Ashdown Forest: the loonies really are taking over the Country

[JP1]

Dog walker's outrage after walks 'ruined' by grazing animals on the Ashdown Forest
The Hadlow Down resident says the roaming beasts have chased her and her dog and leave “horrible piles of excretion” everywhere

By
Brittany Tijou-SmithJunior Reporter

• 08:23, 15 OCT 2019

NEWS

Jennifer Kersey - who stands 5ft 7ins next to the overgrown grass - is unhappy with how the owners of Ashdown Forest are managing it (Image: © William Evenden 2019 iWill Photo / Will Evenden Photography)

A dog walker says the grazing of animals on the Ashdown Forest is a “complete outrage”.
Jennifer Kersey, an engineering company administrator, is furious after having her walks ruined due to the grazing sheep, Riggit Galloway cattle and Exmoor ponies.

The 65-year-old, who has lived in the area for the past 20 years, said: “I can’t see the benefit of grazing animals on the forest except to the owners of the animals in question.

“It’s a complete outrage that expenditure is authorised to mow areas just so these animals can graze, erect fencing at no mean expense and dig watering holes while the fire rides are not maintained at all.

"I have had my walks ruined or curtailed because the grass has grown so high I get soaked and my dogs are in grave danger of getting grass seeds in their eyes.

'A giant farm'
"In most cases the grass is waist high and in some places up to my neck."

Grassland on Ashdown Forest that now been cut after Jennifer Kersey complained (Image: © William Evenden 2019 iWill Photo / Will Evenden Photography)
The Hadlow Down resident says the roaming beasts have chased her and her dog, leave “horrible piles of excretion” everywhere, and pose a threat due to electric fences.
She continued to say dog walkers feel unwelcome as Ashdown Forest “is fast becoming a giant farm”.
“Dogs have to be kept under control which, for many, means they can’t walk on vast swathes of the forest as their dogs chase sheep.
“People’s much-loved pets have been shot as a result of grazing sheep on the forest.”

Dog walker's outrage after walks 'ruined' by animals on the Ashdown Forest

The Hadlow Down resident says the roaming beasts have chased her and her dog and leave “horrible piles of excretion” everywhere

www.kentlive.news

Sometimes you just really wonder where this country is going...........................

I had the privilege of a tour of The Forest and talks by the conservators of the forest and the part livestock has to play in maintaining the Lowland Heath ; some of the rarest ecology in Western Europe

100 acres in 6500 and still not enough

@egbert

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Usual exaggerated use of language. I’ve always taken the term “grave danger” to mean danger of death, ie, you may end up in a grave....... from getting a grass seed in a dogs eye.

 

[David.]

She has the typical "face like a cup of cold puke" demeanour of an evangelical vegetarian.

 

[Campani]

If you make a change, there is always somebody to complain about it.

 

[Bogweevil]

Yes, you get the same thing on the Surrey heaths where grazing vital to preserve habitat, for threatened Dartford warblers. They worry about getting caught against fences by heathland fires or the placid little belted galloways (steaks available in local butchers) chasing them and their dogs. However they seem pacified when the need is explained. Communication is key.

 

[som farmer]

introduce them to the fact that bracken harbours lymmes disease, which can infect both humans, and pets, its a nasty disease, and can be fatal, but usually the syptoms, extreme tiredness etc, can last for months, or even years. It is spread by deer, and cattle/sheep/horses are used to control the bracken that harbours the disease. It is carried by ticks, and if they find any on either themselves or their pets.....

 

[Tubbylew]

I'm not sure if she wants the grass long or grazed off short, it'd be a good bit harder walking if it was left to briars.

 

[Brisel]

She has the typical "face like a cup of cold puke" demeanour of an evangelical vegetarian.

That's a brilliant turn of phrase! May I borrow that?!

 

[bluebell]

taste test dog sh!t or cow sh!t see what she likes best

 

[DaveGrohl]

Every day you thnk things can't get worse can they............

 

[TripleSix]

They just need to f**k off and walk their doggies elsewhere if they don't like it.

Quite simple.

Stick to the paths in town if you can't cope with the countryside.

 

[egbert]

S'far as I'm concerned, commoners right to graze has precedent.
She can whinge all she likes...she's lucky to be able to walk there at all.

 

[Brisel]

Yes, you get the same thing on the Surrey heaths where grazing vital to preserve habitat, for threatened Dartford warblers. They worry about getting caught against fences by heathland fires or the placid little belted galloways (steaks available in local butchers) chasing them and their dogs. However they seem pacified when the need is explained. Communication is key.

This. Very much this

 

[caveman]

Only problem I see is the choice of cattle.

 

[Brisel]

Only problem I see is the choice of cattle.

Something even more feral maybe?

 

[caveman]

Something even more feral maybe?

Yep.
Ruby red Devon or Lincoln reds would be more appropriate.
A farmer high on the forest used to keep a lot of Welsh blacks (with good horns) . Don't know if he still does though.

 

[teslacoils]

Sell your building land with a covenant not to have dogs. Really, dog walking is a national curse. Buy houses and don't let them to dog owners.

 

[Brisel]

Take care around cows: warning for walkers

www.thebmc.co.uk

There are horned White Park cattle in the New Forest that make the ramblers feel twitchy enough, though no recorded instances of injuries there. We had a small herd on a field at the back of the village that had full permissive access and 4 footpaths running through it. Never had any trouble though walkers were wary. The calves grew up around dogs & people - any cow who even looked at us the wrong way was culled.

 

[Martin Holden]

As a dog owner, I disagree with this ladies view. The livestock do a job of work in these habitats and dogs can always be walked elsewhere. Rule no 2. of dog ownership should be “if I get a dog where can I safely exercise it locally?” This follows rule no 1. “Do you understand that dog ownership is 24/7 for its life!”

 

[n.w]

If Packham et al and their re-wilding plans get their way the dear lady might find she has company on her walks.... TBH looking at the wolves and looking at her, i think i would prefer wolves