Landowners are able to close their land for up to 28 days a year, excluding public holidays, for any reason, as long as they inform the relevant authority (in Shropshire, Natural England). Only four of these days may be on weekends, and none of these may be Saturdays between 1 June and 11 August, or Sundays between 1 June and 30 September.
Landowners are also able to apply to the relevant authority for additional restrictions and exclusions, for any period (including weekends), where they are necessary for land management purposes in connection with public safety or fire risk.
Public rights of way are not affected by closures to access land.
Dogs on access land
The law requires people to keep their dogs on a fixed lead of no more than two metres between 1 March and 31 July, the main breeding season for birds, and in the vicinity of livestock.
Owners of grouse moors may exclude dogs for a period of up to five years.
Dogs can also be excluded from enclosures of up to fifteen hectares for up to six weeks each year during lambing time.
Fire Restrictions
In certain conditions, access land may be closed due to the risk of fire. The Met Office has produced a Fire Severity Index which uses wind speed, temperature, time of year and rainfall to assess the risk on an hourly basis. If this index becomes "extreme" in an area, any access land within that area will be subject to a restriction and will be closed until the risk has been removed.
Current long-term restrictions
Heath Mynd, Cefn Gunthly and Black Rhadley Hill (Grid Ref: SO335950). Nature of restriction: to exclude people with dogs from 31 October 2010 to 30 October 2015
Current Public Safety Restrictions
Shawbury (Grid Ref: SJ535 205). Nature of restriction: to exclude people from 10/11/2011 to 14/03/2012 for public safety reasons due to tree felling.
Restrictions under the direction may be used for up to 30 days from 1 January to 31 December each year, but not on weekends.