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7 April 2003
Will Access to Scotland’s Countryside
be taken Responsibly?
www.land-care.org.uk
(Filed 7 April 03)
Central to the Access component of the Land Reform
(Scotland) Bill (1) and to the
draft Code of Access to Scotland’s Countryside (currently out
for consultation, 2) is that access
to the countryside is to be taken responsibly. Most of the concerns
of land managers, which had been expressed during previous consultations
regarding access, have been ignored. This is especially so with
regard to the concerns of land managers (such as farmers) who work
next to urban settlements.
Some years ago at an AGM of SNH held at Battleby,
Perthshire, when Magnus Magnusson was chairman and the main topic
was Land Reform, I asked him from the floor of the meeting what
SNH had done about educating the public as to how to act responsibly
in the countryside. Prior to coming to the meeting I had failed
to find any semblance of any tangible attempt to educate adults
in the matter; either through SNH itself or through the Tourist
Board or travel agents. He turned to his then chief executive, Roger
Crofts, who assured the gathering that much would happen in this
regard the following year. Nothing did happen.
Instead, SNH went ahead with "consultations"
and politicians went ahead with pushing through the Land Reform
(Scotland) Bill. Problems repeatedly raised during "consultations"
were largely ignored, and the politicians in power ignored the advice
of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee and other
voices. The cart was put before the horse, so that Law was formulated
before the Rules were known - such was the political, rather than
rational, force behind this Bill. No education of the public about
how to behave responsibly in the countryside was undertaken.
Yet it has been sadly apparent that the British
generally, and unfortunately the Scots are not exempt, behave badly
in the countryside with much evidence of litter and disturbance.
Wherever they go they seem to leave a mess - whether it be a football
match or a picnic, whether it be the verge of a motorway or a country
path. This is in marked contrast to other countries such as Denmark,
Holland, Norway, Switzerland etc. where the visitor from the UK
is impressed by its cleanliness and good order.
To illustrate the point an article entitled "Residents
Crackdown on Lochearn Yobs" written by Andrew Welsh in The
Strathearn Herald is reproduced with permission HERE.
In this particular instance the problem is not
with regard to the management of farms next to urban settlements,
but the much more general one of yob behaviour in one of Scotland’s
most scenic areas which is part of a National Park. It is interesting
to note that the landowner in question is encouraged by the community
to take action, presumably at the landowner’s expense. In this
instance the land is part of a large and well run estate. What chance
has a farmer with fewer resources trying to work his farm next an
urban settlement?
© www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Land Reform
(Scotland) Bill. As ammended at stage 2 by the Justice 2 Committee
(2002). (Download
PDF)
2. Scottish
Outdoor Access Code. SNH Publishes Consultation Document - 27 March
2003
(Filed 27 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Further Reading as recommended by Land-Care
Supplementary Information from K Shade. Justice 2 Committee Agenda.
6th Meeting, 2002 (Session 1). Wednesday 13 February 2002. (Download
PDF).
Editorial Comment. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill - SNH Recreation
and Access Update: Access Legislation Bulletin: News Letter No.19.
(Filed 21 February 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Irvine, James (2003). Update 2003 on SNH Conference September 2000:
Enjoyment and Understanding of the Natural Heritage: Finding the
New Balance between Rights and Responsibilities. A Review of the
Proceedings.
(Filed 22 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Irvine, James (2003). Scottish Natural Heritage’s Policy on
Access: Is it being mis-sold in relation to enclosed Farmland next
to Urban Communities? LandCare Scotland, 1: 19-23.
(Filed 7 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Mylius, A. (2001). Access: the Reality for Farmers, Landowners,
Foresters and all Rural Residents. LandCare Scotland, 1: 3-18.
(Filed 15 November 2002, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Raeside, T. (2001). Veterinary Hazards to Open Access to Enclosed
Agrciultural Land. LandCare Scotland, 1: 33-34.
(Filed 15 November 2002, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
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