Footpath problem

[Highland Mule]

I have a lot of footpaths going across land I took on last year. Almost an irrelevant point when I first took it on, as people would, literally, walk wherever they wanted, footpath or no.

So this spring I put up 2 strands of high tensile wire along the footpaths, one wire at 'cattle height' and the other 8" or so off the ground. Posts at c.25m apart and a strainer at each end with the wire pulled tight. Remote-control mains energiser covering the whole farm, rated to 12,000v but putting out 9,000v (there's a lot of wire!). Plenty of yellow electric fence warning signs too, so there's no question that people don't know what it is. It was very cheap to put up, and quick too.

Initially I had a couple of people complaining ("But my dog likes to explore over there..."!!!) and quite a lot of people chatted to me as I was erecting it to ask what I was doing - it was lockdown so there were lots, and lots, and lots of people. I just told them I had a bull coming over and wanted to keep it away from the walkers.

It has cured the problem completely. I haven't seen a single person walking where they shouldn't, nor have I seen any dogs going where they shouldn't either.

I was reported to the footpaths officer as someone complained the fenced-off footpath was too narrow. He came out and measured it and it was nearer to 3m than 2m so he was absolutely fine with it. All in all, a result and I'd highly recommend to anyone.

How would that stop a dog from wandering? Any I've encountered out and about go over the top of a standard stock fence, and would easily slip through the gaps between your two wires, unless I'm missing something of course.

 

[Surgery]

Like many villages now ours has its own Facebook page.

had someone coursing , put it up on Facebook page , it turned out to be someone in our village , let’s just say not seen him out again so why don’t you , if Facebook page is accessible or even her own page , post a comment on it kindly asking folk keep off said field boundary with a photo of her on there!

 

[Ffermer Bach]

How would that stop a dog from wandering? Any I've encountered out and about go over the top of a standard stock fence, and would easily slip through the gaps between your two wires, unless I'm missing something of course.

my dogs are so scared of the electric fence, once they have accidentally had a "zap" they show it the upmost respect!

 

[dudders]

Being a thoroughly mean old so-and-so, I'm very unwilling to fence off a footpath, because I then effectively 'lose' that strip of land. I have little enough already and 2m wide by 100m long is 200 square metres, which is quite a chunk. Of course it doesn't compare with the loss of a good in-lamb ewe to a dog-attack, but I still can't do it!

The last dog-worrying incident here, which lost us a ewe and never found out who was responsible, the dog had got in and out again through a 3-strand perimeter electric fence. So now it's 4-strand, and an uprated charger. Got to hope that will do the job.

 

[The Ruminant]

How would that stop a dog from wandering? Any I've encountered out and about go over the top of a standard stock fence, and would easily slip through the gaps between your two wires, unless I'm missing something of course.

It’s a combination of two things:
1. The dog gets a good shock as they go through the fence (they don’t know not to touch either wire) which strongly discourages then from going through again
2. The owner hates seeing his/her dog whine and whimper when they get a shock, so keep them on a lead away from that ‘nasty’ fence.

Bingo!

In their heart of hearts, they know they are trespassing when they go off the footpath so soon accept the fence, in the same way they respect a garden fence next to a pavement (The owners of the dogs, that is)

 

[The Ruminant]

Being a thoroughly mean old so-and-so, I'm very unwilling to fence off a footpath, because I then effectively 'lose' that strip of land. I have little enough already and 2m wide by 100m long is 200 square metres, which is quite a chunk. Of course it doesn't compare with the loss of a good in-lamb ewe to a dog-attack, but I still can't do it!

The last dog-worrying incident here, which lost us a ewe and never found out who was responsible, the dog had got in and out again through a 3-strand perimeter electric fence. So now it's 4-strand, and an uprated charger. Got to hope that will do the job.

I put my cattle onto the footpath strip one Sunday evening, about six weeks ago. Put a sign at each end saying the footpath was temporarily closed. Moved them off at 7am the next morning. Not a single complaint, and the grass and hedge was trimmed down a treat!

One of the benefits of lots of footpaths is that walkers can always take an alternative route (not that there were many people out late on a Sunday evening)

 

[Highland Mule]

It’s a combination of two things:
1. The dog gets a good shock as they go through the fence (they don’t know not to touch either wire) which strongly discourages then from going through again
2. The owner hates seeing his/her dog whine and whimper when they get a shock, so keep them on a lead away from that ‘nasty’ fence.

Bingo!

In their heart of hearts, they know they are trespassing when they go off the footpath so soon accept the fence, in the same way they respect a garden fence next to a pavement (The owners of the dogs, that is)

But what about the ones that don’t respect signs, fences etc - surely the two electric wires are just as easy for them to tear down?

 

[tepapa]

But what about the ones that don’t respect signs, fences etc - surely the two electric wires are just as easy for them to tear down?

Not if there's power going through it.

 

[farmerm]

But what about the ones that don’t respect signs, fences etc - surely the two electric wires are just as easy for them to tear down?

In which case you can have them charged for criminal damage, just got to catch the buggers doing it...

 

[Highland Mule]

Not if there's power going through it.

Pair of rubber boots or a metal stake? Can’t see the scum being stopped by the electrics, maybe even more keen to “protect” their pooch.

