SSSI - Can you FLY Your DRONE? Site of Special Scientific Interest drone flight information

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Күн бұрын

Hey Everyone! Recently Drone Assist updated their map to show Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) information in the ground hazards section. Tonight, Sean and Graham will discuss what this means to your drone flight. Many assume this means a total ban on being able to fly your drone but the facts are not so simple! Join us LIVE to find out this essential information for your drone flight!
Check out Altitude Angel's map here: (same as Drone Assist)
www.dronesafetymap.com
Search for SSSI info here:
designatedsites.naturalenglan...
Read the advice leaflet here:
www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/...
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Пікірлер: 73

@user-gq2lb7ec7j 2 ай бұрын

Brilliant as always

@SirBeauJangles 9 ай бұрын

I live in Fife. It's the peninsula lying between the two enormous estuaries of the rivers Forth and Tay. Guessing the shoreline length might approach the hundred mile bracket, maybe even more? Guess how much of that is FREE of SSSI classification..... Okay, the tiny bits not under SSSI classification might add up to a mile - or several. But the Fife coastline has a government-backed walkway hugging the coast and there's no awareness of this crackpot SSSI status for walkers who might be treading plants underfoot or scaring browsing birds etc etc, Yet - it's all SSSI for droners on AltAngel... Very obviously this is a move to restrict us from flying there... but they don't want to upset the walking addicts who make thorough and continuous use of the coastal path - regularly and sometime massively - in certain places disturbing browsing waders en masse. Yet - we hear absolutely nothing about walkers being knuckle rapped for disturbance of wildlife. I'm a bird photographer and years-long member of the Scottish Ornithology Club, yet nobody has ever to my knowledge moaned about droners - droning. To me, this is a clear case of OTT-classification being misused, where it's not a matter of odd sites here and there. It's a continuous band of serial SSSIs with lots of the coast having zero need for this classification. I'm heartily sick of pressures bearing down on us with greater restrictions all the time, every year there's more "Oh No You Donts" served up exclusively to -us. Yet there's bugger-all to restrict these legions of walkers who regularly have their dogs running free, putting up clouds of birds as they approach. Then the next clump of jerseys and hiking boots arrive and it's - rinse & repeat all over gain. Yet there's plenty of other stretches where birds don't gather as above. These are obvious sites where little or nothing nothing will be disturbed. Fishermen aren't restricted ANYWHERE either in boats close in or on foot from the shoreline, yet they're a moving- static disturbance factor that aren't discouraged. Remember - this is for all practical purposes a complete hundred miles of coastline. And it's almost ALL an SSSI??? It might be that all of Scotland might have been so classified, nothing would surprise me when government agendas are so clearly delineated agin us. Paranoia? Possibly. But even so, that doesn't excuse the exclusion to us that's clearly invisible to the far, far larger group mentioned above. Plus fishermen - of which I'm also one!

@villaskulcs 2 ай бұрын

I see it exactly the same way. The general abuse and misinterpretation of "nuissance" is the way now to target one specific group of people: drone users. It's not a nuissance to control the enormously loud motorcycles that can shake window glasses, horse riders who can let their lovely horses shit on the pedestrian walkways, walkers (as you mentioned too) are ok to trample down anything out of the public footpaths, etc. but god forbid a sub 250g, tiny flying machine hops up to the air to have a new perspective for taking photos. Self-proclaimed authorities sticking out "no drone zone" signs over rocks with literally no life in and around them to avoid (quote) "nuissance to the visitors" while the whole stone circle is near a main road where lorries and cars make such a noise you can't even hear each other talking. I do hope this, in most cases totally unnecessary and by any means unjustified frustration of new tech and leisure will cease soon. I do recognize the importance of SSSIs and respect every bit of the wildlife as well as geological features, that's my undebatable baseline. But I can't easily accept that huge areas are just marked as restricted without exact specifics given on what part of flying could violate anything they try to protect from drone flyers. It's a simple abuse of those who are willing to follow regulations in this shady legal environment.

