🌲 Woodsy Home 🌳

About this campground

Welcome to my home. I live in a tiny house on a 3800 m² plot in Bois de Roly; a domain made of residential woods within Viroin Hermeton Nature Park. There is plenty of space and I am happy to welcome happy campers over, so long as everyone is respectful of the space and leaves no trace so that nature can thrive.

Rules

• Leave no trace
  • 🌱 Minimize damage on plant life. Watch your steps and always use a light at night to avoid killing young saplings and plants (the only plants I don't care for are those with thorns), especially if camping towards the back which is wilder. Maximum tent size is 3x3 meters and a maximum of 3 tents are allowed on the property. Use hammock with tree-friendly straps only. (min. 2 cm wide; no ropes)
  • ♺ Do not leave any garbage behind but take it with you (except compostable stuff which should go in the compost).
  • If that is a major inconvenience then ask me and I will show you where you can put it for recycling and disposal. (The town has rules for recycling, and any food scrap must go in the compost rather than the garbage because wildlife will get to it.)
• Be respectful of the neighbors.
  • No loudspeaker 🔇. No loud noise after 22:00. (That includes wood chopping, plan ahead.) A noise complaint from the neighbors would result in your eviction.
• 🧻 Use only compostable toilet paper. That is plain brown or white paper only; with no color or scent. 🧼 Likewise, if using the outdoor shower use only biodegradable soap/shampoo.
• 🔥 Fire pits are not allowed and fires cannot be lit in the wooded area (per domain regulations). I do have a fire bowl near the house which you may use only if you are careful with respect to all fire safety procedures (and if I am confident that you are).
  • Firewood:
  • I do not sell firewood (except to cyclists / pedestrians). If at all possible please buy it somewhere else. (I prefer to use everything that grows here, eg: for gardening, heating, construction, dry toilets material, art, compost, ...)
  • I am willing to trade firewood for compost. (You can buy 40 L bags of compost at Hubo, or better, pick up some bins here and buy it in bulk at Agrophil where it comes out to about 7 euros for 140 L.)
  • Do let me know in advance if you will need firewood as I need to chainsaw logs when I am home, otherwise I can't help you. You will still need to split the wood yourself.
  • Fire safety / rules:
  • Ensure that there is nothing flammable near the fire bowl and never leave a fire unattended.
  • Keep it under control at all times (small enough that you can extinguish any accident), keep a water container readily available, and turn it off completely when you leave (with plenty of water).
  • Do not use gasoline or any flammable liquid.
  • Do not burn non-biodegradable (plastic) garbage. (The ashes are toxic for the compost.)
  • Do not gather and burn wood you find laying around (because I've had multiple instances of people unkwnowingly burning my work or wood that I had intended to use for different purposes).
  • Do not cut wood on and damage the sitting logs. Use an actual stump if you need to chop wood.
• 🐕🐈 Pets are welcome (with no additional charge) but they must be kept under control (⧚there is no fence).
• Nudity is allowed anywhere that's not in plain sight of the neighbors. (I am usually naked myself.)
• You must make a reservation (and tell me your approximate time of arrival). Do not show up unanounced.
• ⏲ Check-in/out is flexible; ☀️🔦 please arrive and set up your tent during daylight hours if at all possible and always use a flashlight at night to minimize damage on the plant life. You are welcome to arrive/depart at any time unless others need the space.

Amenities

This is a mostly undeveloped plot of land. 💧 Bring your own drinking water in case I am not home.

🚽 There is a compostable toilet in the South-East (back-right) corner of the land. 🔌 Electricity is available outside (there is an outlet available on the left of the deck next to the one used to connect the string lights), as well as a hot outdoor shower, and a fire bowl (cf rules). I can lend you an old tent if needed (ask in advance) but you will still need a sleeping bag or blanket and a mat.

🚿 There is a rudimentary outdoor shower with hot water which is out in the open. The shower's water temperature is not adjustable because it comes directly out of my water heater's tank. You may need to notify me a couple hours in advance so that I can adjust the temperature.

If I am home you may be able to use some of the ammenities that are in the house, please ask in advance if needed.

