By Clare Webb, Countryside Code Project Manager at Natural England.
In this blog, Countryside Code Project Manager Clare Webb reflects on the evolution of the code over the last 75 years, and how her work has changed to accommodate evolving social and environmental landscapes while retaining the core message: respect, protect, enjoy.
Respect, protect and enjoy
This May marks a significant milestone: 75 years of the Countryside Code. Since its beginnings in the 1950s, the Code has played a vital role in helping people enjoy the outdoors while respecting the landscapes, wildlife and communities that make England and Wales's countryside so special.
As Countryside Code Project Manager at Natural England, it’s a privilege to reflect on 75 years of a simple but powerful idea: that everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. This anniversary offers a moment to look back on how the Code has evolved, and forward to the role it continues to play in connecting people with nature.
A code born from change
The Countryside Code was first published in May 1951, following the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. As access to the countryside expanded and more people began exploring rural areas for recreation and wellbeing, there was a growing need for shared understanding about how to do so responsibly.
The Code was created not as a set of rules or legislation, but as practical guidance, ideas and suggestions to help people respect the countryside and each other.
At its heart were three principles:
- Respect other people
- Protect the natural environment
- Enjoy the outdoors safely and responsibly
These core messages have endured for 75 years, even as the context around them has changed.
How society has changed
Over the past 75 years, the way we live — and how we engage with the outdoors — has changed dramatically:
These figures highlight how increased mobility, leisure time and connectivity have transformed our relationship with the countryside.
Evolving with how we use the countryside
The Countryside Code has never stood still. Over the decades it has responded to profound social and environmental change: increased mobility, evolving leisure habits, growing awareness of nature conservation, and the challenges of climate change.
How people use and experience the countryside has also diversified. For many, their “countryside” may be urban green spaces, city parks or local nature reserves rather than remote rural locations.
The modernised Countryside Code reflects this reality. It uses clearer, more inclusive language and recognises that the countryside is a shared space. It balances the needs of visitors with those of farmers, land managers, businesses and local communities, reinforcing mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Sharing the message in new ways
The way we communicate the Countryside Code has evolved just as much as the Code itself.
My own journey with the Code began as a Brownie in the 1980s, and I’ve now been working with it professionally for over a decade.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw a huge surge in outdoor use as people turned to nature during lockdown. Interest in the Code grew rapidly, creating an opportunity to refresh and relaunch it with partners.
This led to a series of campaigns designed to reach new and broader audiences.
We’ve had great success with digital campaigns designed to engage specific audiences such as younger audiences and families. I am most proud of our two year partnership with Aardman and Shaun the Sheep which reached over 1 million people on social media alone and enabled partners to share content across their own platforms, delivering engaging, accessible messaging in a fun and memorable way.
By meeting people where they are, online, in schools, at gateways to the countryside, the Code remains visible, relevant and impactful.
With thanks, and looking ahead
As we celebrate 75 years of the Countryside Code, we also celebrate the countless people and organisations who have shaped it — a shared effort that has helped generations connect with and care for the outdoors. These partnerships are the foundation of its success, and the reason its message continues to resonate today.
Looking ahead, as more people seek connection with nature, the importance of the Countryside Code has never been greater. Its message remains simple, enduring and powerful: the countryside is for everyone, and caring for it is a shared responsibility.
Here’s to 75 years of respect, enjoyment and stewardship, and to many more to come.
Further information:
If you are interested to see how experiences are changing, explore the People and Nature Survey data collected and published by Natural England.
You can explore a wide range of historic materials on the Countryside Code website, showcasing how messaging and design have changed over time.
Leave a comment