@allanternent8862 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the information about this

@simonelliott5956 Жыл бұрын

I think it also depends on what time of day it is that you want to fly, particularly with birds, as in marshland there is often a time that birds leave for the day or come back to roost overnight, quite often in the golden hour at each end of the day. Responsible droning around SSSI areas is very important for our hobby and these places are often the most beautiful as far as the sort of shots we want to get. I recently flew around the Keyhaven Marshland and made sure I was well away from the nesting lagoons and out on Solent side, but I made it a quick and well planned flight at a time of day that whilst not ideal for cinematic footage, it avoided the bird rush. I got some great footage and really enjoyed it. Love the Pembrokeshire leaflet, exactly what is needed and like the chat comment, it makes your interest in flying there valid and more to the point accepted if you tow the line.

@Badgerseed 5 ай бұрын

Loving the channel @geeksvana loads of great information. Could you highlight the best way of getting in touch with the relevant SSSI land manager to ask for permission or the bird nesting season best avoided please?

@andyl2201 6 ай бұрын

I live on the south coast and note that there is no where along that coast that is not free of SSSI even beaches where in summer months hordes of people flock to. I think the whole issue of SSSI is a massive grey area open to all sorts of interpretations. Does it mean that in the summer months holiday makers must avoid the coast and stay at home. What chance do we as drone pilots stand 🧐

@canderson1955 Жыл бұрын

The entire coastline in Northumberland where I live is an SSSI. Difficult to find anywhere where there could not be an argument you should not be flying pretty much all year round. There is one specific place around St Mary’s Island that local media report as being ‘illegal’. I think the message is that fly but fly using a degree of sensitivity and ensure you are not disturbing any wildlife. I like the notion to remain high enough not to disturb birds and if by chance they do display their concerns stop flying there.

@droneeye2618 11 ай бұрын

Thanks

@amwphotos 9 ай бұрын

@geeksvana thought you might like to know that Pembrokeshire Coast National Park have now updated their drone guidance. They said they haven't made a new pdf yet, but they have corrected their website to clarify that it's only disturbance of "protected wildlife" that is a crime, and not disturbance of any wildlife.

@conorstewart2214 3 ай бұрын

I get that drones can cause unique issues in SSSIs but I would argue that walkers, especially dog walkers cause as much as, if not more of an issue in a lot of places, at least that is how it is around where I live. A big issue is that most SSSIs where I am aren't signposted and even when they are people do just walk straight through them, camp in them, have campfires in them, younger people go there to drink and leave a mess, etc. I do agree that we should do all we can not to cause disruption though (for moral as well as legal reasons), I just can't see them going after drone pilots in a lot of cases since they don't go after a lot of other things that already go on and if they do go for drones (again depending on the place) then they are specifically targetting drones.

@juliusdavies2005 Ай бұрын

Very useful. FYI, Merthyr Mawr is in Wales, not England, so falls under "Natural Resources Wales" management not "Natural England". They have their own website where you can search for SSSI's in Wales and get specific details about the SSSI in question.

@gerrywatkins846 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant topic and again we all should respect our wildlife

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Hey! Thanks and yes completely agree!!

@martinriley106 9 ай бұрын

I have an SSSI area next to our own land, but it is inaccessible by the public on foot. But 1 mile away there are rights of way paths through the area too? The other thing is there are military dedicated flight paths which are for low flying, but the app tells you the dates they are in use.

@gunjafpv Жыл бұрын

Ahh cool, nice to have some explanation on the SSSI's. Also nice to know that dronescene has has SSSI's in for ages too, and another useful tool in your toolkit :) Wondered if aware of it?

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Hey GunjaFPV! All information to help flyers is great! I personally do not use DroneScene but it is good to see they have the information too. I looked at it a few years ago but not having an app stops it working in my flight flow so haven’t been back to it. Have they added an app yet?

@gunjafpv Жыл бұрын

@@Geeksvana Fair enough, no I believe no app, just the website (which can link and use like an app anyway on a phone), but very comprehensive of course.

@gunjafpv Жыл бұрын

@@Geeksvana You can just link any webapp to an icon on your home screen to make it "app like", but each to their own.

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Awesome. I will take another look. It is funny how you get so used to using one app that you forget the others out there. Did the same with weather apps. Became so used to UAVForecast I didn't see how advanced some of the others had become 🤦‍♂️. Thanks for the reminder though, it is great to have options. Not everyone likes Drone Assist!

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Good point! I just went over to have a look, and it seems a little different to before, which is good. Although I noticed you need to login before seeing airspace restrictions etc, so will have a proper play another time.

