Environment and planning > Countryside

Civil emergencies - flooding
Providing advice and information on what to do in the event of a flood. The council may also provide equipment such as sandbags and engineering advice to help residents/businesses in the event of flooding.
Countryside - access land
Applies to England and Wales. The Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 appoints Access Authorities to manage the opening-up of Access Land to the public. The Access Authority is responsible for identifying potential areas of Access Land and enforcing the opening of these areas; it is also responsible for improving and maintaining access to Access Land, e.g. by installing new gates or causing obstructions to be removed. In National Parks, the Access Authority is the relevant National Park Authority; elsewhere, it is the local highway authority. The Countryside Agency is responsible for maintaining the definitive map of Access Land.
Countryside - educational packs
Countryside educational packs may be provided by the local authority.
Countryside - events
Provision of information on countryside events that have or will take place in the local area. Events may be run by the local authority, local volunteer groups or other organisations (e.g. national trust, national parks).
Countryside - information and advice
Providing information about the facilities available in the local countryside and how to enjoy them
Countryside - local access forum
Section 94 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires all Highway and National Park Authorities to establish a body known as a Local Access Forum which is used to advise the local authority and others on improving access to the countryside. In Scotland the relevant legislation is Section 25 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Countryside - surveys
The local authority in conjunction with partner organisations (wildlife trusts etc.) or volunteer groups may carry out surveys of the local countryside in order to determine the diversity and density of flora and fauna within the local environment.
Countryside - visitor centres
Countryside visitor centres may provide facilities for the public to learn about the local area by means of exhibitions, talks and guided walks etc. Visitor centres may also provide refreshments and toilet facilities.
Countryside - volunteers
This is a voluntarily service available to anyone who would like to take an active part in looking after the countryside.
Countryside conservation
The countryside conservation service provides advice on the protection and enhancement both the local rural environment and wildlife. Grants may also be provided to develop areas of the countryside for public use and education.
Countryside management projects
Countryside Management Projects care for the countryside through practical action. They rely on the active involvement of local communities - enabling people to play a vital part in looking after their local environment. Countryside Management focuses on nature conservation, access and informal recreation issues.
Farm management
Farms and smallholdings managed by the local authority on behalf of the community. Councils may also offer advice on help on all aspects of conservation and farming, including production of grant applications to local residents.
Farming - advice and support
Provision of information and advice to farmers or prospective farmers. Anyone who owns livestock has many legal responsibilities and the local authority can provide information on what is required under this legislation and to provide a contact for further, more specialised guidance and information if required.
Farming - mixing registration - feed stuffs
On-farm mixers must register with their council's Trading Standards Service. Farmers who produce compound feeding stuffs for the exclusive use of their holding, need to be registered if they put certain additives like vitamins or trace elements into their feed, or if they include certain pre-mixtures containing vitamins or trace elements, or if they mix in bought-in feeds that contain these additives or pre-mixtures. This new law stems from the implementation of a European Directive seeking to control activities which are considered potentially hazardous to animals, humans or the environment, although these registration provisions govern products considered less sensitive.
Forest and woodland management
Advice and information on trees, woodland and tree-related issues to local organisations and the public. Where woodland/forests are on council owned land the local authority has a responsibility to maintain them in a way which is beneficial to the local environment and ensures public safety.
Outdoor activity centres
Provision of outdoor activity centres for use by schools or other groups.
Parks and open spaces - maintenance
Established standards of horticultural maintenance for local parks and open spaces. This includes grass cutting, shrub/flower beds, sports pitches, weed control etc.
Ranger services
The countryside ranger service manages the countryside sites. The rangers carry out practical conservation work and environmental education in addition to organising events and activities.
Residential study centres
Educational Study Centres or Field Centres which provide courses for schools and/or members of the public on topics related to the local environment, countryside and wildlife. Some Study Centres may provide residential accommodation for the duration of a course.
Rural development
The authority should have a published plan for the ongoing development of their rural communities. The plan should take account of the needs of the local community balanced with conservation, economic regeneration and environmental considerations.
Water supply testing
In general terms a private water supply is on which is not a "mains" supply. Most private supplies are situated in the more remote, rural parts of the country. The source of the supply may be a well, borehole, spring, burn, river, loch or lochin. The supply may serve just one property or several properties through a network of pipes. The environmental health department will usually offer to monitor the quality and safety of private drinking water supplies. In most circumstances, for domestic premises this is a free service. Tests on the chemical and microbiological quality of the water will be carried out. Guidance will be provided to improve the quality of the water should it fail any of the tests.