Other industries and footpaths

[hally]

We al

But wire cutters are as cheap as chips, and you can't watch every meter of footpath 24/7. It takes a second to cut the wire it took hours to erect. Its not a game the landowner can win if even only a couple of locals decide to take the law into their own hands. The law and reality are often not one and the same thing.

We locked the main gates on a footpath ( not bridlepath) after clearing it with the council, as the local riding school started using it as one of their routes. There is a stile next to it for the footpath, had the parish council contact me to inform me they had cut a dog sized hole in my wire as the village dogs couldn’t get over the stile. I pointed out that that would be the same size needed by a lamb when it wanted to escape......they hadn’t thought of that. We compromised with a flap they have to open to let fido through

 

[Robt]

Mrs BR & I holiday in the U.K.

We enjoy walking in the countryside exploring the chosen county.
Please do NOT fence us in ...

I think some may fence YOU out!

 

[Highland Mule]

If the footpath coincides with the farm road through the yard then why I should have to create another farm road and have to rejig the layout of the farmyard just to suit a handful of walkers per month? It’s no hardship, in fact is it’s more pleasant for the walkers to bypass the farmyard as most of them do. They are all fine with it, yet if it was put to consultation then you can be sure that some politico from miles away would object to a diversion just because they can. So we don’t give them the satisfaction and waste our own and taxpayers money.

If you’re happy to use and agriculturally develop a farmstead around a footpath then got for it. Me, I’d be wanting to minimise the hassle and maximise the income by making a few barn conversions and having a more private yard elsewhere.

Does land with footpaths cost less than those without? It should do, I’d imagine, so perhaps the land value would increase if it was free from such issues.

 

[theboytheboy]

If you’re happy to use and agriculturally develop a farmstead around a footpath then got for it. Me, I’d be wanting to minimise the hassle and maximise the income by making a few barn conversions and having a more private yard elsewhere.

Does land with footpaths cost less than those without? It should do, I’d imagine, so perhaps the land value would increase if it was free from such issues.

This sounds great....apart from the issue that I would not get permission to do the barn conversions

 

[Bald Rick]

Now it’s an activity for folk with nowt better to do.

Biggest leisure participation in the U.K. ... plus it’s probably the best thing for mental health (& physical fitness as a by product).

 

[paul&mandy]

What's a footpath, right to roam around here... Almost daily educating people. The funniest 1 was yesterday could see a chap walking around a field looking at his phone amongst ewes and lambs, he couldn't get out over the hedge and he said he was looking for Tescos... it's about 2miles away I said not in there...

 

[paul&mandy]

Biggest leisure participation in the U.K. ... plus it’s probably the best thing for mental health (& physical fitness as a by product).

I love walking, usually get out a few times a week for a long walk, great to unwind but I wouldn't dare knowingly trespass and make sure I know how to read a map and use viewranger sometimes to confirm I'm in the right place.

 

[Bald Rick]

I think some may fence YOU out!

 

[Bald Rick]

I love walking, usually get out a few times a week for a long walk, great to unwind but I wouldn't dare knowingly trespass and make sure I know how to read a map and use viewranger sometimes to confirm I'm in the right place.

Not talking about trespass but I don’t understand the “hate” towards footpaths.

Of course, as a farmer, I am fascinated wandering through a yard. However the exit needs to be clearly marked otherwise you are asking for bods to be wandering around

 

[Sid]

Farmers aren’t always innocent either,gates on bridleways not hung, equipment left on paths, footpaths moved and signs obstructed or even taken down.

 

[Boomerang]

Ketton cement in Rutland have a purpose built pedestrian flyover footbridge over their quarry just for the footpath .
You look down from a fair old height to the Tonka trucks below..

