Survey seeks views on welcoming the public to the countryside

Richard Bramley leaning on a gate with farmland in the background

As part of its ongoing work on the Countryside Code, the survey has been developed with a view to getting input from landowners and land managers in England and Wales.

The survey seeks information about how landowners and managers welcome the public onto those parts of the countryside and coast that they are responsible for.

Have your say

Take part in the survey, entitled Welcoming the Public to the Countryside and Coast

The closing date for the survey is 13 October at 12pm.

The NFU is encouraging members to complete this survey as the results will help to shape the Land Manager Guidance that sits alongside the Countryside Code.

It follows the NFU's response to a consultation on this guidance earlier in the year.

Important network of access

Environment Forum Chair Richard Bramley said: “The public have access to more than 225,000km of rights of way in England and Wales and farmers recognise the importance of this network.

“We have seen during the pandemic just how popular our network of footpaths and bridleways can be, with millions of people visiting the countryside to improve their mental health and physical wellbeing.

"However, it wasn’t designed with today’s needs in mind and there is an opportunity to create a modern and adaptive rights-of-way network that is fit for the 21st century, meeting the demands for more and safer access to our farmed landscape.”