Can I hide my eggs... with them?

Every Easter, I organise an egg hunt for my children in my garden. As they grow up, they know every corner of it, so I thought I'd look for hiding places in the forest in front of my house, which separates me from my neighbours. He's already told me that it's his private property and that I can't enter without his permission. How do I know if he's telling the truth?

Cuckoo, in the countryside

Your neighbour may own a piece of forest, but that doesn't mean you can't organise your Easter walk there.

Under Swiss law, a forest can perfectly well belong to a private individual. The federal law on forests specifies that the concept of a forest does not depend on whether it is entered in the land register or how it is managed.

However, in principle, private forests must remain open to the public. Federal law requires the cantons to guarantee access to forests, and the canton of Geneva has legislated to this effect by stipulating that they must not be fenced off, in order to ensure free access.

This right is not limited to walking in a straight line from one tree to the next; it encompasses the usual uses of relaxation, such as family walks or modest leisure activities. Geneva's legislation specifies that these activities are permitted as long as they do not harm the forest or its tranquillity. Large-scale events outside this framework therefore require authorisation.

Ultimately, it all depends on the scale of your egg hunt. If it's a one-off family activity, with a few discreet hiding places and no impact on the area, it's part of a typical free-access use of the forest and your children can look for their eggs between the trees without breaking the law.

On the other hand, the only limit to exercising this right is common sense: respect the surroundings, the flora and fauna (even the chocolate bunnies!).

Enjoy this joyous moment with your family, while kindly explaining to your neighbour that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket. It's a privilege to own a little piece of unspoilt nature, but you should let those who know how to appreciate its flavour enjoy it. Happy Easter to all our readers!

Read Pascal Rytz's columns on www.tdg.ch