Nine in 10 walkers break Countryside Code

Almost nine out of 10 people break the Countryside Code during walks on rural and agricultural land, a survey has revealed.

The survey, carried out by outdoor clothing company Rohan, quizzed 2,000 people on their knowledge of the code and walking habits.

It found that 86% of walkers regularly broke the code – albeit unknowingly for most respondents.

Just 12% had a sound knowledge of the guidelines, while 47% said they were unsure or knew nothing at all about it.

See also: Dog attacks on livestock cost farmers £1.5m in 2021

Knowledge on the code was also found to vary widely according to age group and the amount of time walkers spent in the countryside.

Among regular walkers, 77% knew the code – a level five times higher than the 16% of people who rarely visited the countryside. 

This is significant because the number of new visitors to countryside footpaths and byways had soared during the Covid-19 lockdowns.  

The survey found that the most common transgressions was to close a gate – about half (46%) said they shut gates whenever they found them open.

Almost one in three (29%) said they strayed from footpaths to take a more convenient route across farmland.

The responses indicated that there was little appreciation of the potential damage to crops, wildlife and livestock production among this group.

Better education

Rohan involved the NFU in the survey to help explain to its customers the potential damage and nuisance caused to those who live and work in the countryside.

Union chief land management adviser Sam Durham called for better education of the public on rural issues.

“The Countryside Code is a vital way of helping visitors understand how to enjoy the countryside responsibly, without causing unintended disturbance or damage.

“To spread the word, there needs to be a lot more coverage in the media and on social media, so everyone who visits the countryside knows how to be safe and respect the environment.”

Meanwhile, NFU Scotland (NFUS) repeated its call for a review and update of the equivalent guidelines north of the border.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code has not been updated for since it was introduced 17 years ago.

NFUS said that its own member survey in 2021 showed farmers felt the guidelines were no longer effective.

The union said the sheer scale and type of access had changed since the pandemic began.

10 most common Countryside Code breaches

• Closed an open gate
• Strayed from a designated footpath
• Climbed a fence, wall or hedge away from the footpath
• Taken a rock, stones or plants home
• Let a dog walk without a lead
• Picked a vegetable or fruit
• Fed a farm animal
• Let dog stray from a footpath
• Played music
• Held a BBQ