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Countryside: Codes of Practice

Asked by Maya EllisLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 2 February 2026UIN 108087

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of measures taken to raise public awareness of The Countryside Code.

Answered by Mary Creagh

The Department has not conducted a formal effectiveness assessment of action to raise awareness of the Countryside Code. However, through Natural England, we continue to promote the Code via public information campaigns, including educational outreach with schools and wider public campaigns on responsible behaviour such as keeping dogs on leads. Natural England also partnered with Shaun the Sheep as part of a 2023–25 campaign to engage children, young people, and families in learning about the Countryside Code and promoting responsible behaviour around livestock.

These initiatives demonstrate our continued efforts to raise awareness of the Countryside Code and communicate its messages to the public, helping to ensure that people enjoy the countryside safely and responsibly.

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