Naturenet: The Country Code and Countryside Code

The Country Code
and Countryside Code

Origins of the Country Code

The Country Code was one of the first, and best known attempts to educate people to avoid conflicts which arose from the influx of visitors from urban areas to the working countryside, particularly the National Parks

. The original code was aimed squarely at the visitor, and made no mention of the responsibilities of landowners.

The National Parks Commission reported in September 1951:

“We regard the Country Code as a core around which will grow a body of information about the countryside. As knowledge spreads, there should be much less of the damage often done by sheer thoughtlessness in well intentioned people. By all these means we hope there will be a deepening respect and friendliness between countryman and townsman”.

The 1981 Country Code

The Country Code evolved from various origins, and has had several differing incarnations from the 1930s onwards, and some local variation too. There is no one 'correct' version. The most widely accepted version prior to the Countryside Code in 2004 was published in 1981 by the Countryside Commission, and reads:

Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work
Guard against all risk of fire
Fasten all gates
Keep your dogs under close control
Keep to public paths across farmland
Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls
Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone
Take your litter home
Help to keep all water clean
Protect wildlife, plants and trees
Take special care on country roads
Make no unnecessary noise

The 2004 Countryside Code

As part of the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Countryside Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales developed a new Countryside Code. This Code was designed to reflect both the changes that had happened over the previous 20 years and the introduction of the new public right of access to open country and registered common land.

The new Countryside Code was published in July 2004, and is divided into two parts - for the public, and for land managers. The Countryside Code is less concise than the old Country Code, and includes reference to other material. This is a summary of the new Code:

Countryside Code - advice for the public

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

Countryside Code - advice for land managers

Know your rights, responsibilities and liabilities
Where can people go on your land?
What rules apply to people while they are on your land?
What are your rights and responsibilities towards people on your land?

Make it easy for visitors to act responsibly

How can you help people get access to your land responsibly and keep to the Countryside Code?
What help and advice can you get?

Identify possible threats to visitors' safety

Are there any risks to the safety of people on your land, and how can you deal with these risks?

Countryside Access: welcome to the outdoors

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