EXPLORE THE ISSUE OF ACCESS

RIGHTS AND ITS IMPACT ON

EXPEDITION PLANNING

Assessment Objective 1 Task 1a By Alfie Banks

SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST

SSSIs are the country's very best wildlife and geological sites. They include some of the most spectacular and beautiful habitats; wetlands teeming with wading birds, winding chalk rivers, flower-rich meadows, windswept shingle beaches and remote upland peat bogs.

Swanton Novers SSSI, Norfolk There are over 4,100 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England, covering around 8% of the country's land area. More than 70% of these sites (by area) are internationally important for their wildlife and designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) or Ramsar sites.

Swanton Novers SSSI, Norfolk

Many SSSIs are also National Nature Reserves (NNRs) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs).

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/sssi/default.as px

AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (AONBS)

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are areas of high scenic quality that have statutory protection in order to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of their landscapes. AONB landscapes range from rugged coastline to water meadows to gentle lowland and upland moors. They are different from National Parks because of their more limited opportunities for extensive outdoor recreation. Natural England has a statutory power to designate land as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

There are currently 33 AONB designations wholly within England along with the Wye Valley which spans the English-Welsh border. AONB designation covers approximately 15 per cent of the land area of England with the smallest, the Isles of Scilly, being a mere 16 sq km and the largest the Cotswolds, totaling 2,038 sq km.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/aonb/default.aspx

NATIONAL PARKS
National Parks are extensive tracts of country that are protected by law for future generations because of their natural beauty and for the opportunities they offer for open air recreation. The parks are living and working landscapes, with an increasing focus on supporting the communities and economic activity that underpin the qualities for which each have been designated. National Parks provide more than 70 million visitors each year (State of the Natural Environment, 2008) with the opportunity to experience and explore some of England's most dramatic and often remote landscapes

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/ne w/default.aspx

LOCAL NATURE RESERVES

Local Nature Reserves can be assigned by county councils as long as they prove that the site is important to wildlife, geology, education or public enjoyment. A few of the sites double with classifications, for example there could be a Local Nature Reserve in a SSSI.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/lnr/default.a spx

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

MPAs protect areas of ocean, coast and seas. They can protect a whole ecosystem or just one species to help it reproduce and thrive when endangered. Before going to a marine area you should check what is allowed there as some areas have specific rules.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/ mpa/default.aspx

HERITAGE COASTS
Heritage Coasts represent stretches of our most beautiful, undeveloped coastline, which are managed to conserve their natural beauty and, where appropriate, to improve accessibility for visitors.

Up to 33% of British coastline is protected as a Heritage Coast. This is a stretch of coast which is mostly undeveloped, untouched and usually an area of beauty. These locations should be treated with care by following the countryside code thoroughly.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/heritagecoasts/d efault.aspx

RAMSAR SITES
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, designated under the Ramsar Convention. Wetlands are defined as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/ramsars/def ault.aspx

LOCAL SITES
Local Sites are non-statutory areas of local importance for nature conservation that complement nationally and internationally designated geological and wildlife sites.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/localsites/d efault.aspx

World Heritage Sites are places of outstanding universal value' selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Sites can be selected because they contain important cultural or natural features.

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

WHSs are areas of land which are considered to be of outstanding universal value. There are 17 of these sites in the UK out of a total 890, this is a brilliant figure. These sites should be treated like AONB.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/worldheritagesites/default.as px

WHAT IS OPEN ACCESS LAND?

Under

the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW), the public can walk freely on mapped areas of mountain, moor, heath, downland and registered common land without having to stick to paths. Open access land is usually clearly defined by signage and on maps.

www.naturalengland.org.uk

WHAT IS THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE? WHAT DOES IT CONSIST OF?

The Countryside Code applies to all parts of the countryside. Most of it is just good common sense, designed to help us all to respect, protect and enjoy our countryside. The Code, which applies in England and Wales, makes it clear what the responsibilities are for both the public and Enjoy the outdoors the for the public Codepeople who manage the land. Plan ahead and be prepared
Respect other people Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths unless wider access is available Protect the natural environment Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/countrysidecode/default.as Keep dogs under effective control
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Follow advice and local signs Code for land managers 3 sections of the Code are dedicated to land managers: Know your rights, responsibilities and liabilities Make it easy for visitors to act responsibly Identify possible threats to visitor's safety

WHAT IS OUTDOORS FOR ALL?

Mission: To enrich the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through outdoor recreation.

The Outdoors for All Foundation is a national leader and one of the largest non-profit organizations providing year round instruction in outdoor recreation for people with physical, developmental, and sensory disabilities since 1979.

http://www.outdoorsforall.org/