Another walker killed by cows…..is there a solution?

There are not enough public open spaces. Too much of the amenity land belongs to too few very rich people.

Another walker killed by cows…..is there a solution?
I think this is misleading, it happened in September 2020 and was widely reported at the time, I think even discussed on GN. Tragic yes, and very sad that the lady sustained life changing injuries but, the rights are not always with the walkers, too many will insist on taking dogs into fields and prefer the quick route rather than the longer safer route. I grew up in the country, was chased by a herd of heifers once, managed to make it out of the field and have a healthy respect for cows so tend to give them a wide berth. Even with signs some people are really stupid and think they know better, any one witnessed the idiots in the New Forest feeding the ponies when there are signs all over the place saying not to.

toscalily - it's the same here. Not far from where I live, we have two areas where there are groups of Exmoor ponies which carry out conservation grazing on the land. They do an excellent job, and there are signs around asking people NOT to feed them - and yet they still do. I have a friend with horses and she has had to put up signs asking people not to feed them either, especially as one is very prone to bouts of colic.

But if warning signs were up and people still went in the field with cows it would be at their own risk. If you can’t see any cows or warning signs and it is a public footpath you should be able to walk it.

I may be wrong but I seem to remember some time back a farmer got fined for putting his cows in a field with a public footpath and someone was attacked. I think it was Wiltshire? Anybody else recall?

Blondiescot

Fleurpepper

GrannyGravy13

Don’t walk anywhere near livestock, just because a footpath goes through a farmers land doesn’t mean you have to use it.

I apologise if that sounds harsh and I have deepest sympathy for the deceased’s friends and family.

Animals especially in a herd can be unpredictable.

So, if a farmer does not want people to use a public footpath, all he has to do is to put cattle there year round, and no public.

Clever that!

Public footpaths are public and should be made safe. Cows with calves should not be grazed where public has access.

So a farmer shouldn't be allowed to graze his cattle in his own fields? Nonsense. It's common sense to avoid any field which has cattle grazing in it, even more so if they have calves. The problem here is not the farmer nor the cattle - but members of the public.

Well yes, and no. Official public footpaths do have legal status, and those who use them are protected by Law.

''Wiltshire farmer fined

Last December, a Wiltshire farmer was fined after two members of the public were attacked and injured, one fatally, by cows in a field.

A court in Swindon heard evidence that Mike and John Porter were walking their dogs on a public footpath through a field in Bradford on Avon when about 30 cattle surrounded them and repeatedly trampled university professor Mike. He managed to scramble out of the field but collapsed later and died from internal bleeding.

An investigation into the incident by the HSE found the farmer, 83-year-old Brian Godwin, had not put in place adequate safety measures to protect members of the public using footpaths through his fields from his cattle.

There had been several previous incidents in which people were attacked by cattle on Mr Godwin's farm including a dog walker who suffered a broken neck. He had been told to install segregating fencing or warning signs and although he had made some improvements, they were considered inadequate.

After pleading guilty to a breach of Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Mr Godwin was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £30,000 in Court costs.

What protection does the Law give?

The Occupiers Liability Acts 1957 and 1984 provide that the "occupier" of premises owes a duty to take such care as is reasonable in the circumstances to see a visitor will be reasonably safe in using the premises for which he is permitted to be there.

Therefore, a landowner is under a duty to ensure that those who walk across their fields where livestock graze, are reasonably safe. The Animals Act 1971 provides further protection; in certain circumstances the keeper (invariably the owner) of an animal can be held strictly liable for the damage done by their animal.''

Public walking is very limited in England, and public footpaths well established. So walkers should act with care and within the Law, and so should farmers.

Otherwise, any farmer who does not like walkers, or ramblers, and has no intention whatsoever of respecting them- can just put cows, calves and bulls on them 24/7 - to keep them out.

Respect has to go both ways.

In the Dales farmer fined £900 and given suspended prison sentence after 83 year old man trampled by cows with calves in a field with a footpath. Health and Safety took it to court.

Fleurpepper and 25Avalon - that's England. We have different laws here in Scotland.

So what does Scottish law say then Blondiescott? Aren’t some laws common to all UK countries? I’d be interested to know.

Hm. Maybe you’ve just got to know even as a country person.
My dad and sister were chased once when out mushrooming in a regular spot. I mean regular for us and others over years, cows and people sharing common spaces. It’s a small community so everyone knows whose cows land etc. it was an out of character thing for the animals but as soon as as they moved (cows ) I’d was obviously wrong. So they managed to get out too.

I live in a village with farms we were warned to always walk with a big stick and that there is usually a lead animal that you hit on the noise and it will lead the others away.
All is well and good if you can make yourself stand until they are near enough to hit with a stick.
After being caught out ourselves we are cautious. At a country house near lake, we followed their map of a circular walk to the lakeside and back. When we were nearing the end we turned a sharp corner only to be confronted by a bull. No warning signs anywhere along the route. We had to detour through a boggy patch and luckily it took no notice. After reporting at the entrance office, I don't think they took much notice they were pretty nonchalant. Probably more income from the farmer using the field all year round than from tourists

My brother has a large meadow with a footpath crossing, cattle and horses regularly graze it, he has fenced the footpath off because he is fed up with walkers that are too stupid to obey the rules.

