Natural England

FAQs

What is the process of dedication?

Full guidance is available on Defra’s website at: 
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/cl/accessopen/accessopen07.htm. 

The guidance includes a blank Dedication Instrument ‘Form A’ and a form to register the dedication as a local land charge ‘Form B’. 

Natural England's Open Access Contact Centre (OACC) processes and stores the dedication instruments and can help with any queries.

You need to ensure that you have the legal capacity to dedicate (i.e. you are the owner or long term leaseholder) and that you are clear on the type of access you would like to dedicate for. You may wish to seek legal advice on any long term implications. You also need to consult others with an interest in the land. 

Then, fill in the Dedication Instrument, sign and date it, and send it to the OACC with a map of the location of the land.  Ensure that the location is easily identifiable by including a grid reference or an address. The OACC will make sure the forms provide the relevant information and will notify you once they have processed the dedication. They may ring you to ask for any clarification.

Once this is complete, you will then need to register the land as a local land charge, by filling in Form B and sending it to your local district council.  Public rights become available six months after the date of the signature on the dedication instrument. 

The OACC can be contacted at the following address:
Open Access Contact Centre
PO Box 725
Belfast
BT1 3YL

Tel: 0845 100 3298