CPAC1: Open access
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-10)

What you must do to get paid for this CSHT action and advice on how to do it.

This action is part of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You must read the CSHT guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht) before you apply.

Duration

5 years

How much you’ll be paid

£92 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is to provide and maintain permissive open access to the public on areas of land. You’ll provide this access free of charge to the public.

The purpose is to deliver benefits for public health and wellbeing.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on most permanent land covers. You’ll need to agree what land can be included with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer.

You cannot do this action on land with existing and equivalent access rights or open access land as defined under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act.

Eligible land

All land use codes are eligible for this action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total or part of the available area in the land parcel.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

Your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.

To get paid for this action, you must:
- allow public access over the agreed area
- create, install and maintain signs and maps at entrance points
- clear areas of high vegetation close to public entry or gate structures
- carry out the necessary number of site inspections to make sure woodland access complies with tree safety – read the Countryside Code advice for land managers on creating a safe environment (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-land-managers#create-a-safe-environment)
- inspect other non-woodland access routes regularly to ensure there are no safety issues and take remedial action where necessary
- keep animals known to pose a risk to the public off open access land
You must not:
- close access for more than 10 days a year
- close access on a public holiday
- let any activities on land within your control interfere with permissive access
- block existing access routes across the holding
When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration

You should complete all preparatory work and gain the necessary permissions at the start of your agreement unless stated otherwise. You should install any infrastructure within the first year of your agreement or as agreed with your adviser.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence.

You must supply the evidence if they ask for it, including:
- field operations at a parcel level
- associated invoices
- photographs relevant to the action
Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:
- CSHT actions: CWT3, CHRW4
- SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2, WBD10
- SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3
- CS option BE3 (management of hedgerows)
Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

To apply for this action, you may need:
- Scheduled Monument Consent (https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/consents/smc/) from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest#get-consent-to-carry-out-operations-on-your-land)
You may also need to get:
- advice from your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
- a wildlife licence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wildlife-licences) from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
All archaeological and historic features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).

If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.

Capital grants to support this action

You can also apply for capital items (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/capital-items-guidance-for-applicants-and-agreement-holders) to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser will discuss eligible capital items with you.

Advice to help you do this action

The following optional advice may help you to do this action. Your agreement document will set out all the activities you must do.

Choosing where to provide access on your land

When choosing where you’ll provide and maintain permissive open access on your land, make sure these areas:
- link with and complement existing public access
- are close to likely users but avoid areas where new public access may impact on neighbours’ privacy
You can use farm and woodland tracks.

Think about:
- integrating open access areas with linear routes on your holding
- the interactions between users and the environment when planning access – it’s important for users to be able to enjoy the countryside and benefit from being close to nature
- sites where ground-nesting birds may have previously sited their nests
- the location of any potentially aggressive animals (such as bulls) – read guidance on cattle and public access (https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais17ew.htm)
Ideally, install any infrastructure within the first year of your agreement. You can discuss this with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer.

You may wish to check your existing insurance cover and discuss your permissive access plans with them.

Check MAGIC (https://magic.defra.gov.uk/) for existing countryside and rights of way open access rights on your land.

Establishing access

Create and install maps or signs (or both) at entrance points to show the public they can visit.

In woodlands, create a network of paths. Use signs to show and waymark routes the public can follow.

Read guidance on how to make the open access areas of your land accessible (https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/community-paths/outdoor-accessibility-guidance) to as many people as possible.

Managing access

When you need to carry out essential maintenance or other operations, you can close access areas for up to 10 days a year but not on a public holiday.

Walk your permissive access areas regularly (monthly for woodland areas), so you can keep them in a safe and usable condition.

Check and replace any lost or damaged signs and cut back vegetation, so the public can access it safely.