Resource information
The text of the present Act is divided into 4 Parts: Part I provides for access to the country side, and in particular for rights of public in relation to access land; Part II provides for public rights of way and road traffic; Part III makes provision with respect to sites of special scientific interest; Part IV makes provision with respect to wildlife; Part V provide for areas of outstanding natural beauty; Part VI make provision for matters of a miscellaneous character."Access land" here means any land which: (a) is shown as open country on a map in conclusive form issued by the appropriate countryside body for the purposes of this Part; (b) is shown on such a map as registered common land; (c) is registered common land in any area outside Inner London for which no such map relating to registered common land has been issued; (d) is situated more than 600 metres above sea level in any area for which no such map relating to open country has been issued; or (e) is dedicated for the purposes of this Part under section 16, but does not include excepted land or land which is treated by section 15(1) as being accessible to the public apart from this Act. Section 74 defines duties of the Minister and other authorities with respect of conservation of biological diversity with special reference to the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992. Section 81 provides for enforcement of wildlife legislation. The Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales may: (a) in the case of any existing area of outstanding natural beauty; or (b) in connection with the designation of any area as an area of outstanding natural beauty, by order establish a Conservation Board to carry out in relation to that area the functions conferred on such a board by or under Part IV. Every Conservation Board shall, within two years after the date on which it is established, prepare and publish a plan which formulates their policy for the management of their area of outstanding natural beauty. (104 sections completed by 16 Schedules)
Implemented by: Access to the Countryside (Maps in Draft Form) (England) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 3301 of 2001). (2001-09-28)
Implemented by: Countryside Access (Local Access Forums) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 4002 (W.330)). (2001-12-13)
Implemented by: Wildlife and Countryside (Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 1772 (W. 168 of 2002). (2002-07-09)
Implemented by: Countryside Access (Appeals Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 1794 (W. 169 of 2002). (2002-07-09)
Implemented by: Countryside Access (Provisional and Conclusive Maps) (Wales) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 1796 (W. 171 of 2002). (2002-07-09)
Implemented by: Countryside Access (Dedication of Land as Access Land) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 135 (W. 9) of 2003). (2003-01-28)
Implemented by: Countryside Access (Dedication of Land as Access Land) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 135 (W. Countryside Access (Exclusion or Restriction of Access) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 142 (W. 14)) of 2003). (2003-01-28)
Implemented by: Access to the Countryside (Dedication of Land) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 2004 of 2003). (2003-08-05)
Implemented by: Access to the Countryside (Exclusions and Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 2713 of 2003). (2003-10-22)
Implemented by: Countryside Access (Means of Access, Appeals etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 1270 (W.90) of 2005). (2005-05-04)
Implemented by: Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (England) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 558 of 2010). (2010-03-01)
Implemented by: Access to the Countryside (Appeals against Works Notices) (England) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 2019 of 2011). (2011-08-11)
Implemented by: Access to the Countryside (Maps) (England) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 1798 of 2013). (2013-07-17)
Amended by: Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Act 2012 (2012 anaw 2). (2012-11-29)
Amended by: Commons Act 2006 (Chapter 26). (2006-07-19)
Amended by: Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (2015 anaw 4). (2015-07-06)
Amends: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Chapter 69). (1981-10-30)
Amends: Conservation of Seals Act, 1970 (Chapter 30). (1970-05-29)
Amends: Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Chapter 43). (1990-11-01)
Amends: Water Industry Act 1991 (Chapter 56). (1991-07-25)
Amends: Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (Chapter 47). (1996-07-24)
