't be allowed to make a fire as it's my parents garden...and I don't really have any camping gear except for a cheap tent from Argos..lol
Since I have healthissues and don't get out much any more I do a lot of "gardencamping". It is a great way to test new stuff, get experience about how much you need or don't need to stay warm and comfy during different types of weather and generally keep or improve your skills and techniques.
Waking up att dawn and listening o the birds is just as good in your garden and should not be frowned upon. Then you get up, go inside and have a shower and breakfast and go to work feeling all good and relaxed!
Youll be fine just go out and enjoy, Loads of folk camp in their garden
John Fenna
03-04-2011, 14:20
It is the way I started!
did it all the time as a kid - used to get the old man to clear out the shed too to make my very own mountainman cabin :D
Ok well I've set up camp already, I know it is silly but it's just for a bit fun I suppose.
shaggystu
03-04-2011, 14:53
nothing silly about it at all mate, garden camping's great. hope you enjoy your night out
stuart
charleslockerbie
03-04-2011, 15:04
Have fun, No reason to get cold either. Wont be long before you cant resist going out more.
Bound to be someone near you that would be up for an overnighter with you, Should check out the Meetups for your area.
Nowt wrong with camping in the garden, once you're inside the tent you can pretend you're anywhere in the world.
As others have said - it's a good way of getting used to your kit and getting used to sleeping under canvass.
If you don't fancy camping out in the 'wild' on your own, then once you've got used to garden camping have a look at the UK Campsites website and find a campsite near you that allows fires and maybe has a patch of woodland - something more relaxed and not as sterile as a Camping & Caravanning site - then try camping out there for a few nights. It'll be somewhere away from home but still in a protected environment. And steadily you'll get used to it and have the confidence to spend a night alone somewhere less 'controlled'.
Camping in your back garden may not sound as edgy as camping out in the Amazon jungle, but sod it - if you enjoy it and it helps you move on to bigger and better things then that's good enough.
Prawnster
03-04-2011, 15:54
I remember when a camping trip that I was looking forward to had to be cancelled last minute.
So disappointed was I that I just had to pitch my tarp in the back garden and chop some wood up for the hobo stove. Got a fire and a brew going and then had something to eat under the tarp.
I felt much better :)
I'm sure if you ask nicely your Mum and Dad will let you dig a little fire pit somewhere in the garden. Tell them Monty Don says that the potash is the best fertiliser for their plants:)
Realbark
03-04-2011, 16:25
Hello I'm new here, anyway I was thinking about just setting up tent in my back garden tonight as I am too afraid to go camping alone....
Does anyone else ever do this and I'm wondering if there is any point to it other than getting cold?
Yep - its fun! Also makes sure you can put the tent up and all the pieces are there! Enjoy.
Even now, in my 50's I camp out in the garden now and again. Its still a great way of trying out new kit before using it for real.
As a child I made and lit what would now be called a hobo stove on my parents lawn, but sat it on a bit of paving slab to protect the grass, then made tea in a syrup tin, with a brake cable for a handle.
There is a tremendous amount you can do, and learn, from camping in the garden.
Go for it.
Graham
I used to camp out in either my parents garden or friends gardens when i was a kid, Hung a tarp over the washing line. I still do it now with my Youngest 2 they love it.
absolutely nothing silly matey, how do you get confident in your kit? by using it, if you don't want to hit the hills, or feel it a better plan to why not use it in your garden, I'm 31 and live in married quarters while wifey's away at work during the day i set up all sorts of kit in the garden, from tents to hammocks and tarps, practice different fire lighting skills, carve things and have a pretty good laugh, all my neighbours look at me and the kids like we are from Mars but who cares, get out into the wilds of your patch and play, it's the best way to learn dude!
I think I get more heeby jeebies from camping in the garden as opposed to anywhere else for some reason :/
Realbark
03-04-2011, 20:11
I think I get more heeby jeebies from camping in the garden as opposed to anywhere else for some reason :/
Probably cos you hear more. Like "You still playing outside ya nut?" or "Dont forget those dishes in the morning" from SWMBO at 3.30 am shouted thru the frosted toilet window :p
No wonder we run off to the woods.............
Some of my happiest memories are of being young and camping in my parents' garden. I used to love lying there on a summer's night watching for the meteor showers in August.
realgoshawk
03-04-2011, 20:45
Where else could you try out those new toys which looked so nice in the catalogue ;)
As other have said, I loved camping in the garden as a kid.
chris_irwin
03-04-2011, 21:52
I love camping in the garden, it's still camping after all. Unfortunately I no longer have a garden to camp in though.
You don't say which part of Scotland you are in, if it's anywhere down this way you would be welcome to come out on one of our meetups, you'll be well looked after and if your parents are a bit wary as would be expected we could always have a chat with them to alay some of their fears. Plus there is usually some spare kit going for a newbie starting out.
northumbrian
03-04-2011, 22:33
i remember camping oot in the back garden when i was a bairn with my little brother , hearing all the sounds of the city as realbark mentioned with the added carry on of the drunks at hoying oot time as they swayed and fought each other down the back field. And then, as all was still the local flea bags would start up catawailing at 2 in the mourning with some of the littler ones climbing up and over the tent ! lol.
