ABSTRACT
Most people know what a doctor does. Similarly, most people know what an architect does. The level of understanding about the role of the countryside manager is a lot less developed. Indeed, it could be argued that even within professional and academic circles, the role of a countryside officer is poorly defined. The reasons for this are varied: existing professional groups such as planners and landscape architects have well-defined roles, which leads to confusion in the public's mind; the lack of clear legislative and policy guidelines for countryside work; the diverse nature of the British countryside; and the wide range of responsibilities with which a countryside officer could become involved. All of these factors play their part in bringing about confusion over what a countryside manager actually does.
