the Natural England website will tell you if some place is protected or not, and places which are protected/SSSIs are best avoided.
Its not even a case of being a “hippy”, but harsh reality.
In 2006, a huge “teknival” in SW England caused so much alleged environmental contamination (mostly human shit) that for the first time in many years Defra, Forestry, Environment Agency and English Nature (now Natural England) were called into a meeting about “how to deal with the problems caused by raves”.
Until then they weren’t even bothered about raves (or even their staff attending them) :groucho:
A lot of people who worked in that part of the Civil Service (the various UK environmental protection organisations) have been since relocated to the North of England due to downsizing and have had to fight hard to keep their jobs. They are still under threat of budget cuts/further downsizing.
There will be quite a few at EO/HEO grade or above (junior management) looking for a “pet project” with “quick wins” to prove themselves, such as “bringing polluters to justice” so be careful..
