Much of England’s ‘national landscapes’ out of bounds, say campaigners

A study has discovered that the majority of England's magnificent "natural landscapes" are not easily reachable, and as many as 22 out of 34 have less than 10% of their total area accessible to tourists.

The administration changed the name of areas known for their exceptional natural beauty to national landscapes in the previous year. Their objective was to make nature more accessible to the public. The officials justified the decision by stating that the newly given name signifies not only their aesthetic value but also their significance in improving one's sense of wellbeing.

The UK's National Landscape Association, an official group that represents national landscapes and conserves them, announced that "they are the countryside that's close to home - about 66% of people in England (that's 44 million people) live within half an hour's drive of a national landscape, and at least 170 million people come to see them every year."

According to the latest findings from the Right to Roam initiative, the majority of stunning natural landscapes are not easily accessible for leisure activities such as hiking.

Many of the natural areas designated as national landscapes in England have less accessible footpaths when compared to the rest of the country, even though they are deemed as important entry points to the great outdoors. The average density of public rights of way per square kilometer in England is around 2km. However, 22 out of the 33 national landscapes have fewer public paths than this national average, with six of them having less than 1km of paths per square kilometer.

The Cotswolds, a national landscape, only has 1.2% designated as access land, which is not very good. The owners of Cirencester Park in the Cotswolds started charging for entry to the green space, which led to protesters organizing a mass trespass over the weekend. As a result of the change, the amount of freely accessible land in the Cotswolds has been reduced by more than a third, from 4,000 hectares to 2,500 hectares.

In the middle of the 20th century, people created certain places known as areas of outstanding natural beauty. They wanted to keep these places special because they were so beautiful. However, these places weren't big enough or wild enough to be considered national parks. Today, some of the most famous areas of outstanding natural beauty are the Chiltern Hills, Norfolk coast, Mendip Hills, and Wye Valley.

Certain national landscapes provide only a small portion of land accessible to the public according to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. For instance, the Lincolnshire Wolds offer just seven hectares, whereas there are significantly more areas in other regions. The North Pennines permits public roaming in 126,267 hectares.

The public's ability to wander around the countryside is restricted in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. However, Scotland permits individuals to roam across its countryside as long as they act in a courteous manner and do not disrupt farmland or leave any evidence of their actions.

Caroline Lucas, who represents the Green Party in Brighton Pavilion, proposed a bill in the House of Commons to allow people more freedom to roam in woodlands and green areas. Unfortunately, the bill hasn't been approved by parliament and is unlikely to be, since it was introduced by a member of the public rather than by the ruling party or the larger opposition groups.

According to her, it is imperative that we have access to natural surroundings in order to maintain good physical and mental wellbeing. Therefore, it is not acceptable that the majority of individuals are unable to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes that the UK has to offer. This is deemed unjust and unhealthy.

A government that truly cares about enhancing the health and overall welfare of the country should take quick measures to ensure that all citizens have a lawful and thorough entitlement to wander around and relish the beauty of our natural surroundings.

According to Lewis Winks of the Right to Roam organization, it's surprising that many of our beloved landscapes are inaccessible, which highlights the flawed access system in England.

When we can't easily reach the countryside that is supposed to be close by, it's a clear sign that access changes need to be made. Instead of just looking at how the land is used, we should prioritize making sure people can easily connect with it and understand how to access it.

The way we currently exclude people by default is extremely confusing and not good enough. Instead, we should assume that people have the right to access, but with reasonable and justified exclusions, like they do in Scotland and Scandinavia. This would create an environment where people feel more connected and like they belong. The access system would be inviting instead of unwelcoming.