Leave only your footprints – Enjoy Hampshire responsibly

Leave only your footprints whilst enjoying Hampshire’s country parks and outdoor spaces responsibly for everyone’s benefit this summer

As summertime officially gets underway, Hampshire County Council is sending a clear message to its countryside visitors – please respect our fantastic outdoor spaces for the benefit of all.

Councillor Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage at Hampshire County Council, said: “Hampshire’s wonderful outdoors, beautiful countryside and stunning coast are there for everyone to enjoy this summer. With many vacations further afield on hold, more people are likely to start exploring their local landscapes and all Hampshire has to offer, so we are expecting increased numbers at some of Hampshire’s popular visitor spots. Therefore, it’s really important we remember that these are places for all of us to enjoy, and we need to look after them. So please, park responsibly, take your litter home, and leave each beauty spot as you would wish to find it next time.

“In order to keep everyone safe, we ask that visitors keep following the Government’s guidelines on safe social distancing. This includes parking in designated car parks and on street where parking is provided. Civil enforcement officers will be patrolling known problem areas to ticket those vehicles parked illegally, to ensure safety on the roads for all who use them.”

Hampshire’s Countryside Service is also urging visitors to be respectful of the local environment by following the Countryside Code when using public rights of way.

The County Council’s Executive Member for Countryside and Rural Affairs, Councillor Edward Heron, added: “We should all continue to use public outdoor spaces and local rights of way sensibly, to follow the Countryside code by leaving no trace of our visits and take all of our litter home. Also, please do not be tempted to use barbecues as they risk causing wildfires. These steps will ensure that our beautiful spaces remain equally unspoilt for visitors and local wildlife habitats.

“With sunnier days ahead, we also continue to encourage visitors to make their trips outside of peak periods so that everyone can easily enjoy our stunning outdoor locations.”

Discover how you can enjoy Hampshire’s countryside.