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Commoner cattle causing damage

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
@Curious I'd say just do whatever you need to do to secure your property. It will cost a few quid and may involve quite a bit of work but will be worth it in my opinion. No need to bother the farmer with it.
Also make sure all your fences, gates etc are on your property and not someone else's so you can't get in trouble there.
 

JohnGalway

Member
Livestock Farmer
Don't know what the laws are but my sheep were introduced to some peoples lawn by another thoughtful neighbour and I had some amount of trouble with removing them from those lawns. Road ran through the commonage, houses were on the road the the end of the commonage. A detail that annoyed me about the entire stressful situation was, all of the homeowners had gates on the road, actual gates, not just gateways. Would anyone close their gate, God forbid. Easier to get me doing a 22 mile round trip three times a day.
 

Y Fan Wen

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N W Snowdonia
I find it very difficult to believe you are not responsible for your properties boundary if you have no rights of any kind, as in the case in question if you have an entrance onto the common through a gateway it is your responsibility to keep it closed
Gateway is different in that it is access to a highway. Owners of property bounding onto a highway have a responsibility to defend their property against incursions from said highway. This is to allow drovers to freely pass with their herds and flocks.
 

Y Fan Wen

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N W Snowdonia
Don't know what the laws are but my sheep were introduced to some peoples lawn by another thoughtful neighbour and I had some amount of trouble with removing them from those lawns. Road ran through the commonage, houses were on the road the the end of the commonage. A detail that annoyed me about the entire stressful situation was, all of the homeowners had gates on the road, actual gates, not just gateways. Would anyone close their gate, God forbid. Easier to get me doing a 22 mile round trip three times a day.
See my post 45. You are entirely within your rights to ignore them if you wish.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Gateway is different in that it is access to a highway. Owners of property bounding onto a highway have a responsibility to defend their property against incursions from said highway. This is to allow drovers to freely pass with their herds and flocks.

I am aware of this and I have often woindered what would happen nowadays if one tried droving a bunch of cattle down a semi-urban road where the Council have insisted on no/low boundary features to domestic properties...

My Father and my late Uncle both have described the fun of driving a bunch of cattle from the Station in Wellington, back to the farm, 2-3 miles in all I'd guess. Cattle were often Irish brought over on the boat to Holyhead, and then trained about the country.
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
I am aware of this and I have often woindered what would happen nowadays if one tried droving a bunch of cattle down a semi-urban road where the Council have insisted on no/low boundary features to domestic properties...

My Father and my late Uncle both have described the fun of driving a bunch of cattle from the Station in Wellington, back to the farm, 2-3 miles in all I'd guess. Cattle were often Irish brought over on the boat to Holyhead, and then trained about the country.
Later this evening will be as good time as any ..for road droving, hopefully ;) no houses and gardens on that particular route either..
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
Very true. Sadly, a mile of open gardens...

I'll have watched Le Tour highlights, then go walk the sheep and move a fence and avoid the football at 8pm! :)
Moved 2 flocks back home when it came to, first one went so well , hardly any traffic at all on an A road as well.
Very productive use of the evening .
Just need it to dry up enough Shear now :cautious:
 

Boysground

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
I remember, many years ago,about 35 fattening bullocks breaking out of a cattle shed at around 4 in the morning. We heard the commotion, quickly got dressed,and ran outside to gather them up.We couldn't find them anywhere but as it gradually got lighter we could follow where they had gone and to my horror they had turned into the garden of this huge house with 7 acres of garden which was open to the public.
There was carnage as it had been quite wet the previous days and the cattle had decimated one 2 acre lawn which had been turned into something resembling the Somme.Luckily they had spotted some cows and calves in a neighbouring field behind a tall hedge and were stood ,quietly, by them.This had stopped them from moving on through the garden to the flower beds,herbaceous borders and vegetable garden.
We slowly coaxed them home and I then went to see the owner an American lady who I knew fairly well as we had been to school together.The lawn looked even worse as I drove up the long drive to the house.The lady came out to greet me and I burst out apologising and offering to pay for all the remedial work to reinstate the lawn.She replied "Don't worry it's my fault for not having the garden secure and I should of had the drive gate closed.I couldn't believe how reasonable she was and still offered to do the work but she said no it was her fault and the gardeners would see to it.
I still have nightmares seeing that lawn.

I had some cattle get out one night, we managed to get them in a small cul de sac to avoid an A road before turning them and heading for home.

I went to see the damage the following morning, one chap came out of his house with steam coming out of his ears. He had a new Mercedes which the heifers had licked putting scratches all over. I was just thinking it’s a good job they didn’t rip the convertible roof off. His girlfriend comes out when he’s in mid rant and says “ well you wanted to live in the bloody countryside “ walks back in and slammed the door.

That seemed to calm the situation, they have moved now :ROFLMAO:

Bg
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
I am aware of this and I have often woindered what would happen nowadays if one tried droving a bunch of cattle down a semi-urban road where the Council have insisted on no/low boundary features to domestic properties...

My Father and my late Uncle both have described the fun of driving a bunch of cattle from the Station in Wellington, back to the farm, 2-3 miles in all I'd guess. Cattle were often Irish brought over on the boat to Holyhead, and then trained about the country.

Somebody built an open plan housing estate on one side of the route we'd use to walk the flock to keep years ago. Sheep were used to walking on roads, but we always trotted through there so that they didn't have time to think about all the unguarded tasty garden plants on show.

Cattle don't seem to be droved at all, these days. Hardly any dairy herds walk between fields and parlour, either.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Somebody built an open plan housing estate on one side of the route we'd use to walk the flock to keep years ago. Sheep were used to walking on roads, but we always trotted through there so that they didn't have time to think about all the unguarded tasty garden plants on show.

Cattle don't seem to be droved at all, these days. Hardly any dairy herds walk between fields and parlour, either.

Sad really that urban man does not see this sight now. However as we have all come up against the dickheads who cannot wait 3 mins when pushing stock across or down a road, it will not be coming back, until personal cars have gone...
 

egbert

Member
Livestock Farmer
Regarding responsibility for common boundaries;
If you have a boundary with a common and have rights on that common, you are responsible for the maintenance of your boundary. This applies whether you exercise your rights or not.
If you have a boundary with a common and no rights of common, then the commoners are responsible for maintaining your boundary.
It is necessary to examine deeds to be sure that you have rights or no rights, not just grazing but rights of, estovers, turbary, piscary, pannage etc.. There is also a right to take stone for building and road making but I can't find the term for that at the moment.
I don't know about Wales, but that's absolutely NOT the case in England.
Everyone with a boundary against a common has to maintain their own bit.
How the hell would the commoners agree who pays for what?
 

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Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

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On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

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