How to ethically stop the new neighbours treating their neighbouring farms like they own them….

[Doing it for the kids]

Usual story, old listed pile with an acre was sold after probate to the highest bidder.

London family bought who have a habit of buying, renovating, living for a year or two then selling and moving on. From what I hear they have over spent and out of funds to finish it as the london architecture got a bit carried away.

I am told they like to be the talking point in the village, getting involved but for the wrong reasons.

They boarder a few farms which have a few, well marked out ROW, one of which crosses their little paddock to connect both (which they dont look after)

Mrs saw the wife well of the ROW from a distance, as she got close she dived into the hedge and hid when she rode past. Amused, she kept on riding then went round the corner, waited a minute then trotted back catching her by surprise. She tried the doing no harm, looking at local plants for my garden and we know so and so chat. Wife played it cool and friendly and pointed out she was on private land etc and left her to it.

Few days later she catches the daughter other end of farm…. When questioned she confessed that she didn’t know where she could and could not go, just went where her mother walked! Enlightening. As she was young she got the softly approach but they will be under no illusions that they are busted.

I take a very dim view on such blatant disrespect, especially as newbies. Spoke to my neighbour who with out prompting said they he was getting fed up too and they are doing the same on his turf. He also suspected they had reported him to the planing enforcement team recently.

I’ve set a camera trap so will document their adventures for a while. Once I have a collection I then need to decide what to do….

Brain storming over breakfast with my 7 yr old we came up with a number of genius suggestion, sadly most involved illegal / immoral actions.

I think I have a few options, namely direct or indirect.

Postings on social media asking if anyone can confirm who the people are in the following pictures who keep walking on private land may work well from the guilt / being caught out option. As ive never met them this is plausible.

Or it’s the call / email with a map of the local footpaths and some attached pictures of them from the trail camera asking them to stop now. I’m favouring this less.

Or I turn their water right down and claim there must be a leak which we will look for after harvest

How does one stop this for good with out coming out looking like the big bad farmer!?

 

[davidroberts30]

S s s

 

[B R C]

Go for a walk in their garden…oh I thought it was the done thing to walk wherever you want

 

[som farmer]

OM gave me some advice way back, which l still practise.

you are better off, falling out with them in the beginning, as nastily in the end.

never do anything for them, for free, they will expect you to everything they want, when they want, free, forever.

live on a parish boundary, so when either come collecting, we live in the other, so 'sorry'.

why so many move to the country, and expect to be treated as if we were stupid peasants, l just don't know. But l stand zero shite from them, one warning, that's it. But there's not a lot you can do about 'trespass', unless they cause some damage.

years ago, had a spate of gates being left open, not on fields with foot paths, dairy cows went walk about, took 3 hours to get them home

few weekends of that, had enough, so went and bought some long horn cows, with calves, and put them in the field nearest to where l thought the problem started. Presume l was correct, 'cos sorted the problem, from the day they arrived.

will add, there are some very nice people about us, and we get on well with them. The funny thing about that, they are all 'old money' people, not jumped up twits that think they are rich.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Usual story, old listed pile with an acre was sold after probate to the highest bidder.

London family bought who have a habit of buying, renovating, living for a year or two then selling and moving on. From what I hear they have over spent and out of funds to finish it as the london architecture got a bit carried away.

I am told they like to be the talking point in the village, getting involved but for the wrong reasons.

They boarder a few farms which have a few, well marked out ROW, one of which crosses their little paddock to connect both (which they dont look after)

Mrs saw the wife well of the ROW from a distance, as she got close she dived into the hedge and hid when she rode past. Amused, she kept on riding then went round the corner, waited a minute then trotted back catching her by surprise. She tried the doing no harm, looking at local plants for my garden and we know so and so chat. Wife played it cool and friendly and pointed out she was on private land etc and left her to it.

Few days later she catches the daughter other end of farm…. When questioned she confessed that she didn’t know where she could and could not go, just went where her mother walked! Enlightening. As she was young she got the softly approach but they will be under no illusions that they are busted.

I take a very dim view on such blatant disrespect, especially as newbies. Spoke to my neighbour who with out prompting said they he was getting fed up too and they are doing the same on his turf. He also suspected they had reported him to the planing enforcement team recently.

I’ve set a camera trap so will document their adventures for a while. Once I have a collection I then need to decide what to do….

Brain storming over breakfast with my 7 yr old we came up with a number of genius suggestion, sadly most involved illegal / immoral actions.

I think I have a few options, namely direct or indirect.

Postings on social media asking if anyone can confirm who the people are in the following pictures who keep walking on private land may work well from the guilt / being caught out option. As ive never met them this is plausible.

Or it’s the call / email with a map of the local footpaths and some attached pictures of them from the trail camera asking them to stop now. I’m favouring this less.

Or I turn their water right down and claim there must be a leak which we will look for after harvest

How does one stop this for good with out coming out looking like the big bad farmer!?

Set your boundaries right from the start in no uncertain terms, start as you mean to go on.
If they don't "understand" then tell them to fúck off and warn them of the possibility of vector control as and when required.
The sooner they get the message the better and merely being a pussy about it achieves nothing.

