In England, historical land ownership structures mean that 1 per cent of landowners own 50 per cent of the land, restricting the right to roam freely to just 8 per cent of the land and 3 per cent of the rivers, areas that are almost always far from where most people live. Furthermore, the existing network suffers from the closure or loss of thousands of footpaths and the proliferation of unwelcoming barriers, whilst activities such as swimming, camping or boating are severely restricted. This lack of access places the UK at the bottom of the European rankings in terms of connection with nature and contributes to an epidemic of physical and mental health problems that particularly affects children.
This disconnection harms both people and the environment itself, as a connection with the natural world is essential for caring for and protecting it. For this reason, the Right to Roam campaign advocates replacing the current model of exclusion by default with a ‘Right to Roam’ in England and Wales establishing responsible and democratic access that maintains the necessary restrictions to protect privacy, crops, safety and wildlife.
To achieve this transformation, the initiative carries out peaceful outreach activities in marginalised rural areas, led by experts and artists, applying a code of responsible access. Through these actions and partnerships with like-minded organisations, the project aims to educate society, overcome the culture of exclusion and promote a democratic debate so that access to nature becomes an inherent right of every community.
