- Respect other people
- Protect the natural environment
- Enjoy the outdoors
Consider the local community and other people
enjoying the outdoors
·
Respect the needs of local
people and visitors alike – for example, don’t block gateways, driveways or
other paths with your vehicle.
·
When riding a bike or driving
a vehicle, slow down or stop for horses, walkers and farm animals and give them
plenty of room. By law, cyclists must give way to walkers and horse–riders on
bridleways.
·
Co–operate with people at work
in the countryside. For example, keep out of the way when farm animals are
being gathered or moved and follow directions from the farmer.
·
Busy traffic on small country
roads can be unpleasant and dangerous to local people, visitors and wildlife –
so slow down and where possible, leave your vehicle at home, consider sharing
lifts and use alternatives such as public transport or cycling.
Leave gates and property as you find them and
follow paths unless wider access is available
·
A farmer will normally close
gates to keep farm animals in, but may sometimes leave them open so the animals
can reach food and water. Leave gates as you find them or follow instructions
on signs. When in a group, make sure the last person knows how to leave the
gates.
·
Follow paths unless wider
access is available, such as on open country or registered common land (known
as "Open Access" land).
·
If you think a sign is illegal
or misleading such as a ‘Private – No Entry’ sign on a public path, contact the
local authority.
·
Leave machinery and farm
animals alone – don’t interfere with animals even if you think they’re in
distress. Try to alert the farmer instead.
·
Use gates, stiles or gaps in
field boundaries if you can – climbing over walls, hedges and fences can damage
them and increase the risk of farm animals escaping.
·
Our heritage matters to all of
us – be careful not to disturb ruins and historic sites.
Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter
home
·
Protecting the natural
environment means taking special care not to damage, destroy or remove features
such as rocks, plants and trees. They provide homes and food for wildlife, and
add to everybody’s enjoyment of the countryside.
·
Litter and leftover food doesn’t
just spoil the beauty of the countryside, it can be dangerous to wildlife and
farm animals – so take your litter home with you. Dropping litter and dumping
rubbish are criminal offences.
·
Fires can be as devastating to
wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property – so be careful with
naked flames and cigarettes at any time of the year. Sometimes, controlled
fires are used to manage vegetation, particularly on heaths and moors between
1st October and 15th April, but if a fire appears to be unattended then report
it by calling 999.
Plan ahead and be prepared
·
You’ll get more from your
visit if you refer to up–to–date maps or guidebooks and websites before you go.
Check out countryside visitors or
contact local information centre
or libraries for a list of outdoor recreation groups offering advice on
specialist activities.
·
You’re responsible for your
own safety and for others in your care – especially children – so be prepared
for natural hazards, changes in weather and other events. Wild animals, farm
animals and horses can behave unpredictably if you get too close, especially if
they’re with their young – so give them plenty of space.
·
Check weather forecasts before
you leave. Conditions can change rapidly especially on mountains and along the
coast, so don’t be afraid to turn back. When visiting the coast check for tide times don’t risk getting cut off by
rising tides and take care on slippery rocks and sea–weed.
·
Part of the appeal of the
countryside is that you can get away from it all. You may not see anyone for
hours, and there are many places without clear mobile phone signals, so let
someone else know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
Follow advice and local signs
England has
about 190,000 km (118,000 miles) of public rights of way, providing many
opportunities to enjoy the natural environment. Get to know the signs and
symbols used in the countryside to show paths and open countryside.
Restricted
byway Open to
walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and horse-drawn vehicles, waymarked with a plum
coloured arrow
Byway open
to all traffic (BOAT) Open to
walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, horse-drawn vehicles and motor vehicles,
waymarked with a red arrow
National
Trail acorn Identifies
15 long distance routes in England and Wales. All are open for walking and some
trails are also suitable for cyclists, horse- riders and people with limited
mobility. Further information on National
Trails.
Open Access
land 865,000
hectares of mountain, moorland, heathland, down land and registered common land
(mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) is available to
people to walk, run, explore, climb and watch wildlife, without having to stay
on paths. Similar rights will be extended in stages on coastal land (identified
under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009). Check Open Access for maps,
information and any current restrictions in place
Negative
access symbol May be used to mark the end of
area-wide access although other access rights may exist, for example public rights of way
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