On a walk today I came across a sign that said "Please obey the countryside code". It left me wondering what exactly the countryside code is and what is in included in it.

When someone says the countryside code I immediately think of shutting any gates that you open, not littering and leaving the countryside as you found it. What does the countryside code mean to you?

It's actually a written code! The things we learn...

*Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
*Leave gates and property as you find them
*Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
*Keep dogs under close control
*Consider other people

Pretty much what one would expect--except for the first sentence.

Kingfisher

That's an interesting point. If you're going to have a sign that advises you to obey the code it would be useful to provide a definition of the code. I take it to mean.

Leave all gates closed and secure.
Keep dogs under control, especially around livestock.
Take all litter home.
Obey signs and stick to the designated footpaths where advised to do so.
Do not light fires.

I would also add: advise local authorities where landowners are deliberately obstructing rights of way.

With regard gates, it's worded as it is because frequently gates are deliberately left open by farmers to allow livestock access to more than one field. It is much better to leave gates as you find them. Mind you, some farmers are never happy. I once walked through a farm, through an open gate, then was accused by the farmer's wife of leaving it open. She was most abusive when I pointed out - very politely, I might add - that the gate was already open. Quite often farmers are their own worst enemy. How often do we find rights of way blocked or stiles covered in barbed wire or with electric fences across them. I have found Rights of Way Officers very receptive when problems are reported.

Many times I've come across supposed right of way where a farmer has put up a no entry or private land sign. At the time I just ignore them as I knew it was a right of way, but I should probably report them.

That's a good point about leaving gates as you find them. It's difficult to know what to do when you come across an open gate because I always wonder whether some other walker has left it open, but your right you should leave them how you find them.

That's a good point re gates. It's never easy to know whether an open gate is meant to be open or not, so the safest option is probably to leave it as found.

Oops, I always shut gates if I find them left open because I assumed that someone had left it open! I think your right though, leaving it how you find it is probably the best option.

I agree 100%! Farmers want things both ways. If they would like people to be vigiliant and keep the gates closed, then when they do want it open they should put up a sign saying "Please leave open". It wouldn't take very long and what stop any potential confusion.

I agree that farmers are often a little over zealous when it comes to protecting their land nad livestock, but we do have to remember that it is their livelihood. They can make things worse for themselves sometimes though.

It's not very good how so many people ignore the one about keeping dogs under close control. The number of times I've been jumped at by a dog not on any sort of lead, or seen an unrestrained dog attack another dog as frightening.

Very true, people aren't good at keeping their dogs under control.

People seem to foget that although they know their dogs are just playing, the poor person who sees a big dog galloping towards them doesn't!

As a child I was attacked and bitten by a large black dog. It took me years to get over that fear of dogs, especially large black dogs.

Yes, please keep them under control!

Kingfisher

There have been quite a few recent instances of local sheep being attacked by 'pet' dogs. The group I volunteer for lost 5 to dog attacks. Unfortunately, I think that there are some morons out there who take delight in setting their dogs loose to chase them .

My sister was biten when she was young and 30 years later she is still petrified of letting any dog anywhere near her.

^^^
When my husband was a lad, his parents kept sheep. In California, where he grew up, ranchers were allowed to shoot and kill any dog which harassed livestock. There was (and probably still is) a serious problem with people who used to abandon dogs on rural property. The dogs would form into a pack. Unfortunately, the dogs got the short end of the stick. My husband never had to kill one of these abandoned dogs, but his mother and father both did on several occasions.

Kingfisher

Whenever I have a dog with me and we are walking past sheep I always give them a wide berth and most importantly keep the dog on the lead. I would never allow any dog to chase the poor things, they have a hard enough time as it is. You can understand farmers shooting the stray dogs, it is awful that they were abandoned in the first place though.