Yes, there are idiots out there, who don't respect the countryside. Granted. But there are many many more who do- and they are prevented form using footpaths safely by farmers who either deliberately, or not- refuse to take measures to ensure safety of walkers.

Before they complained about the livestock, now they complain about walking between fences.

25Avalon

A public footpath is a public footpath, that people should be able to use. When we were chased by cows we were on a public footpath and had no idea the farmer had just put cows in there the day before. We didn’t see them until we were half way across the field. This is what seemed to have happened with this couple. The husband was killed and the wife has been left disabled. The problem is not just with the public. The farmer put his cows in there and most bear some responsibility.

But members of the public are responsible too. It’s the farmers land, and livelihood, so what are they supposed to do ?

25Avalon

So what does Scottish law say then Blondiescott? Aren’t some laws common to all UK countries? I’d be interested to know.

Here in Scotland, we have 'the right to roam'. Attached are a few links which explain more about that:
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/environment/4084820/right-to-roam-scottish-access-myths-busted/
www.gov.scot/policies/landscape-and-outdoor-access/public-access-to-land/
travelness.com/right-to-roam-in-scotland#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%98right%20to%20roam%E2%80%99%20%28or%20%E2%80%98freedom%20to%20roam%E2%80%99%29,open%20to%20anyone%20who%20wants%20to%20explore%20it.

People who are claiming to be knowledgeable about the country can’t be if they claim that farmers keep their cows in the same field all year to prevent walkers. In fact the fields used by cows are rotated with fallow periods, or if they have sheep, between the two. In the winter cows are kept inside, and let out only periodically if the weather is good.
The key is for walkers to use their brains, but so many don’t. They let their dogs off lead, walk right next to animals instead of keeping their distance, leave gates open, drop litter - in fact have no common sense. If there are cows with calves in a field I wouldn’t go through that field that day. I’m all for maintaining footpaths, but maybe they should come with a health warning that says only use them if you first engage your brain and realise that you aren’t more important than the animals.

Katie59

My brother has a large meadow with a footpath crossing, cattle and horses regularly graze it, he has fenced the footpath off because he is fed up with walkers that are too stupid to obey the rules.

I don't get this, Katie59. What 'rules' are these walkers too stupid to follow?

As far as I'm aware there is a legal requirement to stay on the footpath, but apart from that, what else is there?

If you do walk your dog in grass fields where cows may be grazed at a later date make sure to pick up after your dog. Dog faeces can cause pregnant cows to abort. Not everyone realises this. I didn’t until a farmer friend “told me off” for letting my dog off in a stubbled field as his prize cows were in the grass field next door. I apologised profusely as I was not on a footpath. Makes you understand why farmers can get uptight.

So, if a farmer does not want people to use a public footpath, all he has to do is to put cattle there year round, and no public.

Farming doesnt work like that.

People who are claiming to be knowledgeable about the country can’t be if they claim that farmers keep their cows in the same field all year to prevent walkers

Quite!

I am surrounded by fields of livestock. I never walk through fields that are in use - just never.

fancythat

So, if a farmer does not want people to use a public footpath, all he has to do is to put cattle there year round, and no public.

Farming doesnt work like that.

No, it certainly doesn't. We can recce a walk for the Ramblers one week , no cattle to be seen. Next week, there's a field full of cattle. Usually in a field where there is no alternative way round because of thick hedges, barbed wire fences and no accessible gates (which would technically be trespassing, anyway). It's chance the cattle or abort the walk..

I can’t believe people are blaming these poor people. If there’s a public footpath it’s exactly that. Farmers are being fined for having cows on public footpaths. They should be fenced off or no public footpaths allowed through land with livestock. As for horses they can get nasty. I’ve been chased by a horse before whilst cutting across a field - thankfully much younger and managed to get over a wall!

I should add I used to ride regularly so do know horses.

I have no reason at all to think that farmers fill their fields with cattle to deter walkers. In the main they are happy for people to enjoy the countryside, but they are running a business and clearly that has to come first for them.

It is indeed a pain for ramblers who are trying to organise a walk, just as it is that there is so little riverside access in the UK (something I mind a lot!). But in the main the countryside is owned by individuals who make their living from it.

tickingbird

I can’t believe people are blaming these poor people. If there’s a public footpath it’s exactly that. Farmers are being fined for having cows on public footpaths. They should be fenced off or no public footpaths allowed through land with livestock. As for horses they can get nasty. I’ve been chased by a horse before whilst cutting across a field - thankfully much younger and managed to get over a wall!

I should add I used to ride regularly so do know horses.

That’s not entirely true. Here’s the actual legislation.
www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/what-cattle-farmers-should-know-8964531