Countryside Code Refresh: An invitation to participate in a survey

Natural England has a statutory duty to produce and promote the Countryside Code to guide people visiting the countryside. It also has a duty to advise landowners and managers in relation to access on their land.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visits to the countryside increased. Much of this was to be welcomed, given the many health and wellbeing benefits provided to people through outdoor exercise and contact with nature. There were, however, a number of incidences across the country of undesirable actions and activities taking place, including damage to property and the environment. Many of these incidents came about as the result of a lack of understanding of how to engage positively with the natural environment, rather than by deliberate acts of damage.

In response, Natural England published an updated short version of the Countryside Code accompanied by a summer-long campaign to promote the safe enjoyment of the countryside, in partnership with stakeholders.

Now that they have more time to reflect over the winter period, Natural England is seeking your views on how they can refresh the Countryside Code.

To help them gather this feedback, we would like to invite you to participate in an online survey which will take approximately 25 minutes. You are under absolutely no obligation to take part in this survey, nor to answer every question if you do decide to take part.

For more information, you can read the full brief here.