@mu7095 Жыл бұрын

It would be helpful if areas covered by by-laws are highlighted. Councils are not helpful in that department.

@ukandrew Жыл бұрын

As many will know, a model glider flying site St Agnes Head in Cornwall, also an SSSI, has suffered through the government department know as Natural Englands enforced restrictions imposed on the licence granted by the property owner, the NT, to the local model gliding club. The total flying ban is from the 1st February to the 31st August! Thats seven months as a no glider and I imagine no multi rotor drone, zone! Lets be clear, the restriction is against silent flight gliders, or drones as they are all now known as. That is no props spinning, no rotors spinning and no engines or electric motor noise. People have been able to fly gliders at the site for 50 years, maybe more, evidently without causing any damage or disturbance to wildlife. Would it not be common sense that if silent flight gliders are a problem, the nesting birds would simply not be nesting at the site today, and the seals would have moved on years ago. If a silent flight glider is banned I imagine that would extend to multi rotor drones! Be very clear, if NE is targeting silent flight in this way, and getting away with it, the crosshairs will soon fall on multi rotor drones. As far as NE, the government, is concerned, model gliders, powered model planes, model helicopters and multi rotor drones are all one in the same, ‘drones’. After the obvious uneducated anti drone view was demonstrated, of the Uk's model aviation sector, by those government officials involved in the recent government ‘drone’ consultation it is clear that the government is more interested in clearing the airspace for commercial drone use from the likes of Amazon and the arrival of multi rotor taxis from the likes of Uber. Is this government department known as Natural England simply carrying out the governments agenda of clearing the skies for commercial use?

@bugsy742 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely agree with this 👍🤝 Aggi head used to be a cracking fishing spot 😃

@amwphotos 11 ай бұрын

Every consent issued by the national bodies can be contested. There are details of how provided with the consent. If you can provide evidence to show that they're wrong in implementing those conditions or refusing a consent.

@bugsy742 11 ай бұрын

@@amwphotos 😂 good luck with that! 🤝

@twrmoor Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this explanation, and the Natural England link to find out more details about SSSI's. A least the tools to find out about a potential flight exist & just respect for wildlife and common sense as a drone pilot. My mind is somewhat put at ease.

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped! As you say, at least there are tools for this issue which isn't always the case.

@davidadams2823 10 ай бұрын

Just checked the SSSI map UK and my local town plus my local Areas where I go......So this helps me even more....... everything has always been okay from drone assist..... however I did get stopped by the law because I was on my local seafront and we have a Migrant Hotel they phoned the police and they came out to me I explained that I'm not an auditor because we've had them here and I allowed instantly the police to look at my DJI software app. The cop was happy 😁👍😎 and I was allowed to continue.... Auditors are ruining it..I don't care what anyone says.... there's a difference between an auditor and a fun recreational flyer..... however trying to keep up with the rules is head 🗣️ frying work..... stay safe and sound 👍😎 Sean.

@DQ940 Ай бұрын

It all needs to be much clearer than this. I would have no objection to filing a flight plan on the drone assist app and CAA giving permission or denying it, or using a map with clear green and red areas etc. I dont want to fly anywhere that i genuinely shouldn't be, i just want to quietly mind my own business and fly my drone for my own enjoyment. It seems like everything is stacked against drone users.

@TomWalshFilm Ай бұрын

I need to carry out a commercial flight over an SSSI in Norfolk. The government require me to write an environmental impact statement with regards to how the flight might impact the wildlife before I can gain assent/permission to fly. Does anybody know anyone who might be able to write that for me?

@MarkFromEastleigh Ай бұрын

At 24:53 I see an SSSI has JAYWICK in it !! Is there a special interest in the people who live in Jaywick I wonder 🤨. Make SSSI areas out of bounds for ALL people, not just drone hobbyists if they want to protect wildlife that much. I see at 06:29 there's a box on the right hand side marked 'report a flight incident'. Probably to grass someone up

@testpilotian3188 Жыл бұрын

Urgh more clear as mud statements. Drone Assist need a clear and concise “drone flying here illegal”, “drone flying here legal but not advised” and “drone flying here legal” categories, instead of the hot mess it is now where for examples FRZ and CTRs are listed under the same category, while having two widely different legal definitions covering them.

