Play your part in shaping the future of the Countryside Code
To ensure that the code is still relevant for rural land managers and visitors to the countryside, you have the chance to share your views in the latest survey
If you live or work in a rural area you are probably aware of the Countryside Code and the messages it contains. But, did you know that there is a statutory duty for Natural England and Natural Resources Wales to issue the code to those visiting the countryside? In addition, these bodies also have a duty to advise land managers on access to their land.
In the past, the Countryside Code featured in well-known television campaigns, including the Joe & Petunia information films back in the 1970s and the Creature Comforts animation in more recent years. As the ways that people take in information have changed, the Countryside Code teams have adapted the ways that they interact with their audience to keep pace.
The language of the code has also changed over time. The last major refresh of the wording within the code was made in 2021 to reflect the need for a different, more friendly approach to public guidance in a post-covid world.
The code continues to adapt to new forms of communication with audiences. Today a primary focus is sharing online content which has ranged from social media videos featuring Shaun the Sheep and linking up with online influencers to create blogs and web content. Unfortunately for fans of the Wallace and Gromit creators Aardmaan, the partnership with the British animation studio came to an end earlier this year and the teams who promote the code are now looking for new and innovative ways to get their messaging across.
Does the Countryside Code work for land managers?
As part of the work to ensure that the code is still relevant to land managers and countryside visitors alike, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales have launched a stakeholder survey which will be used to inform the work of the Countryside Code going forwards. Some of the survey questions focus on:
- Awareness of the code itself
- How you as a land manager use the code
- Whether the strapline of ‘respect, protect & enjoy’ is still appropriate
- Which messages of the code are the most important
- Your perceptions of how well the code is working in your local area
This survey takes around 15 minutes to complete, but participants only have to answer questions relevant to them. You can also save your progress and return to finish the survey later if you don’t have time to complete it in one sitting.
The survey will be open until 28 September, so time is ticking to record your views.