Countryside Access - Things to Know - Managing The Land - Land Managers and Access Authorities

Land Managers

Now that open access rights are in place across England, the public will usually be able to walk on mapped areas of mountain, moor, heath, down and common land, subject to some common sense restrictions. Land managers can also dedicate additional areas of countryside for open access, if they wish.

If you are a land manager and wish to find out more about Open Access rights and how they may affect you, there is a dedicated website for you. You can read guidance on managing public access, on the liability position, and on the local restrictions system. You can also manage your restrictions applications on-line.

To visit the Open Access website for land managers and access authorities, click here .

If your land is in Wales, contact the Countryside Council for Wales
Contact Scottish Natural Heritage for guidance on public access law in Scotland.

Access Authorities

Access authorities are generally the local highway authority except in National Parks where it is the National Park authority. The information below helps authorities carry out their powers under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000.

The access management grant scheme

Access authorities can apply for funding to support the implementation of the CROW Act, through the Access Management Grant Scheme administered by Natural England. The scheme was first introduced in March 2004 for one year and has now been extended until March 2009.

For futher information please email the open access contact centre: openaccess@naturalengland.org.uk

Guidance on the use of signs on access land

Natural England has also produced guidance for access authorities and for land managers on the use of signs on access land. The purpose of this guidance is to ensure that clear, consistent messages are given to the public, which are applicable to the local area, whilst minimising the impact on the landscape. Natural England has developed, in conjunction with the Countryside Council for Wales, a new access symbol to help with this.

For a copy of the 'Signs on access land in England; guidance for access authorities' please download the main document here and the 'Sign design guide' insert here .

For a copy of 'Signs on access land in England, guidance for land managers please download the PDF here .Other useful information for land managers is available in the 'Land Managers' Guide: Managing Public Access'. Please download a copy here .

Access symbol

The signs guidance provides information about the use of the access symbol on the ground. Once you have read this, you will need to see the symbol guidelines so you can pass the manufacturer/designer their guidelines with the artwork. The following information can be obtained by email request:

Symbol specification - guidelines for access authorities
Artwork (The manufacturer/designer needs to advise which file format is required)
Guidelines for designer (To be sent with the artwork)

In our guidance we encourage all landowners, including private landowners to contact their local access authority if they wish to use the access symbol.

The Countryside Code

Access authorities and other organisations are encouraged to use the messages in the Countryside Code when providing information to the public about access land. Natural England has also developed a template based on the Code for use on signs.

A word document of the template can be downloaded here .

A template to guide the public in areas of high nature conservation interest (or where there are game birds such as grouse) is also available on request - please email .

For more information about the Code visit the Countryside Code area of this website.

Other information

Access authorities have a duty under the Act to set up local access forums. For statutory guidance relating to the functions of access authorities and to local access forums click here .

For a list of all Local Access Forums, including their contact details, click here .

The countryside in and around towns is a space that is often neglected, and yet it provides the opportunity to improve the everyday lives and prospects of millions of people.

Natural England, in conjunction with Groundwork UK , has developed a new vision for connecting town and country, one that captures its full environmental, social and economic potential. For more information, click here .