Identifying Downland

The Countryside Agency issued in 2004 and 2005 eight conclusive maps of open country (land consisting wholly or predominantly of mountain, moor, heath or down) and registered common land (RCL) in England, which became the basis of the open access rights that the public now enjoys over the mapped areas, subject to the limitations set out by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW). Natural England has a statutory duty to review these maps. During the original 2004/05 mapping exercise the ability of the Coun...