Land mangers aim to raise profile of Scots Access Code
A Scotland-wide educ ation programme to raise the profile of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and ensure people know how to behave safely and responsibly in the countryside is needed to curb anti-social behavior when people take to the hills and fields.
With a new survey revealing that a quarter of land managers experienced anti-social behaviour from members of the public this year – including fighting, shouting abuse and noise from parties – the membership body for land managers, landowners and rural businesses, Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) yesterday issued the call.
The findings were par t of a report into how those who exercised their right to take responsible access to the countryside responsible were actually behaving when taking advantage of Scotland’s generous outdoor access code.
Based on a survey of almost 100 SLE members during September of this year, the report also found that 40 per cent had issues with the public lighting irresponsible fire sin the countryside including chopping down trees and pulling up fence posts for firewood and leaving burnt
patches. Almost a third had experienced problems with ‘dirty campers’ leaving broken glass and other mess behind and not burying human waste while even more had experienced members of the pub - lic parking irresponsibly by blocking gates and country roads, making it difficult for the emergency services and farm vehicles to pass.
And while two-thirds reported problems with litter being left behind, 50 per cent also had issues with irresponsible dog walkers letting their dogs off the lead near livestock and wildlife and not bagging and binning their dog excrement.
“We want people to enjoy visiting the Scottish countryside safely and responsibly. Getting out and about and taking in the fresh air, nature and peacefulness of rural Scotland can be extremely beneficial for our mental and physical health,” said the SLE’S chief executive, SarahJane Laing.
“Sadly, there is a minority that is causing a great deal of harm to wildlife and livestock, the environment and other people who visit, live and work in the countryside.
She said that the organisation’s members worked hard to ensure wildlife flourished, helped the environment and aimed to provide safe access for the public on land in rural Scotland – but she said that more time and effort had to be put into educating the public on how to act responsibly in the countryside:
“We also want to see more support for the police to allow better enforcement of existing legislation to deal with those causing serious problems in the countryside. This way everyone can enjoy the countryside safely.”
And she said that in Scotland, in most cases p eo - p le could access most land to enjoy the outdoors – as long as they behaved responsibly:
“This is known as Scottish access rights ,” but she reminded those doing so:
“When you are enjoying the outdoors, you must follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
"The Code has three main rules: respect the interests of other people; care for the environment; and take responsibility for your own actions”.