 

[theboytheboy]

Don’t Lose Your Way – Saving lost paths

We have searched England and Wales and found over 49,000 miles of paths that could be lost forever. Time is running out to save them for future generations.

www.ramblers.org.uk

This has the potential to make things a lot worse for some people

 

[Gator]

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Don’t Lose Your Way – Saving lost paths

We have searched England and Wales and found over 49,000 miles of paths that could be lost forever. Time is running out to save them for future generations.

www.ramblers.org.uk

This has the potential to make things a lot worse for some people

only if you don’t get on their first and register your own land as being fine.....

did our patch when it was first launched

 

[theboytheboy]

only if you don’t get on their first and register your own land as being fine.....

did our patch when it was first launched

Your not the only one but im pretty sure its being checked by more than one person

 

[tessflower42]

Sorry, Just catching up.. This has got me so stressed and pee'd off. I wont pay, because I haven't breached anything. I have put up posts on our local facebook page. Saying any animals will be shot, if they are worrying the livestock, someone added to it, shot the owner instead!!
I wont put up electric fence, because its not possible, the way the land lies. Also we are only a small holding, this is vital land to give up.

Well the latest is.. I have asked to see all correspondence, I have appealed and complained. The HSE who are investing this, have written to me, asking who a certain man was who gave advise to the HSE officers. They don't know him. So they are looking into this more. Will keep you all updated. Thanks you so much as I can pass on comments too If they want to proceed any more! x

 

[Highland Mule]

Sorry, Just catching up.. This has got me so stressed and pee'd off. I wont pay, because I haven't breached anything. I have put up posts on our local facebook page. Saying any animals will be shot, if they are worrying the livestock, someone added to it, shot the owner instead!!
I wont put up electric fence, because its not possible, the way the land lies. Also we are only a small holding, this is vital land to give up.

Well the latest is.. I have asked to see all correspondence, I have appealed and complained. The HSE who are investing this, have written to me, asking who a certain man was who gave advise to the HSE officers. They don't know him. So they are looking into this more. Will keep you all updated. Thanks you so much as I can pass on comments too If they want to proceed any more! x

If you're going to appeal, and expecting something akin to legal debate, then I would advise keeping your powder dry and not giving too many updates on social media. I'm sure that the forum members would understand if you went quiet for a while, but would equally appreciate an update once it has all been resolved - if nothing else your case does look like it has the potential to set future legal precedence.

Good luck !

 

[tessflower42]

I put my cattle onto the footpath strip one Sunday evening, about six weeks ago. Put a sign at each end saying the footpath was temporarily closed. Moved them off at 7am the next morning. Not a single complaint, and the grass and hedge was trimmed down a treat!

One of the benefits of lots of footpaths is that walkers can always take an alternative route (not that there were many people out late on a Sunday evening)

We have tried putting signs up showing different routes, but they just ignore, People around here just don't care, They even walk by our house. No footpaths for 2 fields near our house, When asked " can I help you? " I get " NO" i tell them it's not a footpath and they say i have a right to roam. The whole bloody lot around here needs shooting.
The last page that someone put on face book was, I am new around here, where is it safe to let a dog of the lead? People had commented about our fields and other farmers fields. I put you are not allowed to let your dog roam free, Go to the common!! (it's only 3 miles away)
They will be coming in know because of the weather and all the natural springs are popping up everywhere. Perhaps I should just bottle that and make money!!

 

[milkloss]

if nothing else your case does look like it has the potential to set future legal

Which is why it needs professional support imo.

 

[Highland Mule]

Which is why it needs professional support imo.

Cases like this should attract the attention of the NFU and be taken on by them pro bono, I'd argue. It has the potential to cause all of you a lot of trouble, if not challenged.

 

[jimred]

I have a lot of footpaths going across land I took on last year. Almost an irrelevant point when I first took it on, as people would, literally, walk wherever they wanted, footpath or no.

So this spring I put up 2 strands of high tensile wire along the footpaths, one wire at 'cattle height' and the other 8" or so off the ground. Posts at c.25m apart and a strainer at each end with the wire pulled tight. Remote-control mains energiser covering the whole farm, rated to 12,000v but putting out 9,000v (there's a lot of wire!). Plenty of yellow electric fence warning signs too, so there's no question that people don't know what it is. It was very cheap to put up, and quick too.

Initially I had a couple of people complaining ("But my dog likes to explore over there..."!!!) and quite a lot of people chatted to me as I was erecting it to ask what I was doing - it was lockdown so there were lots, and lots, and lots of people. I just told them I had a bull coming over and wanted to keep it away from the walkers.

It has cured the problem completely. I haven't seen a single person walking where they shouldn't, nor have I seen any dogs going where they shouldn't either.

I was reported to the footpaths officer as someone complained the fenced-off footpath was too narrow. He came out and measured it and it was nearer to 3m than 2m so he was absolutely fine with it. All in all, a result and I'd highly recommend to anyone.

Think long and hard before going down this route. It really is a last resort if you're really desperate.
1) You lose a strip of land.
2) An extra fence to maintain.
3) You will have to maintain the strip or else it will soon be overgrown with weeds and you'll get complaints about that.