SLA
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Maybe this is something that can be taught at school along the same lines as they used to have fire brigade come in and do fire safety talks?
Another walker trampled
- Thread starter milkloss
- Start date
livestock 1
Member
2/3 of our land is rough fell land which is all in the right to roam. The other third of the land is improved land which can carry many more times stock per acre. Of this third of the better land I would estimate 3/4 of this has a footpath or footpaths through it. So not much chance to fence off for me.This is the thing, footpaths are a 'political' tool for some and despite many being of no practical use whatsoever they will / must be kept 'on principal'. The only way you'll see some go will if there is a general 'right to roam'. Rock, hard place…
SLA
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Accidents will always happen and can never be completely prevented, the only option is to minimise the risk. Education is important but also common sense which seems in short supply.
The biggest problem with Right to Roam is the name -to many people act/believe that they now have the RIGHT to roam, as with everything these days, people seem to forget that with rights come responsibilities.
The biggest problem with Right to Roam is the name -to many people act/believe that they now have the RIGHT to roam, as with everything these days, people seem to forget that with rights come responsibilities.
twizzel
Member
Very sad. As said above we keep our dogs (spaniels) away from the cattle at all times. They are introduced at a young age in a controlled environment to respect the cattle and we try never to put them in a situation where either will mix. Keeps everyone safe. If we are in a field with the cows the dogs are either in the tractor or truck.
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Have to say we have alot of experiance in this department after being sued by a walker who said one of our cows knocked him over. The NFU paid him 30k for a sprained elbow despite only witness being his friend and us not being informed for 5 months when the no win no fee lawyers contacted us.
We learned several things,
1. legally the farmer is totally responsible for any accidents their animals cause, even in fields with no footpath.(Dangerous animals act)
2.Although difficult we managed to move the Roman wall trail up the side of a field rather than through the middle where we could fence the walkers from the cattle. The Ramblers were surprisingly on board with this after we explained the reason.
3. Signs need to be very carefully worded so as not to admit liabilty or knowledge of any risk.
4. We no longer put cows in fields without fenced paths. It is just not worth the legal hassle. As we have the Roman Wall and Pennine Way, this is seriously restricting our ability to keep cows.
5. The NFU were a good help moving the path (after initially not wanting to know) but offered no fight against the claim as "they didnt want to open the floodgates". They increased their premium the following year by an eye watering sum.
- Location
- Carmarthenshire, West Wales
that claim sounds like "legal theft" to me
I suppose it depends on what side your on. Was a bit surprised the NFU didn’t put up more of a fight but that’s out of my skill set to know why. He walked to his B and B which was 3 mile away so couldn’t have been too bad. If air ambulance had been needed that would be another matter but it has jaded our experience with walkers which is a shame really.
bjreroberts
Member
Pointless debate, the risk from cows with calves is clear. They should not be put in fields with public footpaths.
- Location
- Northumberland
So what do you do if every grazing field you have has a public footpath in it?
muleman
Member
Too many footpaths i would say. How does a man farm sucklers when he has a footpath through every field. The public need to decide which is more important...walking or eating!
You dont graze it with cows that have calves in tow.
livestock 1
Member
That would mean sell all cattle here
livestock 1
Member
Suckler cows do have calves in tow a lot of the time
- Location
- Northumberland
Same here.
Then you have a problem and potentially a disaster on your hands , farmers are not the only businessmen who have to change tack to survive.
It would mean eradicating every cow in scotland
In your dreams . you'd be shot the chasse is sacresanct .
- Location
- East Sussex
Reckon that may be about to change.
livestock 1
Member
So what do you suggest? Buy another farm with no footpaths on it? That’s ok until they decide to instate footpaths on it! Or the labour lot put it in right to roam