Ramblers welcome updated Countryside Code
[12 July 2004]
The Country Code, which
has been familiar to countryside visitors in Britain for over 50 years,
has finally been replaced. On 12 July 2004 the Countryside Agency launched a new Countryside Code
for England, to be followed by a launch in Wales on 21 July. The new
Code has been welcomed by the Ramblers as a
major improvement on its predecessor.
The main reason for the new Code is the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000, introducing new rights of access to open country during 2004 and 2005. But the Code, which was last revised in 1981, was already long overdue for a makeover: a simple list of do's and don't's, given without explanation, is perhaps not the best way to help today's generation enjoy and respect the countryside. And the Ramblers have long pointed out the unfairness of having rules for visitors without explaining to land managers their side of the bargain.
The new Code is longer than its predecessor, but also more welcoming and with more explanation as to why you should stick to its rules. The long-awaited advice to land managers also now forms part of the Code. A major promotional campaign for the Code features characters created by the award-winning Aardman Animations studio of Wallace and Gromit fame.
The key messages of the new Code are "Respect - Protect - Enjoy" and the new advice to users is organised under five key headings (see right). There are also new websites containing additional information at www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk (for England) and www.codcefngwlad.org.uk (for Wales).
The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) worked
jointly with the Countryside Agency on drawing up a code for both
England and Wales and in both cases the advice for the public is the
same. While the English Code comes in a single leaflet, the Welsh
version is in two separate bilingual leaflets, one for visitors and one for land managers,
and the land managers' code is slightly different in Wales.
In Scotland, where the Land Reform Act gives a statutory right of
responsible access to almost all land and water, there will be a new
Outdoor Access Code produced by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH): a
comprehensive document covering a range of outdoor activities and
including guidance for both users and land managers. The Scottish Code
has been passed by the Scottish Parliament and should be launched in
November 2004. For more information see the
Ramblers Scotland pages.
Ramblers volunteers and staff have been heavily involved in the drafting
of the new Code and we think the result is a big improvement on the old
version, giving more welcoming, comprehensive and even-handed guidance
to all concerned. Although the new Code is longer, key points can be
extracted for use in circumstances where space is limited. The section
for land managers answers our long standing complaint that it was
impossible for walkers to follow the Code unless land managers also
stuck to the rules, for example by keeping paths open so that visitors could keep
to the correct route.
The Country Code first appeared in 1951, and was last revised in 1981. It has become as much a part of the landscape for British countryside visitors as Ordnance Survey maps, with the 12 rules reproduced countless times on everything from notices, posters, flyers and guidebooks to bookmarks and mugs. But the roots of the Code go back even further: the Ramblers' Association was one of several organisations that produced unofficial codes of conduct for countryside visitors before the Second World War, and until the early 1980s Ramblers' members had to agree to abide by the Code when signing up.
Respect - Protect Enjoy
Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
Leave gates and property as you find them
Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
Keep dogs under close control
Consider other people
More information