 

[B'o'B]

Provide them with a copy of the ROW definitive map. They have no excuse to be anywhere off the ROW and can’t plead innocent/ignorance after that, allowing a more robust approach to be taken with them in future.

 

[kiwi pom]

Usual story, old listed pile with an acre was sold after probate to the highest bidder.

London family bought who have a habit of buying, renovating, living for a year or two then selling and moving on. From what I hear they have over spent and out of funds to finish it as the london architecture got a bit carried away.

I am told they like to be the talking point in the village, getting involved but for the wrong reasons.

They boarder a few farms which have a few, well marked out ROW, one of which crosses their little paddock to connect both (which they dont look after)

Mrs saw the wife well of the ROW from a distance, as she got close she dived into the hedge and hid when she rode past. Amused, she kept on riding then went round the corner, waited a minute then trotted back catching her by surprise. She tried the doing no harm, looking at local plants for my garden and we know so and so chat. Wife played it cool and friendly and pointed out she was on private land etc and left her to it.

Few days later she catches the daughter other end of farm…. When questioned she confessed that she didn’t know where she could and could not go, just went where her mother walked! Enlightening. As she was young she got the softly approach but they will be under no illusions that they are busted.

I take a very dim view on such blatant disrespect, especially as newbies. Spoke to my neighbour who with out prompting said they he was getting fed up too and they are doing the same on his turf. He also suspected they had reported him to the planing enforcement team recently.

I’ve set a camera trap so will document their adventures for a while. Once I have a collection I then need to decide what to do….

Brain storming over breakfast with my 7 yr old we came up with a number of genius suggestion, sadly most involved illegal / immoral actions.

I think I have a few options, namely direct or indirect.

Postings on social media asking if anyone can confirm who the people are in the following pictures who keep walking on private land may work well from the guilt / being caught out option. As ive never met them this is plausible.

Or it’s the call / email with a map of the local footpaths and some attached pictures of them from the trail camera asking them to stop now. I’m favouring this less.

Or I turn their water right down and claim there must be a leak which we will look for after harvest

How does one stop this for good with out coming out looking like the big bad farmer!?

You don't make it clear (at least not to me) but they are walking off the footpaths that go across your land?

If you know who they are and where they live go knock on the door and tell them all to stop trespassing or you'll take the matter further.

I'd fence the footpaths but that's just me.

 

[Spencer]

Count yourself lucky it’s just a few. Try living in and next to National Park.. leave a gate open and it’s a camp site within the hour

 

[slackjawedyokel]

I think the firm but fair upfront approach is best. You’re aware that they have been trespassing on your land so just go and have a ‘friendly’ chat with one of the parents. Say that you’re aware they’ve been on your property, that you do not allow people on your private land without express permission (which they do not have), and that they should, in future, ensure that they stick to public rights of way through your property.

That way, you’ve made your position clear, and if you meet them again on your land you can go in harder with the ‘Get off my land now’ approach- no need to be so polite.

Unfortunately if they persist in trespassing I’m not sure there’s much you can reasonably do about it which isn’t going to be very expensive and look quite petty (try to get an injunction/ASBO against them or something?)

I suppose we’re all hoping we don’t get a party that wants to bring in a general RTR…

 

[topground]

 

[som farmer]

is that the one at Frome ?

certainly solves a problem

 

[tractorsandcows]

Usual story, old listed pile with an acre was sold after probate to the highest bidder.

London family bought who have a habit of buying, renovating, living for a year or two then selling and moving on. From what I hear they have over spent and out of funds to finish it as the london architecture got a bit carried away.

I am told they like to be the talking point in the village, getting involved but for the wrong reasons.

They boarder a few farms which have a few, well marked out ROW, one of which crosses their little paddock to connect both (which they dont look after)

Mrs saw the wife well of the ROW from a distance, as she got close she dived into the hedge and hid when she rode past. Amused, she kept on riding then went round the corner, waited a minute then trotted back catching her by surprise. She tried the doing no harm, looking at local plants for my garden and we know so and so chat. Wife played it cool and friendly and pointed out she was on private land etc and left her to it.

Few days later she catches the daughter other end of farm…. When questioned she confessed that she didn’t know where she could and could not go, just went where her mother walked! Enlightening. As she was young she got the softly approach but they will be under no illusions that they are busted.

I take a very dim view on such blatant disrespect, especially as newbies. Spoke to my neighbour who with out prompting said they he was getting fed up too and they are doing the same on his turf. He also suspected they had reported him to the planing enforcement team recently.

I’ve set a camera trap so will document their adventures for a while. Once I have a collection I then need to decide what to do….

Brain storming over breakfast with my 7 yr old we came up with a number of genius suggestion, sadly most involved illegal / immoral actions.

I think I have a few options, namely direct or indirect.

Postings on social media asking if anyone can confirm who the people are in the following pictures who keep walking on private land may work well from the guilt / being caught out option. As ive never met them this is plausible.

Or it’s the call / email with a map of the local footpaths and some attached pictures of them from the trail camera asking them to stop now. I’m favouring this less.

