[Talk-GB] Open access land in England and Wales

[Andy Townsend]

On 28/02/2022 20:06, BD wrote:
> Is there any source for 'open access land' to be added to OSM? Has any 
> of open land been already mapped?

I wasn't (until Mark's reply to you) aware of a good OSM-compatible 
source beyond "survey" unfortunately....

That said, a fair bit has already been mapped:

https://overpass-turbo.eu/s/1gwy

Some of those are going to be pretty complete (for example 
https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/951825272 is well-signed on all 
sides).  Others boundaries will be inferred from field boundaries.  Lots 
more, such as https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/887817165 is only "one 
marker in one corner", and (if Mark's suggested sources are both good 
enough quality and have an OSM-compatible licence) could do to be joined 
up with the other corners to create the complete area.

>
> I'd like to roam England this year. Leave the PRoW paths behind and 
> skip through grassy meadows (covered by the open land rules ;)). Any 
> chance for doing so while looking at OSM?

Well maybe...

I'm fairly familiar with areas of access land in the Peak District and 
the North York Moors.  Whilst you legally might be able to access it 
some of it might be physically quite difficult - after a wet spell you 
might need to take up bog snorkelling, and areas where heather and other 
scrub isn't "managed" by fire can be physically quite difficult to cross 
where there are no paths, even when dry.

Best Regards,

Andy