Laws and legalities

Wildlife and countryside Act 1981

Part I: Wildlife
Part I includes sections 1 to 27 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

Protection of birds
Protection of other animals
Protection of plants
Miscellaneous

Introduction into the wild of species that are not native to Great Britain or are otherwise banned
The import or export of endangered species.

Part II: Nature Conservation, Countryside & National Parks
Part II includes sections 28 to 52 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

Nature conservation
Areas of Special Scientific Interest
Limestone Pavements
National Nature Reserves
Marine Nature Reserves
Countryside
National Parks

Part III: Public Rights of Way
Part III includes sections 53 to 66 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

Ascertainment of public rights of way (The duties of government bodies to identify and maintain records about Public Rights of Way)
Miscellaneous & Supplemental
Some responsibilities of owners of land crossed by a Public Right of Way
Regulation of traffic on Public Rights of Way

Part IV: Miscellaneous & General
Part IV includes sections 67 to 74 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

Application of the Act to Crown land
Application of the Act to the Isles of Scilly
Offences by 'bodies corporate'
Financial provisions

Schedules
The Act contains 17 schedules.
Schedules 1 to 10 relate to powers under Part I of the Act
Schedules 11 to 13 relate to powers under Part II of the Act
Schedules 14 to 16 relate to powers under Part III of the Act
Schedule 17 lists previous legislation that was repealed in favour of this Act.

Wildlife and countryside act 1981
Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2004

The Hedgerows Regulations 1997

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