The colourful jumpers may have given it away, but we’re approaching the Season of Goodwill and also the season for family walks.  The newspapers are full of the idea of a deep, crisp ramble and getting outside into the fresh air is a tradition with most families, even if it is just a desperate attempt to stop eating so much.

Responsible Access to Land was on the agenda at the recent CLA Rural Conference and it is an issue that is always tinged with controversy, as well as the potential for significant positive economic impact in rural areas.  Comments from the shadow DEFRA Secretary of State, Steve Reed, about the Labour party's broad support for responsible access, suggest this could be an issue for the future, as a great deal will depend upon whose view of “responsible” access is followed. 

An on-stage discussion between Hilary McGrady of the National Trust, Jake Fiennes of the Holkham Estate, and James MacColl of Ramblers (the new shorter name for the Ramblers Association) looked to unpack some of the issues around this subject.   In particular, the view from all three was that visitors wanted identifiable and safe, circular routes to follow.  The disadvantage and potential danger of mixing people (and especially people with dogs) with livestock was recognised as a real issue, that needed to be addressed by effective route design. 

And (in the nicest possible way) dogs and their owners are and will continue to be a problem for many owners and occupiers of land, as the interaction between them and the natural environment can be problematic.  As Natural Capital and Biodiversity projects are adopted more widely, especially on the sort of land that is of exactly the type that people will want to visit, issue between dogs and nesting birds seem likely to have a greater profile.  

Persuading dog owners to keep the pets on leads can be a challenge.  But perhaps the best an owner or occupier can aim for is to educate the 90% who will readily comply, and the 10% who won’t will ether feel compelled to do so, or be frozen out.

And all of this is in the context of access being a potential real benefit for the rural economy. Making the most of that, and the diversification opportunities it could support, tied up with the emphasis on Natural Capital which is likely to encourage visitors, feels like it will be a theme over the next five years.