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Hey Ian! Agree in terms of the airspace restrictions and Altitude Angel are working on new wording to separate the FRZs from CTRs a little. However, in terms of SSSIs there is no precise answer. It depends on toobmany factors right up to the moment of flight. It means we need to research the location, (which now only takes a visit to Drone Assist and then the SSSI database), and then assess the location live. This is certainly a lot easier and clearer than it used to be for SSSIs.

@gmivisualsjason3729 3 ай бұрын

@Geeksvana currently holidaying very close to a sssi (Solway Coast) has anything changed since you recovered this video?

@Geeksvana 3 ай бұрын

Hey Jason! This is fully up to date. The links on Drone Assist will give you access to the notes. Have a great holiday! (EDIT): One change since this video is that Altitude Angel liked the idea so much, they now link to SSSI documents directly from the app. So it is even easier to check now.

@gmivisualsjason3729 3 ай бұрын

@@Geeksvana Brilliant thanks Sean.....

@Gary-ef6qo 6 ай бұрын

Most of the Lake District seems to be an sssi and the policy states no flying drones on sssi. Is this right

@richardparry4169 4 ай бұрын

Good question. At around 16:00 Sean says that if he saw he was disturbing wildlife he would refrain but that's too late and already criminal. Apparently. Bonkers rules!

@Geeksvana 4 ай бұрын

Hey Richard! I think this is a case of established law around SSSIs clashing with new technology. When these laws were put in place, they were not thinking of drones flying over the sites etc. Also, in terms of changing direction if wildlife notice your drone is an acceptable mitigation recognised by SSSI managers we have corresponded with. I would personally feel it would be unlikely that such a technical breach could be enforced.

@seeinthesea1329 6 ай бұрын

Sounds like everywhere is becoming no fly zone and as soon as you take it out of its box, it will break some kind of law.

@rogerhalt3991 Жыл бұрын

So many people asking about SSSI’s and complaining that there’s a reduction in places to fly. It’s a wonder if they know all the other things to look at. They have always been a thing and haven’t just popped up! Just doing the CAA test doesn’t mean you can fly anywhere with a >250g drone. Does the CAA have some info on its website about all things to consider before flying?

@timothylond8894 Жыл бұрын

I all ways make sure if there no birds flying you don’t need a birds hitting my drone but if there a load of people there like beaches then the wildlife is already being threatened

@cappokenneth Жыл бұрын

never mind sssi, the whole of the country has birds flying and nesting, so as soon as you fly your drone you are almost certainly disturbing wildlife to some degree and if that is illegal then where can I fly my mini 3 pro

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

That is a complete overreaction to the situation. There is a big difference between a bird flying off a rooftop to those vulnerable and rare species within protected areas.

@cappokenneth Жыл бұрын

@@Geeksvana I am not talking about birds flying from the rooftops, in my garden there are a number of big trees around two in next doors garden and some really big trees a couple of doors along, and a large number of birds including Parrot's Owls and many others I don't know the names of and when it gets dark I see large numbers of Bats flying around, I'm not someone who has an interest in birds and I would not know which ones are protected, and your guest just stated it is illegal to disturb wildlife anywhere. I would never deliberately try to cause distress to anyone or any animal, I just fly to take video to enhance my videos.

@tonywoodford9164 6 ай бұрын

You can disturb wildlife just not protected species. Sssi deal with protecting protected species within a specific area. So you comment is massive over reacting

@davidadams2823 10 ай бұрын

I like views ,,,, Not Confrontation with arguments from all parties.... that's not what I'm about...

@StreakyP Жыл бұрын

often the bird problem won't just be the drone... if you are VLoS then you are probably within 100m of the drone so even if your small drone isn't noticed by the birds big you might be so "pilot disturbance" might still catch you under W&C act 1981 budgie disturbance offence.... & the other one to watch out for is looking into the sky to follow/fly the drone, stepping around whilst flying & not noticing the ground nesting lapwing nest & eggs you have just stood on..... as you say these aren't a prohibition, just something to be aware of so mitigation steps can be taken now you are aware.

@moonshinepz Жыл бұрын

Lapwings are safer here, in my experience it's usually a cow pat under foot 🤦‍♂

@crispy_otter Жыл бұрын

Half a story. Trying to find the SSSI page you show is impossible. ARGH.