Campspots / recommendations

It is usually quiet here but there is a train track in the back which runs twice per hour during the day (twice every two hours during the week-end). There are three delimited spots; two spots are on either side of the bridge that connects the two ponds. (Avoid the one on the right when it rains heavily. The one on the left is by a small apple tree), and the last spot is behind the last pond (also on the left and there is a decorative frog behind it).

Van or rooftop camping is possible but not recommended. You won't be in the woods if you are on the parking spot (by definition), and parking is extremely limited.

Prices

• Tent or hammock camping: pay what you want (because everyone should have the opportunity to respectfully enjoy a retreat in nature if they so desire).
• Van or rooftop camping: There is a 20 € per night parking reservation fee (due when booking a day or more in advance. Not applicable to same-day reservations).

Your payments help me plant a diverse range of trees and plant life (aka slug food), improve amenities for the next campers, and fund my lavish lifestyle.

Non-monetary payments are also accepted. These include:

• Helping me with landscaping / gardening for an hour or so, for example by pulling out bramble, protecting saplings, grinding sticks into mulch and mulching fruit trees, making pathwoods out of wood.
• Bring a plant / tree / seeds / bulbs and plant it/them, or get me some compost (e.g. in bulk from Agrophil).
• Make or bring an outdoor artwork
• Whatever you can think of (keep in mind that I don't have much space inside the house).

Solo travelers who do not need a parking spot (eg pedestrians and bicyclists) are welcome to camp one night for free (but must still make a reservation).

Extra

I can provide the following extras when I am available:

• 🪵 Firewood: is typically not up for sale but I am willing to trade for compost.
  You will need to let me know in advance so that I can make a log available and chainsaw it. You will still need to split the rounds. Per fire rules above, I prefer that you bring your own wood so that I can continue using it for various projects and to heat my house. Wood is sold in Philippeville and Mariembourg, 6 minutes away, in e.g. Hubo, Spar, or any gas station. Compost is sold in bulk at Agrophil and in bags of 60 L at Aveve and Hubo)
• 🏍️ Motorcycle ride to and from the local train station (Philippeville or Mariembourg)

Payment

The following payment methods are accepted:

• Bank transfer: Benoit Brummer - BE77 9731 6116 6342
• Payconiq
• Cash
• Cryptocurrency:
  • Bitcoin: bc1qpecezwmlnzxcqye6nfwv5hn075f7vjf0w3g6gr
  • Litecoin: ltc1q3xjajxhgmvsth0hwtaz085pr3qml7z8ytjnmkd
  • Ethereum: 0x0A5281F3B6f609aeb9D71D7ED7acbEc5d00687CB
  • Monero: 85pPFb6uV3U5t9G2NAdrP69UGYteCqT7yAGH58TQgobodBwsw17fuYadZXwgMo8YdrhFZbarLa2MPjan3G6erNZfJYhmc4m

Contact

✉ Send me an email at trougnouf@gmail.com or message/Signal me at 0483 14 5111.

The address is 16D Allée des Charmes, 5600 Roly (Philippeville).

Accessible by foot from the GR12 and GRP125. The nearest train stations are Mariembourg (8.4 km) and Philippeville (11.6 km).

Activities

• Free:
• Fondry des Chiens (): beautiful sinkhole with plenty of hiking opportunities
• Lacs de l'Eau d'Heure (): large lakes with possibility to swim, rent paddleboards, ... It's also nice to walk around and there is an adventure park.
• Non-free
• Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées ( 🌐): a heritage railway which starts in Mariembourg
• Neptune caves ( 🌐): natural caves in Couvin
• Aquascope Virelles ( 🌐): birds and nature watching on the edge of a large pond
• Brasserie des Fagnes (): local brewery with a pretty good restaurant
• Nearby markets (check before you go in case of changes):
  • Tuesday 08:00-13:00 in Walcourt (Grand'Place)
  • Wednesday 08:00-13:00 in Couvin
  • Thursday 08:00-13:00 in Florennes (Route de Mettet - Place Verte, 16:00-20:30 in Doische (Parking communal de Doische)
  • Friday 08:00-13:00 in Thy-le-Château (Rue des Marronniers, Place de la Poste)
  • Saturday 08:00-13:00 in Philippeville
  • Sunday 07:00-13:00 in Mariembourg (Place Marie de Hongrie)
• Food shops:
• Jardin de Monplaisir: organic farm stall selling fruits and vegetables in Cerfontaine, 12 km
• Chèvrerie de la Machine: organic goat cheese farm in Philippeville, 13 km
• Nature Nature: organic food shop in Philippeville, 9 km
• Spar Mariembourg: grocery store with some local products, 5 km
• Ferme Champignol: organic farm shop with all kinds of food products, 23 km
• I'm usually happy to play board games, feel free to ask.

