thanks for all of your responses so quickly.
treebloke, i'm definately interested in your offer. I'll speak to my brother this evening who is going into this venture with me, if he seems happy with it too i will let you know a.s.a.p. thanks
Keith, not all pellets are biodegradable that are used on most aisoft sites, but myself and my brother will be selling biodegradable bbs (ball bullet) from the game site we would like to run. It is definately something we would promote as this is one of our concerns for the environment.
RichardKing, Hi and thanks for your reply. Having marshalled from time to time myself at a woodland airsoft site, and having first hand experience both working and playing at the site, i can honestly say that i never noticed the woodland being "wiped out" as you put it.
The site between biggin hill and croydon was a six acre site, which combined both woodland and open fields. It was next to the the land owners field for cultivation of crops each summer, and there were never any problems with players affecting his land. The game area and parking space was designated by the farmer and all players had the upmost respect for this.
Average game days would have around fifty players on a six acre site, which is a substantial amount of people for that size.
People break off into small groups to skirmish through the game area. I've never seen players all running together like a herd of animals, they'd get spotted emmidiately by the opposing team and the game would be over in a very short space of time....literally minutes it would take for them to be hit with a hail of bbs.
Ideas for my games and how long they would last vary from half an hour to one hour. The games are based on being stealthy, covert and evasive. The people that play sometimes have military background and help other players with moving slowly and silently through the area. The game players see it more of a simulated military experience, not making sudden movements or loud soundsbeing part of that experience. Running around shooting anything that moves is not part of the sport, anyone found to be out of control and causing distress to other customers on any airsoft site is asked to leave.
There are times when faced pace movement is necessary and loud shouts may be heard from one team mate to another, yet still know one groups together in more than four to eight persons. Certainly not causing any noticable damage to the land.
The only effects on the farmers land were from local children starting fires in the woods, or smashing his tractor windows while he was away from the vehicle.
There is a public right of way that runs near the game site, and dog walkers are sighted from time to time, who may decide they want to pass through the wood/field. When this occurs players or marshals that spot them emmediately shout out or use radio communication to warn everyone on site.
Procedure is then for everyone to make safe their bb rifle and place it on the floor. A marshal will then approach anyone not in game and explain what is happening, as it can be unsafe in the area without having face protection. They are excorted safely through to wherever they wish to go, even though the area they are in is not part of the footpath and privately owned. The players and marshals are all polite and continue to play when the person/s (possibly with a dog or horse) is at a safe distance.
Going back to any damage done to the woodland by players....most players identify easy ways around a bush or branches that may be in the way, softer ground with grass on it may be trodden during the game day itself, but i'm sure between the two week period of each game day, the grass will grow back quite rapidly during the summer. Bracken, if it is growng in the area may also be trodden on too, but again it will soon grow back.
If there are natural pathways running through the woods, something that already looks worn down will be used by most players. No one is allowed machetes, hatchets,, or even knifes onto the site, so they can't cut through any deep thick branches or bush.
The surface of the earth being formed into a crust usually occours after winter coming into spring, this does happen after heavy rain falls, but eventually the earth gets broken down again into its natural form. From what i have seen it happens mainly on the footpath areas and doesn't effect the quality of the land at all.
All airsoft players that i know and have worked along side, respect the land and the landowner, if the place gets wrecked it is no longer fun to be playing there and it would be inevitable for the site to be closed down. Anyone would be asked to leave the site if they are causing damage intentionally to the land or harm to any wildlife roaming the area.
If there are any more questions, please ask and i'll answer them promptly.
kind regards
Mike
