With more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, Natural England, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, has today (February 8) set out a new Countryside Code for land managers to help them ensure that visitors to the countryside can enjoy it in a responsible way.
Published under the Countryside Code, the update provides recommendations to land managers on making rights of way accessible, creating safer environments and installing clear signage to help the public respect, protect and enjoy the countryside.
The new guidance advises farmers and land managers on how to make land more accessible, for example by adding self-closing gates instead of stiles where possible and using better signage, and how to report anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, littering, livestock worrying and other offences correctly.
These changes will allow more people to access nature safely whilst also supporting land managers and helping to avoid damage to property, livestock and wider anti-social behaviour.
Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said:
“With more people than ever before spending time in nature, this refreshed advice for land managers has never been more important in helping to ensure we work together to protect our outdoor spaces.
“I urge all land managers to follow this new advice and continue to help make nature accessible to everyone, so people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the invaluable health and wellbeing benefits that nature offers, while giving it the respect it deserves.”
Lord Benyon, Minister for Rural Affairs, said:
“We want to ensure that nature is accessible for all, whilst also supporting people to do the right thing when they are visiting the countryside.
“The new advice in the Countryside Code will help farmers and land managers to help the public enjoy the outdoors in a responsible way.
“I am grateful to all of those stakeholders who have helped shape this updated guidance.”