Reviews

• Campspace
• Google Maps

Life

Some of the life forms that I share this space with include (but are not limited to):

Birds:

• Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus, , 📷)
• Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major, )
• European robin (Erithacus rubecula, )
• Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs, )
• Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius, )
• Great tit (Parus major, )
• Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, )
• Eurasian magpie (Pica pica, )
• Willow tit (Poecile montanus, , 📷)
• Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea, )
• Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes, )
• Common blackbird (Turdus merula, )

Amphibians:

• Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris, )
• Green frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus, )
• Grass frog (Rana temporaria, )

Trees and shrubs:

• Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus, )
• European hornbeam (Carpinus betelus, )
• Common hazel (Corylus avellana, )
• European oak (Quercus robur, )
• Norway spruce (Picea abies, )
• Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula, )
• Sweet cherry (Prunus avium, )
• Cherry laurel (Prunus lauracerasus, )
• Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata, )

Trees and shrubs (planted):

• Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana, , 2)
• Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, , 2)
• Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo, , 2)
• Common box (Buxus sempervirens, , 1-2)
• Franchet's cotoneaster (Cotoneaster franchetii, , 1)
• Ebbing's silverberry (Elaeagnus ebbingei, , 1)
• Cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii, , 1)
• European beech (Fagus sylvatica, , 5)
• Fig (Ficus carica, , 1)
• Leucothoe (unknown species, )
• Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora, , 1)
• Apple (Malus domestica, , 2)
• Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides, , 2)
• Photinia (unknown species, )
• Blue spruce (Picea pungens, , 📷, 1)
• Sitka spruce (Picea Sitchensis, , 9)
• Austrian pine (Pinus nigra, , 1)
• Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster, , 2)
• Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris, , 📷, 2)
• Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii, , 3)
• Himalayan pine (Pinus wallichiana, , 📷, 4)
• Plum (Prunus domestica, , 3)
• Peach (Prunus persica, , 2)
• Common pear (Pyrus communis, , 3)
• Nashi pear (Pyrus pyrifolia, , 1)
• Babylon willow (Salix babylonica, , 1)
• Goat willow (Salix caprea, , 2)
• Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis, , 2)
• Western redcedar (Thuja plicata, , 1)

Other plants:

• Blue bugle (Ajuga reptans, )
• Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata, )
• Wood anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa, )
• Farewell to spring (Clarkia amoena, )
• Wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides, )
• Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca, )
• Common hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit, )
• Sticky willy (Galium aparine, )
• Wood avens (Geum urbanum, )
• Little-robin (Geranium purpureum, )
• Common ivy (Hedera helix, )
• Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta, , 📷)
• Common nipplewort (Lapsana communis, )
• Oxlip (Primula elatior, )
• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus, )
• Woodland figwort (Scrophularia nodosa, )
• Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion, )

Other plants (planted):

• Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta, )
• Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium, )
• Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa, )
• Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus, )
• Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea, )
• Blackcurrant (Lonicera caerulea, )
• Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, )
• Redcurrant (Ribes rubrum, )
• Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus, )
• Northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, )

Mammals:

• Dog (Canis familiaris, )
• European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus, )
• Cat (Felis catus, )
• Human (Homo sapiens, )
• Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris, , 📷)
• Wild boar (Sus scrofa, , 📷)

Other animals:

• Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris, )
• European garden spider (Araneus diadematus, )
• Mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci, )
• Multicoloured asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis, )
• Leopard slug (Limax maximus, )
• Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris, )
• Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella, )
• Rhagium sycophanta, )

Mushrooms:

• Bolbitius (unknown species, , possibly titubans)
• Cyanosporus (unknown species, , possibly caesius)
• Parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera, , 📷)

Let me know if you identify any species I have not listed here yet. You are also welcome to plant more plant life so long as it doesn't have thorns.