Code For The Public

Protect plants and animals and take your litter home

We have a responsibility to protect our countryside now and for future generations, so make sure you don't harm animals, birds, plants or trees.

  • Litter and leftover food doesn't just spoil the beauty of the countryside, it can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals and can spread disease - so take your litter home with you. Dropping litter and dumping rubbish are criminal offences.
  • Discover the beauty of the natural environment and take special care not to damage, destroy or remove features such as rocks, plants and trees. They provide homes and food for wildlife, and add to everybody's enjoyment of the countryside.
  • Wild animals and farm animals can behave unpredictably if you get too close, especially if they're with their young - so give them plenty of space.
  • Fires can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property - so be careful not to drop a match or smouldering cigarette at any time of the year. Sometimes, controlled fires are used to manage vegetation, particularly on heaths and moors between October and early April, so please check that a fire is not supervised before calling 999.

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didyouknow

According to Defra , litter causes a third of all outdoor fires and dumped food and leftover takeaways has helped the UK rat population reach around 60 million.

whereflowers

In 2005, an analysis of the whole of the British flora was carried out – the first time this has been attempted. According to a major conservation charity, one in five of our wildflowers is threatened with extinction. Find out which are most at risk here .