The new access rights created by the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 were launched in Bedfordshire on 31st October 2005. From this date areas mapped as open access are available for recreation on foot.

Central Bedfordshire Council is the relevant authority to enable and manage open access. The CROW Act provides the authority to make bylaws, appoint wardens, erect and maintain notices and improve means of access.

The areas mapped are either open country, which the act has classified as mountain, moor, heath or down, or registered common land. The open country in Central Bedfordshire is chalk download and heath land. Plans of open access land in Central Bedfordshire can be found below. More comprehensive information regarding open access land can be found on the Natural England website.

If you are visiting open access land please be careful not to disturb any of the wildlife. There are many ways to enjoy access land such as taking a walk, having a picnic or flying a kite but please make sure that what you are doing is appropriate for the site and will not cause any damage.

On many of the sites Central Bedfordshire Council has provided signs at the access points which give some information about the land and include a map to help you find your way. All of the sites which have exclusions or extended restrictions on them have signs to show when the areas are open. You may also see the open access symbol showing you where you can go or the end of open access symbol marking the edge of the site.

Under these new rights you can do most recreational activities that can be carried out on foot. Walking, running, bird watching and sightseeing are all allowed. If you are visiting access land with family or friends you may take the opportunity to have a picnic or get some exercise with a quick game of frisbee or rounders, but remember that you must not cause damage to the site and must take away everything you bring with you. In general this access is available all year 24 hours a day and there are no limits to how much time you can spend on the land. However some sites may have restrictions on them, details of which can be found on the Natural England website.

The new rights do not allow access for horse riding, cycling or driving a vehicle but if there is an existing public right of way allowing this access it will still remain. You are also not allowed to camp, light a fire, disturb any animals, leave litter or do any damage to the site. Please remember that organised games and commercial activities are not allowed on these sites.

No, the new rights only apply to land that has been mapped as open access. This could be because it is considered to be open country, it is registered common land or has been dedicated as open access. Currently there are no open access rights to woodland or to the coast but there may be other public or permissive rights which will give you access to these areas.

You are allowed to take dogs on to most access land but they must be kept on a short fixed lead between 1st March and 31st July, this is because it is an important breeding period for wildlife. On some sites these restrictions may have been extended for conservation reasons or days may be excluded completely at certain times. Please look on site for any notices which will tell you about restrictions.

Some of the areas that have been mapped as open access land are shown on maps but are excepted land and the right of access does not apply. These are generally easy to identify on the ground: aerodromes; arable land which has been ploughed to grow crops within the past year; buildings and the land attached to them; golf courses and race courses; land being developed for the above purposes; land under military bylaws; land under structures - such as electricity substations and telephone masts; land within 20 metres of a house, or a building containing livestock; parks and gardens; quarries; racecourse training gallops; railways and tramways; and temporary livestock pens.

Any other legal access rights, such as public rights of way, can still be used on these sites.

Maps showing open access land can be found at the Natural England website. This site also shows any current restrictions which may be in place. The latest edition of the Ordnance Survey Explorer maps also show open access land along with other areas which are open to the public and also public rights of way. Many of the sites in Suffolk have A4 site signs with open access information and maps to help you find your way, you may also see the open access symbol to show where the sites are.

The new access rights have not had any effect on existing public rights of way. Any public footpaths, bridleways and byways on open access land will still be in place and can be used as before but any higher rights will not apply to the access land. For example, you may ride on a bridleway across an open access site but must not leave the public right of way as there is no right to take a horse on to open access land.

If you break the rules you lose the new right of access to that land for 72 hours and become a trespasser. Serious or repeated cases could result in the landowner seeking a court injunction to keep you from the land.