Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/13/nearly-three-quarters-of-englands-woods-inaccessible-to-public-study-finds

Nearly three-quarters of England’s woods inaccessible to public, study finds

Exclusive: Campaigners call for government to introduce right-to-roam bill that allows people to walk around their local woodlands
Helena Horton Environment reporter
Fri 13 Mar 2026 06.00 CET
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Nearly three-quarters of England’s woods are off-limits to the public, buried government documents show.

The study by Forest Research, which is a government-funded quango, found that 73% of English woodland is publicly inaccessible.

The research also found that more than a third of the trees on the Woodland Trust’s ancient tree inventory are inaccessible to the public.

Do they need to be accessible to the public?

Yes.

I'm guessing you're a yank?

No, I'm British. But as humans we tend to ruin places where we go, even unintentionally. I think it's fine to have a % of woodland that should be left alone.

That's a world away from being in private hands

I probably should have read the article :D I jumped to the conclusion that the woodlands were just off limits to everyone, but they're being used by private entities.

Would love some decent right to roam laws. People following the law are the least likely people to cause problems and they are the only people you are blocking out with the current law.

Trespass isn't a concern to someone stomping across crops and fly-tipping. It might be to someone going on a walk.