About 10 years ago, ramblers in England and Wales started to enjoy 6,000 square miles of land as new rights to countryside access came into force.

About 935,000 hectares of mountains, moors, heaths and common land – which previously were banned for ramblers – could now be enjoyed and explored without harassment. Previously, people were only allowed to walk on paths but they are now able to roam freely wherever they choose.

This was a major breakthrough for campaigners who had been demanding this new right for many years.

The countryside agency and landowners worked overtime to map the country and open it up while ensuring no harm came to farmland or strictly private areas.

I wrote about this enlightened development in England and Wales compared to our archaic medieval situation 10 years ago. Regrettably, today, we are still struggling not only to have the right to enjoy our countryside but, more importantly, to save it from the rape of land grabbers and exploiters. It is a disgrace and a humiliation to see tourists and Maltese being arrogantly stopped whenever they come across a public path closed abusively by a gate or dare to roam where certain hunters claim to be their territory.

It is about time that the government – while it is doing a great job in various spheres – takes a leaf from the UK countryside agreement of 10 years ago and, together with all the stakeholders (hunters, landowners, ramblers and country lovers), starts mapping the remaining countryside and opening it up for all people to enjoy.

The people who voted for this government will surely remember and appreciate the good service they are receiving but all those who love nature and the countryside are still waiting for the government to leave the environment a better place.