 

[Tim W]

I get plenty of hassle from public access issues but why not use the situation to your advantage ?
I can of course give you examples of the loonies and the problems they cause but most people don't realise they are causing a problem and just want polite education which i (usually) try to give in a pleasant conversational manner
Presently I have 450 ewes lambing adjacent to a NT property and get a constant stream of people coming through, they all love seeing the dogs working, they love seeing me tag lambs and are genuinely interested in what i am doing
I like the interaction (95% of the time) and have made new friends and found good customers for my lamb
Most importantly i have made a small push against what many see as the ''anti farmer'' attitude & have closed the gap between people and where their food comes from

The other point i would make is that you have to acknowledge the reality that there are plenty of people in our crowded island and they all naturally want a bit of room to stretch their legs ---working against them won't get you anywhere , you have to find ways to turn the situation to your advantage

(Someone better remind me of the above next time i get grumpy when the gates get left open/dogs get loose etc )

 

[Henarar]

I get plenty of hassle from public access issues but why not use the situation to your advantage ?
I can of course give you examples of the loonies and the problems they cause but most people don't realise they are causing a problem and just want polite education which i (usually) try to give in a pleasant conversational manner
Presently I have 450 ewes lambing adjacent to a NT property and get a constant stream of people coming through, they all love seeing the dogs working, they love seeing me tag lambs and are genuinely interested in what i am doing
I like the interaction (95% of the time) and have made new friends and found good customers for my lamb
Most importantly i have made a small push against what many see as the ''anti farmer'' attitude & have closed the gap between people and where their food comes from

The other point i would make is that you have to acknowledge the reality that there are plenty of people in our crowded island and they all naturally want a bit of room to stretch their legs ---working against them won't get you anywhere , you have to find ways to turn the situation to your advantage

(Someone better remind me of the above next time i get grumpy when the gates get left open/dogs get loose etc )

There is that 5% again

 

[Robt]

Yes

Ketton cement in Rutland have a purpose built pedestrian flyover footbridge over their quarry just for the footpath .
You look down from a fair old height to the Tonka trucks below..

also great to stop at the northwick arms for a pint after!

 

[Boomerang]

Farmers aren’t always innocent either,gates on bridleways not hung, equipment left on paths, footpaths moved and signs obstructed or even taken

Not talking about trespass but I don’t understand the “hate” towards footpaths.

Of course, as a farmer, I am fascinated wandering through a yard. However the exit needs to be clearly marked otherwise you are asking for bods to be wandering around

Yes

also great to stop at the northwick arms for a pint after!

We were on flyover the other day waving at the trucks below ,drivers were waving back tooting horns ,flashing lights. Everyone was having fun.

 

[devonbeef]

Not talking about trespass but I don’t understand the “hate” towards footpaths.

Of course, as a farmer, I am fascinated wandering through a yard. However the exit needs to be clearly marked otherwise you are asking for bods to be wandering around

because many do not stick to paths, just walk any direction they fancy, leave there dog mess ,gates open ,the worry of cattle chasing them , the livestock chased the list is long, Maybe you are lucky and don,t have any paths

 

[Bald Rick]

because many do not stick to paths, just walk any direction they fancy, leave there dog mess ,gates open ,the worry of cattle chasing them , the livestock chased the list is long, Maybe you are lucky and don,t have any paths

Have two scheduled ancient monuments and paths here and there to boot.

Not fussed too much if they leave the designated path so long as things are left as found and crops not damaged.
Life’s too short to overly stress.

 

[kiwi pom]

I concur. Industrial fencing is the answer.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

View attachment 958602

That will have been up a few years now, anyone know how they are getting on with it?

 

[betweenthelines]

Have two scheduled ancient monuments and paths here and there to boot.

Not fussed too much if they leave the designated path so long as things are left as found and crops not damaged.
Life’s too short to overly stress.

I know you and Mrs BR are not in the first flush of youth, but you're hardly ancient monuments!

 

[fieldfarmer]

We al

We locked the main gates on a footpath ( not bridlepath) after clearing it with the council, as the local riding school started using it as one of their routes. There is a stile next to it for the footpath, had the parish council contact me to inform me they had cut a dog sized hole in my wire as the village dogs couldn’t get over the stile. I pointed out that that would be the same size needed by a lamb when it wanted to escape......they hadn’t thought of that. We compromised with a flap they have to open to let fido through

It was a good compromise for them, in England you don't need to make any provision for dog access, as I keep having to remind the Dartmoor park ranger who wants to make our paths more appealing for all.