The freedom to roam, the right of public access to the wilderness or “everyman’s right”, means access most public or privately owned land, lakes, and rivers for recreation and exercise. 

With freedom comes responsibility. The slogan is “do not disturb, do not destroy”. You can pick wildflowers, berries and mushrooms; however some plants are protected. You can only pick the leaves and berries that reproduce annually.

Everyman’s right has to some extent always existed in Sweden. The right to harvest the forest was not about outdoor life, but so that the poor and propertyless could pick nuts, mushrooms and berries. 

During the last century, it has become more about the forest as a place for rest, relaxation and outdoor life. During the the industrial revolution came, and many people moved from the countryside into the cities. Now the forest was needed in a different way, as a healthy break from everyday life.

The idea that the poor and propertyless have a right to nature is old – at least to stay alive. There are several quotes in the Bible to support this. Fifth Book of Moses, Chapter 23, 24-25 states:

• When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
• When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

Also, the landowners get their instructions at the end of Chapter 24:

• When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
• When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

In Europe today, some countries especially in the northern parts, have something similar to Everyman’s right.  However further south this right is not established. The different traditions can be traced to weather the country rests upon Germanic law or Roman law, the latter giving all the right and the power to the landowner.

In Austria, Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Scotland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, the freedom to roam takes the form of general public rights which are sometimes codified in law. In Germany a limited right to roam, called Betretungsrecht, is guaranteed by multiple federal laws. 

Everyman’s right is something Swedes are quite passionate about. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Swedish: Naturvårdsverket), a government agency responsible for proposing and implementing environmental policies has published facts about this right in several languages.

https://www.naturvardsverket.se/publikationer/allemansratten/

And last but not least – even if the forest is more important for enjoyment than food nowadays, you can still fill your basket with blueberries, lingonberries and mushrooms. Tasty and a joy to pick!