Christmas Trails

The festive season presents a wonderful opportunity to embrace and enjoy our surroundings, creating lasting memories with friends and family. However, it can also bring stress and high expenses during this time. This is why we are giving you walking routes to do with friends, family, or even on your own. Why not explore the charming locations in Kent? Continue reading to find out more on how to take care of the countryside and find beautiful walking routes near you.

The Countryside Code

When going out exploring into the countryside, it’s important to stick to the Countryside Code. Whether you are in the countryside, enjoying the coast or an urban park, this guide is here to help you through nature. Research from Natural England suggests that 80 percent of children want to do more to help protect the environment and learn more about the Countryside Code.

Shaun the Sheep’s Guide for the Countryside Code:

Take your litter home

Remember to bring a bag with you and take your rubbish and food waste home, use public bins or recycle if possible. Litter spoils the beauty of the countryside and can be dangerous to wildlife and livestock.

Care for nature

Care for nature – do not cause damage or disturbance. Leave rocks, stone, plants and trees as you find them and take care not to disturb wildlife including birds that nest on the ground.

Leave gates as you find them

Leave gates and property as you find them or follow instructions on signs. When in a group, make sure the last person knows how to leave the gates.

Bag it and bin it

Always clean up your dog’s poo because it can cause illness in people, livestock and wildlife. If you cannot find a public waste bin, you should take it home and use your own bin.

No lighting fires

Be careful with naked flames and cigarettes. Only use BBQs where signs state they are allowed. Always put your BBQ out, make sure the ashes are cold and dispose of them responsibly. Fires can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property.

There are many more useful tips from Shaun the Sheep and resources to complete with the family. To find out more, click here.

Walking your Dog Safely In The Countryside

As well as following the Countryside Code, it’s important to make sure you are safely walking your dog in the Countryside. Help make dog walks stress free and safer for both dogs and farm animals, by checking out our guide on how to best protect them. Enjoy Kent’s landscapes and avoid causing unintentional injury or distress to sheep and cattle, by reading our guide. Lean how to be safe around cattle, access land and permissive access on our page.

Enjoyed our winter walks page? Why not read some of our ‘Winter Wellbeing’ blog, filled with more walks and ways to improve your wellbeing over the season.