Date: 12 November 2008

Our ref: RFI369/sw

Your ref: Ref

Mr Michael McCarthy

By Email: [FOI #3733 email]

Dear Mr McCarthy

Access to Information Request - Information not held - RFI 368

Thank you for your request for information about what percentage of privately-owned land in the English countryside has become accessible to the public as a result of the Countryside and Rights of Ways Act, 2000, which we received on 23 October 2008.

Your request has been considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Natural England does not hold any information relating to the percentage of privately owned land now accessible as a result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000 as there is no complete national dataset of land ownership. The request is therefore subject to the Exception 12(4)(a) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 whereby the public authority does not hold the information requested.

We do hold information relating to the total amount of access land that is normally available for people to walk and this is 865,119 hectares or 6.5% of England. This will include some land which is privately owned. I hope this is helpful.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, please contact:

Darren Green, Senior Specialist Information Access and Security,

Natural England, Block B, Government Buildings, Whittington, WORCESTER WR5 2LQ

Email: [email address]

Tel: 01905 363431

Under Regulation 11(2) this needs to be done no later than 40 working days after the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by Natural England. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Telephone: 01625 545 700, www.ico.gov.uk.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Waterfield

Knowledge and Information Adviser

Access to Information

Email: [email address]

Sarah Waterfield

Natural England

Northminster House

Northminster Road

PETERBOROUGH

PE1 1UA

T: 01733 455182