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The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom which aims to protect the wildlife and countryside of the United Kingdom. The Act is split into 4 parts covering 74 sections, it also includes 17 schedules.

Part I: Wildlife

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

• Protection of wild birds, their eggs and nests
• 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• Schedule 17 lists previous legislation that was repealed in favour of this Act.

Variations

Provided below is a list - probably incomplete - of documents modifying the W&C Act 1981.

• Statutory Instrument 1988 No. 288: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedules) Order 1988 S.I. 1981/288
• Statutory Instrument 1994 No. 1151: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 4) Order 1994 S.I. 1994/1151

External links

• Official text of the statute as amended and in force today within the United Kingdom, from the UK Statute Law Database