Conservation

The Countryside Code

The countryside code is a set of laws that members of the public have to follow to help protect, respect and enjoy the countryside. People who manage the land and public members should all be aware of their duties whilst in the countryside. It is put in place to help protect the natural environment and help people enjoy the outdoors while keeping it clean and tidy and knowing your rights, responsibilities and liabilities within the countryside. Make sure you plan ahead and be prepared for the outdoors.

Considerations:

• Take litter home: This is helping to keep the countryside looking neat and tidy and is also reducing levels of global warming and animals are not becoming ill or injured due to litter such as glass. This is because animals will not know that glass is going to harm them and if they stand on it it will cut them and cause them injury and may even death. Levels of global warming will be reduced because there will not be litter left around that is not biodegradable meaning, it will stay in the countryside for many years without being broken down.
• Leave Gates as you found them: A farmer may of left a gate closed to keep his sheep in a field, you should close the gate behind you to respect the farmer so the sheep do not escape. This is because the animals are kept in separate fields, if a gate was left open the animals may get lost from the farmer, or they may end up on a busy road and get run over and injured.
• Communicate with Farmers: If a farmer says wait while he herds his sheep, listen as you may cause him problems while doing this. This is because he needs to get the animals to the relevant places quickly and safely and if you wasn't to listen you may end up harming one of the animals.
• Stick to pathways: The farmer may be growing a crop on a field and you don't want to be killing them. This is because the farmer has spent a lot of time and money on the crops, and he doesn't want tourists walking all over them reducing the amount of yield he will get. Also pesticides may be sprayed on the crops which is very harmful to humans. You dont want to be getting ill from walking on crops and breathing in pesticides when you are on a trip.
• Flora: Don't stand on the flowers as they have been placed there to make the countryside more beautiful and they may have been put there for the animals to eat. This is because when people walk on flowers they get damaged or even die meaning the animals wont have as much to eat, and money has been wasted on making the site look better.
• Transport: Only park in designated parking areas. This is because parking on feilds or bridleways may be blocking paths for tractors to get through to harvest a crop, or you may be driving over a crop again reducing the yield of the farmers crops.