New Countryside Code by Ken Obbard

After a year of lockdowns and travel restrictions more people than ever have been exploring the areas local to them, many will be new to the countryside or going further and spending longer in places.  This seems like the perfect time for Natural England and Natural Resources Wales to launch a new Countryside Code. Whilst the code might seem like common sense, we should not assume that everyone has the same understanding. Being honest I am not sure I have ever read the code, just heard it spoken about and I was brought up in the countryside and work in conservation. 

The refreshed code builds on previous versions (originally launched 70 years ago!), highlighting some of the issues we all see such as the clearing away of dog poo and sticking to footpaths, but it also covers activities such as wild swimming (not sure we have any suitable options in Lenham!). It also focuses on the advice for people to ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’ as well as ‘enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory’; luckily I think people are pretty friendly around the village and all the places I visit around Kent.

There is a lot of information in the code but the main themes are:

Respect everyone

• be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside 
• leave gates and property as you find them
• do not block access to gateways or driveways when parking
• be nice, say hello, share the space
• follow local signs and keep to marked paths unless wider access is available

Protect the environment

• take your litter home – leave no trace of your visit
• take care with BBQs and do not light fires
• always keep dogs under control and in sight
• dog poo – bag it and bin it – any public waste bin will do
• care for nature – do not cause damage or disturbance

Enjoy the outdoors

• check your route and local conditions
• plan your adventure – know what to expect and what you can do
• enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory

Rights and permissions

The code sets out information about the rights of different users. For some activities you may need to get permission from the landowner, including:

• camping
• freshwater swimming
• freshwater fishing