Public Right To Forest Land Ensured

New legislation which will assure public right of pedestrian access to Forest Service land is to come into effect on 17 March this year.

Pedestrians will now have access to most of the 76,000ha of forestry land managed by the Forest Service.

The land provides various natural attractions such as conifer and broadleaved plantations, natural woodlands and open space.

Some of the lands are specially protected as nature reserves and historic landscapes, and the public right extends to most of these areas.

Forestry Minister Michelle O’Neill announced the legislation.

She said: "This is an important step under the Forestry Act 2010. The public right of pedestrian access encapsulates in law the Assembly’s endorsement of our vision to promote the wider recreational and social use of the Department’s forest lands.

"Public access to open space is a valuable resource, it gives us opportunities for tourism, for sport, it helps us to take exercise and look after our health, and reminds us of our rural environment and heritage. The public right of pedestrian access will complement local government policies on recreation and access to the countryside."

Also coming into force on the same date are The Forestry Land Byelaws 2013.

The Minister continued: "When we consulted on the byelaws in 2011 many people told us that they wanted as few restrictions on the access to forests as possible."

The public will be able access the land day or night unless the forest is closed.

Dogs must be kept under control and in core recreational areas this will mean that they need to be kept on a lead.

The byelaws will allow forestry officials to remove people whose behaviour is 'unacceptable'.

Minister O’Neill concluded: "While I believe that some limitations are needed, to allow the Department to intervene when people behave irresponsibly, to protect the forests from damage and disease, and to provide for public safety when forestry operations create a hazard for the public, I also believe that the new Byelaws are a good balance between personal freedom and legal restrictions."

(IT)