Walkers on my field - advice please

[Faro]

I've got to agree with Katt about "real" ramblers and hikers. But having said that - not all dog walkers and others are bad. Unfortunately it's just a small few - but the same can be said for any walk of life.

I've got a footpath running through two of my fields. TBH it doesn't provide too much of a problem, the occasional dog walker comes through with a loose dog but that's the worst of it - guess I've been lucky so far.

I do suspect though that the Right to Roam bill has got a lot to do with some people's problems. The majority of dog and casual walkers (as opposed to ramblers and hikers) are most likely under the impression that Right to Roam gives them the right to go absolutely anywhere, which isn't the case.

And I freely admit that I myself don't correctly know what is/is not included in Right to Roam (note to self to look it up properly some time) - but what I do know is that there are certain restrictions in place. I'm inclined to think however, that many casual walkers simply don't know any better because they've heard of Right to Roam and they think it means they can go anywhere they like.

 

[ester]

OP is the path quite clear? only because local peeps may never have looked at a map and not know where the path actually goes?.... says she who has got to the end of a track on horse and despite map saying it should go across said field finding said field full of crops and not really sure where to go next!

 

[Patches]

i would get council to put a fence up so it seperates the footpath to the actual field

They won't do that. We have footpaths through our farm. Years ago the Council used to maintain stiles etc, but now it's our responsibility and we can be fined/sued if the stiles are not maintained to a certain standard.

If we only had one footpath that ran along one small field, we would definitely stock fence it off. Sadly, our footpaths run the entire length of the farm, encroaching on 250 acres, and not always along fence edges. Those fields where the path runs along the edge have hedges in them too so we'd have to fence off a massive track to be able to get our tractors down to cut the hedges.

As much as walkers roaming annoy us, the financial outlay for the odd walker we get every few weeks isn't really worth it.

Our main gripe is with dog faeces as it can cause spontaneous abortion in our cows. We vaccinate against this, but it's not always foolproof.

 

[Patches]

I'm inclined to think however, that many casual walkers simply don't know any better because they've heard of Right to Roam and they think it means they can go anywhere they like.

Including right down into your farm yard to cheekily ask you if you wouldn't mind filling up their drinks bottle with water because they're thirsty!

I was most angry with hubby when he told one youth where he could find a stand pipe. He was always walking off the paths and always looked very suspect. I was sure he was just checking the place out.

 

[Luci07]

Yes, you have the right to shoot a dog that is worrying your livestock, unfortunately horses are not livestock.
As to the bull, you would have to borrow 7(I think, or maybe 6) cows to go with him as it is illegal to keep a bull in a field with right of way without his girls

thanks for the clarification!! I always wondered!

Mind you - if OP stuck sheep in there from time to time - perhaps the SIGN!!! could stay up!

 

[martlin]

thanks for the clarification!! I always wondered!

Mind you - if OP stuck sheep in there from time to time - perhaps the SIGN!!! could stay up!

I always liked the phrase 'worrying livestock', sheep are very good at it and at dying... I still don't know how to tell if a ewe is worried though

 

[jodie3]

My friend had a yard that had two footpaths running through it. One didn't cause much problem (although you had to watch where you walking as of course you don't need to clear up after your dog on a footpath) but the other footpath caused her so much grief in the end she was pleased to give the yard up. As as already been said the ramblers were brilliant and stuck exactly to the path but the locals were an absolute nightmare and refused point blank to use the path because it meant going over a couple of stiles - all well maintained and there was electric fencing but all clearly labelled - so they would walk round the two sides of the paddock instead of across it. This meant they were on private property and we would have dogs running all over the yard and even in the tack room. My friend had her own dogs in a run which should have been well away from dog walkers on the path but her dogs were always upset by strange dogs running round their pen so they would bark which the locals then complained about!
The villagers said that they had a right to walk round her fields and not on the path, not certain if they meant divine right!
She even padlocked her gates which made life more difficult for us but the arrogant g**s just came with bolt croppers and cut the chains and tore down the signs she put up politely reminding them they were on private property.
The farm drive where I live is a footpath, and I am always amazed at how many people park on the drive in one of the passing places and then walk their dog up the tarmac drive and back again - dodging traffic and completely ignoring all the fields the footpath carries on over. Suppose its all to do with keeping your dog mud free?