The Act allows landowners or agricultural tenants in England and Wales to close land or restrict access to it for any reason for up to 28 days in the year. This includes for shooting. They do not need permission for these closures but must tell a statutory body (ie Natural England or Natural Resources Wales) or (if in a national park) the National Park authority beforehand. No area of land can be closed for more than 28 days in a year without permission (ie landowners can apply for further restrictions for ‘management purposes’). Note though the case of Gurston Down in Wiltshire where Defra allowed shoot operators to ban visitors  between Ist July and 1st February until 2026 because “even a small amount of disturbance could still have a significant effect on an intensive shoot”. TEN of the shoot’s FIFTEEN drives crossed open access land.