Or I turn their water right down and claim there must be a leak which we will look for after harvest

How does one stop this for good with out coming out looking like the big bad farmer!?

Solicitors letter threatening injunction proceedings if any further occurrences . I would suspect these people are so arrogant anything else will be a waste of time

 

[BrianV]

Usual story, old listed pile with an acre was sold after probate to the highest bidder.

London family bought who have a habit of buying, renovating, living for a year or two then selling and moving on. From what I hear they have over spent and out of funds to finish it as the london architecture got a bit carried away.

I am told they like to be the talking point in the village, getting involved but for the wrong reasons.

They boarder a few farms which have a few, well marked out ROW, one of which crosses their little paddock to connect both (which they dont look after)

Mrs saw the wife well of the ROW from a distance, as she got close she dived into the hedge and hid when she rode past. Amused, she kept on riding then went round the corner, waited a minute then trotted back catching her by surprise. She tried the doing no harm, looking at local plants for my garden and we know so and so chat. Wife played it cool and friendly and pointed out she was on private land etc and left her to it.

Few days later she catches the daughter other end of farm…. When questioned she confessed that she didn’t know where she could and could not go, just went where her mother walked! Enlightening. As she was young she got the softly approach but they will be under no illusions that they are busted.

I take a very dim view on such blatant disrespect, especially as newbies. Spoke to my neighbour who with out prompting said they he was getting fed up too and they are doing the same on his turf. He also suspected they had reported him to the planing enforcement team recently.

I’ve set a camera trap so will document their adventures for a while. Once I have a collection I then need to decide what to do….

Brain storming over breakfast with my 7 yr old we came up with a number of genius suggestion, sadly most involved illegal / immoral actions.

I think I have a few options, namely direct or indirect.

Postings on social media asking if anyone can confirm who the people are in the following pictures who keep walking on private land may work well from the guilt / being caught out option. As ive never met them this is plausible.

Or it’s the call / email with a map of the local footpaths and some attached pictures of them from the trail camera asking them to stop now. I’m favouring this less.

Or I turn their water right down and claim there must be a leak which we will look for after harvest

How does one stop this for good with out coming out looking like the big bad farmer!?

Personally as hard as it is I would simply ignore it, I'm pretty sure it is you rather than them that is getting the more stressed by it, hopefully before long they will be off again & you will wonder was it worth all the bother., sadly ROWs or footpaths are a bloody nuisance.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

Personally as hard as it is I would simply ignore it, I'm pretty sure it is you rather than them that is getting the more stressed by it, hopefully before long they will be off again & you will wonder was it worth all the bother., sadly ROWs or footpaths are a bloody nuisance.

I understand the ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ argument, but…

I would always challenge anyone in my farm without my permission. In the situation the OP is in, I’d go and see them and probably have something in writing.

If persistent trespassers aren’t challenged early, it becomes progressively more difficult to tell them to stop as time goes on.

And one set of persistent trespassers is likely to breed others.

Before you know where you are, the whole village of retirees has been walking their dogs around all of your fields for 20 years (or will say they have been) and you’re going to find it difficult to defend the formalising of a whole lot more pesky ROWs over your land.

Nip it in the bud. A little bit of unpleasantness to avoid a whole lot of agro later on.

 

[BrianV]

I understand the ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ argument, but…

I would always challenge anyone in my farm without my permission. In the situation the OP is in, I’d go and see them and probably have something in writing.

If persistent trespassers aren’t challenged early, it becomes progressively more difficult to tell them to stop as time goes on.

And one set of persistent trespassers is likely to breed others.

Before you know where you are, the whole village of retirees has been walking their dogs around all of your fields for 20 years (or will say they have been) and you’re going to find it difficult to defend the formalising of a whole lot more pesky ROWs over your land.

Nip it in the bud. A little bit of unpleasantness to avoid a whole lot of agro later on.

Are we assuming ROW stands for Right Of Way or something else?

 

[Nearly]

These 2 and their owner were left in no doubt as to my feelings a couple of months ago.

Owner is a disgraced judge type in the village.
The following week I had to educate a female police officer on the rights and wrongs of her dog in my crop.
The word is out in the local pub now and footpath traffic has reduced.

Just to educate the owner of these 2 now.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

Are we assuming ROW stands for Right Of Way or something else?

Yes;right of way.

 

[BrianV]

Yes;right of way.

Well if someone has a right of way over your property there's bugger all you can do to stop them as long as they stick roughly to the area mentioned, not worth the hassle trying to fight it, same with dammed footpaths although I did get one moved out of through one of our yards years ago to an alternative route because of the danger from my "animals".

 

[Nearly]

Keep telling them they're off the route. Make them retrace their steps, not complete their planned loop.
Put a section 31 notice in to stop them claiming a new loop.
Zero tolerance is the only way as an owner occupier or outside your home.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

Well if someone has a right of way over your property there's bugger all you can do to stop them as long as they stick roughly to the area mentioned, not worth the hassle trying to fight it, same with dammed footpaths although I did get one moved out of through one of our yards years ago to an alternative route because of the danger from my "animals".

That’s my point- you want to protect yourself from the formation of new footpaths /ROWs over your property by denying people free access.