Ramblers were putting their best feet forward today to celebrate new access to swathes of Sussex countryside.

Peter Duncan, the Blue Peter presenter turned Chief Scout, was due to join Richard Wakeford, Countryside Agency chief executive, for the ceremonial stroll. Hundreds of walkers were expected to assemble at Ditchling Beacon on the South Downs to mark the enforcement of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act.

The walk was taking place on land owned by the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

More than 26,122 hectares of land in the South-East will be mapped by the Ordinance Survey as open to public access.

Walking, sightseeing, bird watching, climbing and running are all covered by the legislation in areas previously closed to visitors.

The county falls within the one of the two regions where access has been extended, with the rest of the country following in the next 15 months.

Andy Lee, of the Sussex Area Ramblers' Association, said: "We already have a huge network of footpaths and open land we have been using for leisure but this adds areas considered wild."

Ramblers and recreational walkers will be able to wander freely rather than sticking to rights of way and paths. But there are restrictions to protect landowners, private property and livestock. Golf courses, buildings, gardens, quarries and arable land falling within the areas opened up will remain off limits. Animals, birds and fish remain protected and damaging birds nests is forbidden.

People caught feeding livestock, using metal detectors, taking plants, damaging drains and leaving gates open are also likely to get into trouble.