New Countryside Code launched after photos of litter-filled parks go viral

Includes new advice for people to ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’

Endcliffe Park in Sheffield after the heatwave (Twitter/Ellen Beardmore)

A new Countryside Code has been launched, coinciding with photos of the UK’s parks blighted by litter going viral on social media after the easing of lockdown.

The “refreshed” code has been published 70 years after the very first guidance booklet was issued in 1951.

Launched by Natural England, the Countryside Code is designed to help people enjoy the countryside “in a safe and respectful way”.

The refreshed guide is coming at a “crucial time”, according to Natural England Chair Tony Juniper, as more people than ever are heading out to enjoy natural spaces after the end of the “stay at home” order in England on 29 March.

“With more people than ever before seeking solace in nature, this refresh could not come at a more crucial time,” he said.

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“We want everyone to be aware of the Code, so people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the invaluable health and wellbeing benefits that nature offers, while giving it the respect it deserves.”

Key changes to the guidance include clearer rules for dog walkers to take home dog poo and use their own bin if there are no public waste bins; a reminder not to feed livestock, horses or wild animals; and instructions to stay on marked footpaths, even if they are muddy, to protect crops and wildlife.

The Code also advises people to be “nice” – “say hello, share the space” – and to enjoy their visit and make a memory.

With a renewed popularity for open water swimming taking off as indoor pools remain shut, the guide also includes information on permissions to do wild swimming and other outdoor activities.

Rural Affairs Minister Lord Gardiner said: “With so many people visiting the countryside, the Countryside Code has never felt more relevant. Crucially it now covers all green spaces, waterways, the coast and even parks in towns and cities, so that everyone, as we lift restrictions, can enjoy a greener future.”

The Code’s publication follows a three-day heatwave that coincided with the lifting of the “stay at home” order in England, and the reintroduction of the “rule of six” measure, meaning individuals could meet up with five friends outdoors.

Thousands flocked to their nearest park, beach or stretch of countryside to celebrate, leaving great swathes of litter in their wake in some cases, as evidenced by pictures of rubbish-strewn green spaces shared widely on social media.