How many boxes are there on the moors?

Is this such a taboo question?

A lot of important people look at this forum (even if they choose not to write)

I'll guess-timate first: About 1000

How long is a piece of string? It must vary a lot depending on how many walks are out etc. I doubt that anyone really knows.

To many, when I first started boxing, we had to walk a long way to find 10 but now we walk a short distance and find 10. But its still fun.

whoisthechallenger wrote:Is this such a taboo question?

A lot of important people look at this forum (even if they choose not to write)

I'll guess-timate first: About 1000

A lot!!

Ooo Am I important?

I think its more likely to be about 5/6,000. There must be at least that many, as I have in my database to find 5,000 WOM (not sure they are all still there though as some get taken off before I can get out to get them) With all the charity walks alone, each one is 12-15boxes and I still have 5 to do, having already done 8. If you box around Brat tor, there is one almost under every rock

I do not think anyone can answer this correctly.

Who knows how many, collectively, there are as WOM alone at any one time. Plus - look at the catelogue - how many are still out there for years and how many new ones. And of course there are the Meet issued stamps.

I would estimate that even today there are at least 15000, probablly more.

TWA

At its peak there were reckoned to be around 20,000 boxes out on the moor yes that sounds a hell of a lot, it was said there were around a 1000 on Cut Hill alone. In recent years with the thinning of boxes by farmers and the thief as well as the 5 year policy by the 100 club I suspect that number has probably dropped to about 3500 to 5000.
The flies in the ointment are the number of WOM boxes which I feel now outweigh the number of official boxes and the sheer number of "kids boxes"

Sadly though there are a lot of WOM boxes which are not being maintained, but having said that - a lot are well looked after....

Ooo Am I important?

Yes, we're all important!

I agree that numbers peaked much higher, but the box thief and decreasing numbers of active letterboxers has meant the number of boxes out there has been falling fast for the past few years.

What does the box thief get from doing it, I had six of my Christmas ones stolen. They are very sad people.

A knowledge of that he is ruining it for others and for some sad reason is getting a sick kind of pleasure out of it.

Many years back there used to be a vicar of some denomination or another who used to go out and steal the boxes because he believed it was detracting from his congregation when people used to go out on the moors on a sunday morning... wether or not this is true don't know

I know that many many Moons ago the Local Police got involved with the theft of the boxes on the Moor. I also know that someone was arrested & on searching their property 100's of boxers were found. They got "nicked" and a lot, but not all, of the boxes were returned.
The person was asked why they had stolen the boxes & they said " I do not agree with people littering the Moor with rubbish"
edited for speeling

So he littered his house instead!

Technically he was right about the moor being littered with rubbish when it comes to letterboxes

The subject of what is 'litter' on the Moor is not representative of this post as far as I see it.

But in raising this point lets say that we should ban all Ramblers, Ten Tors participants , Duke of E participants, scouts, cubs, school parties, daytrippers, holiday makers, the Army, etc. etc. After all - who can say they do not leave litter!!!!

Sorry, forgot to mention the Geo group!(Apologies to SM!)

TWA

They say if everyone who went out on the moor and picked up a piece of rubbish everytime they went out the moor would be clear of rubbish within a matter of weeks.
The most astonishing thing I have ever found (and left) was a half full septic tank from a caravan over a mile onto the moor from the road - someone had to have carried there... why?

Nik did you carry it back.

I am always bringing litter home, a lot of it from the army.

erm.... no as I already had a load of rubbish in my pack previously collected

Not applicable to this post but in relation to last post:

another saying which may apply - "take all the memories you can, but leave only your foot prints"

TWA