England’s most stunning “national landscapes” are largely out of bounds, and 22 of the 34 have less than 10% of their area open to the public, research has found.
The government last year renamed areas of outstanding natural beauty to national landscapes, and said part of their aim was to widen access to nature. Ministers said at the time the new name reflected a recognition that they are not just beautiful but important for many reasons including improving wellbeing.
The National Landscape Association, a government-organised body representing national landscapes and their conservation boards, advertise that “they are the UK’s nearby countryside – 66% of people in England (44 million) live within 30 minutes of a national landscape and at least 170 million people visit them every year”.
However, new research by the Right to Roam campaign has found that only a tiny fraction of most of these beautiful areas are freely accessible for walking and other forms of outdoor recreation.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
However, new research by the Right to Roam campaign has found that only a tiny fraction of most of these beautiful areas are freely accessible for walking and other forms of outdoor recreation.
Protesters will descend on Cirencester Park in the Cotswolds this weekend for a mass trespass after the owners started charging for entry to the green space.
She said: “Access to nature is vital for both our physical and mental health, so it is unhealthy, unfair and unacceptable that so much of the beautiful British countryside is off limits to the vast majority of people.
“Any government that was serious about improving our national health and wellbeing would act with urgency to ensure everyone has a legal and comprehensive right to roam and enjoy the natural world around us.”
Lewis Winks from the Right to Roam campaign added: “It’s startling that some of our most celebrated landscapes are largely out of bounds, yet this is simply illustrative of our broken access system in England.
“When our so-called ‘nearby countryside’ is inaccessible it acts as a pertinent reminder that access reform must go beyond being defined by land use, and instead focus on connectivity and clarity.
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