Bridleway experts please!

galaxy

galaxy

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One of our favourite bridleways rides around the outskirts of a farmers field. It's a great ride, but there has always been one area that we always pass very cautiously. The path on the outside of the crops is several metres wide, but there is a track that everyone keeps to. But in one place, right in the middle of the path are a collection on badger sets. The farmer is great and has always fenced them off to make it safe. But over the last year more holes have been appearing and over the summer they were very close to the track.

then today I was walking carefully past with my mare, checking the ground as we went as as her front foot went over I saw a small hole. I checked her, but it was too late and typically her foot went down it. She's a big girl and now the hole entrance is quite big now. Looking at it after it goes quite deep. (luckily my girl seems absolutely fine)

I am going to walk my dog up there tomorrow and have a better look.

What should I do about it? I was going to email the bridleway people at the council, but does anyone know what they can do? Badger Sets are protected aren't they? But they are now pretty much spread over the whole track. To avoid them you would have to ride over the farmers crops which I wouldn't do. The path is not safe though.

Any advice or experience shared would be great!
 
The trouble that if you report it as unsafe the Council may close it due to Health and Safety. I think that an informal chat with the County Council would be the best idea, without being too specific to start with, and see what the reply is. I think that a Council can get a licence to move a badger sett, but there is enough trouble for a road or building scheme to do that, so expect even more problems with a bridlepath. A tricky one.

Is it well walked, with dogs? It is against the law to disturb a sett, but if someone was walking on the bridlepath every day, with their dog on a lead, the badgers might decide to find somewhere else to live.

Badgers do decide to move sometimes, not all setts are lived in all the time.
 
It is a very popular path with riders and walkers and dogs! These badgers obv don't care :(

The hunt also use it. It is a very well used location. I have never gone round there without meeting several walkers. Would be horrendous if it was closed :( :( :(
 
Off topic, galaxy23, but your german pointer is beautiful! I have a wirehaired with almost identical markings. And a coloured cob that isn't dissimilar to yours... we obviously have very good taste in animals!
R.e. your post, I agree with Orangehorse, phone the council first for some 'advice' without saying where the path is, and see what they say, just in case they close it. x
 
We have the same problem with a bridleway near to us and the council closed it and has been closed for around 2 yes so far.
 
There is nothing that can be done. As you suppose badger setts are protected and you cannot legally do anything at all to them.

People think that badgers are wonderful harmless creatures but since they have become protected their numbers have increased to disproportional numbers.
There is a large sett here and they are claiming the fields. I found one hole in a gateway which could have been very dangerous.

Badger people reckon there are at most 12 badgers to a sett - that is a laugh, there are over forty in this sett counting the youngsters.

I haven't seen a hedgehog around here in years because badgers kill them.

Better than asking the council ask the farmer if anything can be done.

As an aside did you know that badgers hate creosote? Surprising what a few buckets of the stuff at the entrance to each hole does.
 
tut tut Foxhunter!! ha ha!

The farmer has been good in the past as he did fully fence off the sets to keep it safe. I am going to go for a walk there tomorrow. Stick a large stick in the hole to make it obvious for riders. Have a good look at it, maybe take some photos. then decide whether to phone council.... don't want to not report it and then someone to get hurt.
 
No council should ever close a bridleway because of a badgers set - it would be illegal.

You should inform the access department of your local county council of the problem.

You are legally able to divert off the route of the bridleway to avoid the badger sets as the badger sets would be considered to be an obstruction.
 
PeterNatt said:
No council should ever close a bridleway because of a badgers set - it would be illegal.

You should inform the access department of your local county council of the problem.

You are legally able to divert off the route of the bridleway to avoid the badger sets as the badger sets would be considered to be an obstruction.
Click to expand...

I did think "certain associations" may kick off if pathways are shut. this is quite a popular route up onto the downs.

When you say "legally divert" do you mean the council or farmer should direct people around the set? The only way around would be to go closer/ on his crops....

Thanks for your help. Good idea about the BHS too.
 
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PeterNatt has it absolutely right. Contact the Access (Public Rights of Way) Department of your local council. If they are anything like ours they will be very helpful. Stress that it is a bridleway and not just a footpath.

Do you have a bridleways group in your are?. They too will be helpful and will know who to contact.

Things Can be done to sort out badger holes on a bridleway. A similar issue round here was sorted out a year or two ago - and I don't mean exterminating the badgers.
 
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