It was quite a nice surprise when i first camped out of toon , the quiet and peace,lol
WeThePeoplexfbm
04-04-2011, 02:36
my first ever camping trip i had no gear crappy tent shorts and T shirt, it go to -6 at night time...^^goood times
i i test al my stoves, and gear out the back yard 2night b4 i go camping ^^
---
Skipp
santaman2000
04-04-2011, 04:34
So many people have already pointed out it's a great way to try out new kit; I'll just add that the dumb thing would to be going anywhere else without testing your kit first. I've said in this forum before and I'll say it now; we do this (bushcraft) because it's fun. The back garden is just as much fun now as it was so long ago when I was a kid. I'm taking my Godson on several backyard trips this Summer and plan on enjoying every one of them. Go for it and have fun. If your parents won't allow a free fire then just use a small BBQ grill and roast some hot dogs on a stick. Make some S'mores and they may join you.
Cheers Sniper, I'm live nearer Edinburgh but I'll keep that in mind mate.
Well I didn't end up sleeping in the tent at night cause it was too cold for me! :rolleyes:
Better to wait a month or so I think till the better weather eh.
Welcome to the forum Tommy.
nitrambur
04-04-2011, 12:12
. Make some S'mores and they may join you. Tricky, graham crackers aren't generally available over here :(
santaman2000
04-04-2011, 14:04
Tricky, graham crackers aren't generally available over here :(
Thanks for the info;I didn't realize that. I'm sure you have some sort of treat that is as common there as s'more are here though.
peskypiker
06-04-2011, 12:08
hi this is my first post on this site. camping in your garden is a cool idea like other people have said its a great way of testing kit it will also let you know if you like it if you don't you can go indoors to bed instead of being stuck somewhere until morning and if you enjoy it then i think the other idea of moving on to a camp-site where you can have a fire is also good. In you garden could you not use a bbq as a fire pit .. small steps to build your confidence i found that i loved camping by starting in my parents back garden
I camped out last night to test my new sleeping bag. Cooked my dinner on a fire and looked at the stars, it was excellent. Photos here - http://imgur.com/a/THukQ, (day ones taken this morning as I forgot to take my decent camera out last night, and the parents locked the house up so I couldn't get back inside....). Last picture shows the downside to burning pallets!
(I have to say I used a lighter to ignite the dry grass/weeds I used as tinder though, I tried the firesteel, but it wasn't happening..)
I camped out last night to test my new sleeping bag. Cooked my dinner on a fire and looked at the stars, it was excellent. Photos here - http://imgur.com/a/THukQ, (day ones taken this morning as I forgot to take my decent camera out last night, and the parents locked the house up so I couldn't get back inside....). Last picture shows the downside to burning pallets!
(I have to say I used a lighter to ignite the dry grass/weeds I used as tinder though, I tried the firesteel, but it wasn't happening..)
Didn't know yer were into ladders, any good? :)
Didn't know yer were into ladders, any good? :)
heh, I couldn't be bothered to move them plus I had enough space anyway.
Probably cos you hear more. Like "You still playing outside ya nut?" or "Dont forget those dishes in the morning" from SWMBO at 3.30 am shouted thru the frosted toilet window :p
No wonder we run off to the woods.............
LOL ...... soooo true!
My daughter loves camping in the garden. It gave her confidence in herself .... and in me, that made an easier transition to sleeping out in t' wilds. The first couple of trips were at organised events, so lots of other people around, and not all lonely in a big ol' woodland.
You'll feel better in a place you know, both physically and mentally, then your confidence will grow from there. Better than venturing into the wilds alone, or with a mate or two, then cacking yerself in the middle of the night, and not wanting to 'go-it-alone' ever again!
Luke
Camping in the garden is a great start. I used to sleep out in the garden for months over the summer when I was a kid so much so that the tent eventually fell apart from the sun beating down on it for so long. Eventually my parents let myself and a friend stay the night at a local campsite from there it gave me the confidence to go on camping holidays. Unfortunately now MUCH older and living in a block of flats with the wife I think my garden camping days are over unless I wanted to get ridiculed by the other residence or local chavs .
Do it mate its the first start and Will get you used to camping alone
Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk
Last picture shows the downside to burning pallets!
I quite enjoy burning wood with nails in, don't know why - just gives me a sense of satisfaction to see them lying in the ash (in the woodburning stove)
Cheers Sniper, I'm live nearer Edinburgh but I'll keep that in mind mate.
Well I didn't end up sleeping in the tent at night cause it was too cold for me! :rolleyes:
Better to wait a month or so I think till the better weather eh.
You managed to kip in the garden yet?
I did loads when younger at home. Unfortunatley not got a camping friendly garden now [chuckies everywhere - trying to rectify that though]
Still I stick a tent up with big thick blanket under for the kids to play in.
One advantage if you do need the toilet in the night you don't have to go dig a hole. Also if you forget something it's not too far away.
My kids love camping in the garden. They are out tonight, at least my son is, my daughter has taken my two person tent to a friends house, where they are sleeping out in it!
Last week, they both slept out under my old poncho to celebrate the end of school.
Garden camping is massively under-rated. I remember in the deep dark recesses of my mind being inspired by a Scout, who was being interviewed on Blue Peter, after sleeping in his tent every night for a year or something.
Laurentius
29-07-2011, 20:49
Not having a garden maybe I should try kipping on my balcony, trouble is I would wake up under a layer of pigeon guano :(
matty1967
30-07-2011, 19:00
great idea
i camped out with my son for two nights last week in the garden to test our hammocks and insulation requirments etc..tommorow were going up the wood for a couple of nights hunting and such,hope to get a couple of rabbits and add to our foodstuff,and try out other new kit...so its a good idea keep it up.
Matt
drewdunnrespect
31-07-2011, 13:06
go on lad get your self in the garden and camp out i would infact i think when i get back from the moot i will do just that so that all me gaer can dry out and what not