The CRoW Act, which opened England and Wales's hills to walkers, is under the Red Tape microscope

Britain’s biggest walkers’ campaign group said the coalition Government’s claim to be the greenest ever risks being turned into a farce by its Red Tape Challenge.

The Ramblers said it will ‘heavily resist’ attempts to sweep away laws protecting the countryside as David Cameron’s administration turns its attention to environmental matters.

The charity said today that the Red Tape Challenge has been put forward by the Westminster Government as a way of reducing what it describes as ‘burdensome regulations’.

But the group said it is particularly concerned that entire acts which protect the environment, and people’s ability to access and enjoy it, are included in the challenge list.

Tom Franklin, Ramblers chief executive, said: “Describing huge swathes of environmental law which is dedicated to protecting our countryside, the air we breathe and the places where we walk and live as ‘red tape’ makes claims of a ‘greenest government’ seem like a farce.

“The public reaction to the forestry sell-off shows how much, as a nation, we value our natural environment and our liberty to access and enjoy it.

“The laws to open up our countryside and ensure that it is protected have been hard fought for and any attempt to remove this framework will be resisted. I encourage everyone who cares about the environment, our green spaces and our ability to access them, to tell the Government not to strip away these important laws like red tape.”

The Ramblers said they would welcome a review of legislation aimed at ensuring the environment is fully protected and can be enjoyed by all more easily, and have already made suggestions to Government as to how this could be achieved.

Tom Franklin: 'We value our natural environment'

A spokesperson said: “However, the idea that these laws could be cut away like red tape with no consequences now or for future generations shows a short-sighted lack of understanding of the importance of measures which protect our environment for all.”

Lists of regulations listed on the Red Tape Challenge website include the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000, the South Downs National Park Authority Establishment Order 2010, and the Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006.

Today is the first day of the consultation period on the website specifically aimed at environmental law.