Thank you for contacting me about improving access to the countryside.
Let me start by assuring you that I am enthusiastic about promoting recreation in the countryside and I understand the benefits outdoor activities can produce both physically and mentally. Our countryside is of great importance and it cannot be understated just how much the scenery means to people.
I welcome that ministers are continuing to support and enhance access to the countryside. This includes completing the England Coast Path, supporting the network of National Trails, ensuring that rights of way are recorded and protected, as well as developing ways to support access through financial provisions in the Agriculture Act for environmental land management. I am encouraged that the new schemes will make a significant contribution to the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan, including beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment. I believe that public access is a key way for people to engage with the environment and so supporting greater access is an important aspect of achieving this goal.
Further, I know that my ministerial colleagues are looking at ways in which the UK’s new agri-environment schemes could fund the creation of new paths, such as footpaths and bridleways, providing greater and safe access for cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians. I know that they are working in close collaboration with interested parties to explore the best ways of making further enhancements to our wonderful access network.
Finally, ministers have now published the England Trees Action Plan, which sets the UK on the path to at least 12 per cent woodland cover by the middle of the century. I know that over £500 million of the £640 million Nature for Climate Fund is dedicated to trees and ministers aim to treble woodland creation rates and plant 30,000 hectares of trees per year by the end of this Parliament.
I want to see the Island have greater landscape protection. My preferred option would be to create an ‘Island Park’ which gives the Island landscape protection somewhere between that of an AONB and a National Park and which recognises the Island’s unique landscape. An Island Park would offer the advantages of a National Park, without some of the disadvantages. High levels of landscape protection would be offered, without the additional bureaucratic difficulties. The potential issue with AONB is that AONB areas are still subject to national planning targets, with some extra considerations.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
