Huge swathes of woodland in Sussex are being illegally blocked off from the public, campaigners say.
The Ramblers Association says 2,300 acres of land in the county over which there is a public right of access – an area the size of Lewes - have been sealed off by private owners using fencing.
The association condemned the restrictions and warned that more would follow if the Government pushed for more of the country's woodland to be sold off.
Chris Smith, from the association, said: “It is clear from the research that has been done in Sussex that when Forestry Commission land is sold, access by the public is usually lost.
“Even when there is a statutory right of access, landowners get round this by such tactics as signs and locked gates blocking entrances, depletion of pathways and lack of or no production of information.”
The Government has unveiled plans to sell woodland across the country.
It estimates the sale could generate up to £250 million.
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