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Hey! The links to all the sites we showed on the show are in the description.

@drone-vision Жыл бұрын

More restrictions....... I think more wildlife got killed on the bloody roads and not heard or not seen any killing done by drone pilots, maybe we should restrict the cars?!?!

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Hey, Drone Vision! This isn't new, SSSIs have been around a lot longer than modern drones. You can actually be prosecuted under the Wildlife Act whilst not flying a drone, including whilst driving a car! The only change here is that the information is now readily to hand instead of being sometimes impossible to find, especially whilst out flying. Information is power.

@keithshouler1682 5 ай бұрын

Nearly all of the uk coast is now sssi , what a joke 300 feet up mini 3 hardly going to bother nesting birds now is it , this is the end of the hobbyists flyer ,andone want a mini 3 pro cheep , its game over guys

@Geeksvana 5 ай бұрын

To be fair SSSI laws were in place long before the drone hobby existed. Also, although much of the coast is SSSI, a great deal of it is not related to birds or wildlife. So the rocks etc don't mind us flying. I think the example leaflet we showed from the SSSI manager was pretty fair and agreed with you main point that reasonable flight would not disturb. So nothing here is new or needs to be the end of the hobby.

@amwphotos 11 ай бұрын

That leaflet has a significant mistake "disturbing wildlife is a crime" WRONG! It might be, depending on the species, but otherwise driving your car, walking down a path, walking into your garden would be a crime for disturbing wildlife! Wildlife and countryside act is very complicated and changes depending on whether you are the landowner/occupier, or a third party, whether particular species are a designated feature, whether it's covered by a schedule (like peregrine falcon, red kite), whether you are causing disturbance or actual damage.

@DJLtravelvids 11 ай бұрын

But to explain all that is going to complicate things for many people. Much easier to simply say that disturbing wildlife is a crime. As it's a national park leaflet I think it's implicit that this only applies to the NP itself (or more accurately within protected areas of the NP). It's still a true statement anyway, even if it's conditional . "Shooting people is a crime" is a true statement. Even though shooting people with a nerf gun, shooting people with a camera, and a police officer shooting an armed suspect may all be examples of where this may not be a crime.

@amwphotos 11 ай бұрын

That is completely not a fair comparison. The primary definition of shooting is to use a firearm. A more accurate comparison would be claiming driving at 60 on a motorway is illegal. Obviously it's not, unless you're driving dangerously, or drunk etc. Having false information in a leaflet devalues the whole thing, if this is wrong, how much else of it is also wrong? When it is so simple to have an accurate statement "Disturbing wildlife is irresponsible, can cause harm, and may be illegal"

@DJLtravelvids 11 ай бұрын

@@amwphotos Actually I think a better comparison would be "driving at 80mph on a motorway is illegal". It's true even though there are obvious exceptions to this in law. I don't think a casual guide for UK motorways would need to caveat this with "driving at 80mph *may* be illegal" . I'm happy with their wording. It protects wildlife, is technically correct (even though there are exceptions), and doesn't cause anyone any harm other than internet pedants. If you are still upset by this maybe you should write to the people in charge of things and tell them they are wrong. Be sure to use capital letters to emphasise exactly how wrong they are.

@amwphotos 11 ай бұрын

@@DJLtravelvids no you're still not getting the point, the statement is generally false, with a very limited range of situations where it's true. 80mph is illegal no questions, with a few exceptions which is the opposite way around. So no, it's not "technically" correct at all. And it's not pedantry to be pointing out incorrect information. I'm sure you'd be unhappy if it just had a blanket statement saying flying drones is illegal. Which would be true, unless you have permission.

@DJLtravelvids 11 ай бұрын

@@amwphotos I'm getting your point, I'm just disagreeing with your point. But it's not me you need to convince anyway. Why don't you start a petition for Parliament to debate the issue? Or a crowdfunder for a judicial review to right this egregious legal wrong?

@Colin-kk8rz Жыл бұрын

Common sense,keep out the way,leave wildlife alone and auditors as they are fragile.Some wildlife are rare so its obvious, some auditors are also rare and fragile,please don't film them 😂😂

@Geeksvana Жыл бұрын

Comment of the week so far 😂🤣