Electric fencing off a public cart track

[Headless chicken]

we have a cart track that runs through the farm, it's used mainly by walkers which aren't that frequent other than one neighbour who does have a lot of dogs which are always on a lead or so old they don't care.

It's mostly hedged but in places it's got sheep netting. The posts have all rotten and it's getting pretty dodjy with cows leaning over to talk to passers by. I would love to put new sheep netting there but it gets so expensive.

Can I just use single strand electric? It's only dairy cows plus the bulls in the spring. They all respect a well powered fence which this would then have to be. I'm looking at saving a killing just in posts having to only use 1/5th of them compared with netting let alone labour and netting etc.

 

[multi power]

What about a single electric wire inside the sheep netting?

 

[Headless chicken]

What about a single electric wire inside the sheep netting?

That is an option but the posts are properly gone so have to replace either way I think sadly.

 

[multi power]

Only do every 5 th post

 

[Dry Rot]

I put up a two wire fence up to keep ponies off round bales. With strainers at around 200m, I strained the wires up and then put posts in to counter the sag. 25 metres apart was quite sufficient on flat ground and I could probably have gone wider.

 

[ewald]

Don't see a problem - just put some 'Warning Electric Fence' signs up to alert any dog walkers.

 

[Grassman]

I fence off footpaths with electric. Must of been up 30 years.

we have a cart track that runs through the farm, it's used mainly by walkers which aren't that frequent other than one neighbour who does have a lot of dogs which are always on a lead or so old they don't care.

It's mostly hedged but in places it's got sheep netting. The posts have all rotten and it's getting pretty dodjy with cows leaning over to talk to passers by. I would love to put new sheep netting there but it gets so expensive.

Can I just use single strand electric? It's only dairy cows plus the bulls in the spring. They all respect a well powered fence which this would then have to be. I'm looking at saving a killing just in posts having to only use 1/5th of them compared with netting let alone labour and netting etc.

 

[Headless chicken]

I fence off footpaths with electric. Must of been up 30 years.View attachment 577004

Do you have many people with dogs? Is if just single strand?

Dads major issue which I tend to agree with is that it makes it easier for people and dogs to roam.

I hate sheep netting with a passion because it encloses you in if there is a problem with single strand electric your our and away. Similarly if you need to get in it's the same.

 

[Philip Watkins]

I fence off footpaths with electric. Must of been up 30 years.View attachment 577004

Who paid for all the stone?

 

[Grassman]

Who paid for all the stone?

Only about 10 metres in length of road planings which I put down. The rest is just soil. It gets well worn with all the foot traffic!

 

[Philip Watkins]

Only about 10 metres in length of road planings which I put down. The rest is just soil. It gets well worn with all the foot traffic!

Oh, it's only as far as the trees then?

 

[Grassman]

Oh, it's only as far as the trees then?

Only half way to the tree. Mud after that in winter! Surprising how much wear foot traffic does when they are forced to keep to the path.

 

[thesilentone]

What is the matter with a proper stock fence ?

 

[Grassman]

Do you have many people with dogs? Is if just single strand?

Dads major issue which I tend to agree with is that it makes it easier for people and dogs to roam.

I hate sheep netting with a passion because it encloses you in if there is a problem with single strand electric your our and away. Similarly if you need to get in it's the same.

4 strand mains electric. Never really had any bother since it went up.

 

[thesilentone]

Legal requirements of electric fencing exist to ensure the safety of the public. Laws have been created to minimise the risk of any person receiving a shock from an electric fence, whether that be across a public right of way or bordering a public right of way.

Electric fencing serves many different purposes, including containing livestock in a field, warning away predators, and stopping domestic animals like dogs from escaping the garden.

Rules & Regulations
Below are a few examples of regulations that must be adhered to, in order to keep animals and the public safe from harm.

• There are often regulations on electric fences near roadways and in suburban areas, in order to protect the public. Multiple warning signs are required to be placed along the fencing and situated at eye level.
• Electric fence systems should not end up in entanglement of animals or people, and barbed or razor wire should not be electrified by an energiser.
• Apart from low output battery operated energisers, the energiser earth electrode should penetrate the ground to a depth of at least 1m. Leads that are connected and running underground need to be run in a tube of insulating material.
• Connecting leads and electric fence wires should not cross above overhead power or communication lines.
• A space of 10m needs to be kept between the energiser, earth spike and any other earthing system, such as the power supply system.
• Commercial properties and businesses who use electric security fencing need to consider where they will provide access for emergency services to enter the fence perimeter when required.
• Earth stakes should be put up at least 10 metres away from any buried telephone lines, mains earth system or water pipes. The current could be picked up and deliver a shock to taps and water tanks or cause interference with tvs, phones or radios.

Top Tip: Use only high-quality insulators and connectors. Poor quality equipment will degrade the performance of the fence or cause it to fail completely, particularly when using high powered energisers.

Bridleway Laws
The British Horse Society has offered expert advice on electric fencing for bridleways. Any new fencing, whether it be permanent or temporary, on registered common land needs the permission of the Secretary of State. The only exception to this rule is temporary fencing in a limited number of specified circumstances.

The Society has also make recommendations for what to consider before installing electric fencing. They suggest that the landowner or occupier should carry out a risk assessment before putting up any electric fencing alongside a road or other public route open to ridden horses.

The risk assessment should take into account the physical nature of the way as well as the local circumstances, and consider alternatives to electric fencing for the route.

For more information, visit the official website.

Electric Fencing for all Occasions
Electric fencing is an extremely useful system in many different cases, such as for security and controlling livestock. When used responsibly in these cases, it can offer benefits that other fencing systems can not.


WHAT IS REQUIRED?

The legislation sets out specific safety regulations which must be adhered to. These are as follows:

• Every electric fence must carry a suitable warning sign:
  • The sign should have the size of at least 100mm x 200mm.
  • It is recommended that the basic colour of the sign be yellow with black inscription and should use the words "ELECTRIC FENCE".
  • The inscription shall be permanent, inscribed on both sides and have a height of at least 25mm.
• An electric fence when installed in such a position that members of the public might reasonably be expected to touch it, such as along a public road or highway or as a boundary fence, should be identified by a number of warning signs (as explained above) which must be clamped to the fence wires at intervals recommended to be of approximately 10m to 50m, but not exceeding 90m.
• A clear warning notice should also be fitted at every point where persons may have ready access to the electric wires, rope or tape. The notice should bear the words 'LIVE WIRES' in block letters not less than 13mm high, the letters should be red on a white background and the size of each notice should be not less than 62mm x 50mm overall.
• Where an energiser is required, they should not be mounted on any post of any overhead line unless permission is granted by the owner of the line.

http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/resources/000/029/946/Electric-fencing-manual.pdf

 

[Headless chicken]

What is the matter with a proper stock fence ?

Cost basically and I hate the thought that if I get knocked down then I can't roll away

 

[Oat]

Maybe make sure you have at least 2 or 3 strands, so it is more of a visual barrier also, and maybe only electrify the top wire. The problem with one strand is that a dog can easily nip under it and if its tail it sticking up...

 

[Dry Rot]

Might have probems fixing warning signs at eye level....