Landowners are being urged to allow the public better access to woodlands and other green spaces.

The Forestry Commission and Government agency Natural England made the call after a study showed many people in Oxfordshire have poor access to natural green space compared with other areas of the country.

But the report does not take into account 'linear' routes like the Ridgeway and the Thames Path, two of the most popular routes for ramblers.

The two organisations mapped and measured all the countryside in the South East which is open to the public.

The report showed about 345,000 acres of green space is available in the region but, for many households, it is not within easy walking distance.

The term "accessible natural green space" is used to describe areas such as woods, meadows and downs which the public can access all year round.

The majority of households do not have accessible natural green space within easy walking distance, according to the report, published today.

The survey shows that only seven per of the total area of the South East is accessible natural green space.

Access was poorest in Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, North Hampshire and mid-Kent, according to the report.

Alan Betts, Forestry Commission South East 'conservator', said: "Getting out into the countryside is important for millions of people across the South East. Woodland is a major contributor to green space here.

"We're working both with woodland owners, and through management of the public forest estate, to increase and improve people's access to these important areas. We will now be looking more closely at the way we spend Government money on providing access across the whole region."

Natural England regional director Alan Law added: "One of Natural England's aims is to get more people to enjoy the natural environment more often. We are working to bring about an increase in public access to green space. This is particularly important in towns and cities in the light of the housing pressures we all face in the South East. We want to work with local authorities and other partners to fill those gaps and to help people have easy access to natural green space."