Countryside campaign group Right to Roam is encouraging members to embark on a 鈥榮ummer of trespass鈥� to unlock blocked or privately owned areas of the countryside.
The call to action urges members to make the most of the current sunny spell to 鈥榞et outside, and get trespassing鈥�. It also includes a seven-point guideoutlining how best to locate the site of the trespass, looking in particular at areas that have been 鈥榖locked鈥�. It also suggests things for people to do while trespassing and to take photographs of themselves that can then be shared across social media channels.
The organisation鈥檚 is calling for an extension of the Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) Act to give greater access to privately owned sections of the countryside as well as woodlands, downland, Green Belt land and rivers for activities such as picnicking, wild swimming and wild camping.
CLAPresident, Mark Tufnell, said: 鈥淐ampaigners are reminded that significant expansion of this already vast network of access land would also likely damage the natural habitats upon which our already declining biodiversity and wildlife depend.鈥�
He added: 鈥淓ngland and Wales possess some of the finest public access systems in Europe. We have over 140,000 miles of public footpaths and rights of way for members of the public to enjoy. We encourage people who wish to enjoy the Great British outdoors to observe the core principles of the Countryside Code: Respect, Protect, and Enjoy.鈥�
The group is also advising followers to work out 鈥榟ow we can help ourselves and nature by being in it鈥� promoting activities such as water testing, foraging, picnicking or using 鈥榗itizen science鈥� apps.
Right to Roam member Nick Hayes said that 鈥榓ll鈥� Right to Roam trespasses follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, as it is more 鈥榙etailed and impactful than the 鈥榤eagre English
Countryside Code鈥�.
He said: 鈥淲hile giving people a clear remit to their responsibilities, it educates them not just to the working business of the countryside, but the seasonal fluctuations and specific topographical sensitivitiesof the ecology. In doing so, its strips the paint of our code, which is largely unread and untaught by anyone in England.鈥�
