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

Thank goodness some people have commented that the public have a legal right to walk on a footpath and the farmer has a responsibility to ensure they are safe when doing so. I thought I was the only one! Let me say again, it is sometimes not possible to avoid using a footpath. We frequently take holidays with out dog, plan circuit routes using designated footpaths. They are often day walks with a stop at a pub for lunch. We frequently come across footpaths that are not marked as such (illegal), blocked (illegal) been moved (illegal) go through fields containing stock (not illegal but the farmer has a legal responsibility to make it SAFE for walkers). It is not up to the walker to deviate onto private land (trespassing) . If someone has walked most of the day and is within a mile or two or their destination, it isn't possible to turn round and come back when the cattle have gone. I have a very well trained dog who will "sit, stay" off lead so I can go through a field and call him through when I am safely across, but most people can't do this. Just put up a temporary fence, put a sign up at each end of the footpath so people know there are cattle with calves at foot and if possible make another route that is temporary but safe. it is not just common sense it is a legal requirement to ensure walkers are safe.

All animals are territorial. If you enter their space, you risk being attacked. Too many people think they are entitled to do as they please. Farmers have no choice but to allow people to walk on their land, but it's their livelihood. People should show the same respect as they would as walking through someone's garden.

My husband was employed as Head Forrester on two large estates and also learnt a lot about farming in college. According to him the greatest number of fatalities come from people trying to protect their dogs. If the animals come for you, let your dog GO. The dog can get away, as it also has four legs. You can't. Common sense, consideration and tolerance are needed from landowners and public alike. I always pick up dog poo anywhere there are - or maybe - livestock. It's sad, but I guess there is danger everywhere and walking in the country is probably safer than bombing down a motorway!

I certainly didn’t argue, just presented the law as on Gov.UK with a suggestion that if people wished to challenge that, to lobby their MP. The law is what it is, whether YOU like it or not.
I’m well aware that some landowners shirk responsibility for maintaining access. I’m aware that some will not put up warnings nor an electric fence - neither of which are actually required in law on public footpaths.
There’s a balance of responsibility here - I in doubt, don’t. And report situations of concern to your local authority who will investigate.

Life is all about the choices we make. Sad though it is, these incidents with cattle are tragic accidents and avoidable if you take away the risk by avoiding the situation but many of us would willing choose to balence that risk against choosing to do what we want to do and the majority will come to no harm. I strongly believe that if your instict is to avoid something even if it looks ok then avoid it. Its up to individuals at the end of the day.

Sorry typing on phone - if in doubt, don’t!

Farmers move cattle for good reasons. We were stopped by a local farmer who advised we walk his lane rather than through the right of way field our route usually took. He said sorry, had to move the cows and calves, can you use the lane then re-join - we did.
I’d never go into a. Field with cattle. Farmers round here work very hard, we have a lot of open countryside and moorland. The moorland is home to endless sheep and deer so my daft young dog stays on his lead

Pay for all the fencing and maintenance then, as a farmer with a Clapham Junction of footpaths across our land , no where to graze cattle..I always tell people to take any detour they like, I won't complain ..

I notice often sheep are overwintered at other farms where the farmer seems to have no problem in putting electric fencing temporarily round the field whilst the sheep are there.

Is a farm with a lot of public rights of way reduced in price to buy or rent? I ask because the famer must have a lot of extra expense with fencing off the rights of way and warning notices about 1. dangerous animals 2. Don't feed my animals 3. Litter harms my animals so do not drop litter 4. Keep dogs on the lead. 5. Do not climb on my fences

I imagine a farm well away from centres of population and rights of way will cost a little more to buy or rent.

As a child, I often walked through field of cows. No dog, no calves. I never gave it a thought and neither, it seemed, did the cows. They more or less ignored me.

Caleo

Is a farm with a lot of public rights of way reduced in price to buy or rent? I ask because the famer must have a lot of extra expense with fencing off the rights of way and warning notices about 1. dangerous animals 2. Don't feed my animals 3. Litter harms my animals so do not drop litter 4. Keep dogs on the lead. 5. Do not climb on my fences

I imagine a farm well away from centres of population and rights of way will cost a little more to buy or rent.

Temporary fencing posts and tape are quite cheap and are part of anyone's basic kit if you have stock. Cattle will stay behind a single strand of tape even if it's not electrified, horses and ponies can be a real pain (I've had ponies that would push through a fence with a decent current running through it if they were feeling peckish and sheep are an absolute pita as they need very good fencing and will eat their way through hedging even when there's plenty of grass. I've had all three in my fields over the years and cattle are the easiest to keep behind a fence, equines come second and sheep are a definite third....unless you include goats!

I used to have a Jersey/Angus cross heifer that would hurdle a Cornish hedge like a Grand National winner. We passed her on to a farmer who would use her for breeding in the hope that family life would calm her down a bit.

Did it work Deeda? I’m more experienced with dogs than heifers. My experience is yiu can train dogs to do stuff, it’s harder to train them not to do stuff. I had a gorgeous lab cross, gentle, obedience stunning - until she scented deer, then she’d clear anything gate/stone wall etc to use your phrase, like a grand national winner.
I suspect dogs are easier than cows

The HSE guidance for farmers suggests that consideration should be made to where livestock are kept and, if possible, cattle should be kept in fields that do not have public access especially when they have calves at foot. If there are no suitable alternative pastures however, as often is the case, the HSE suggest that precautions are taken such as:

At least once each day, assess the animals to 1) ensure that the herd are generally placid and well-behaved and 2) ascertain whether calves being kept with the herd will affect the behaviour of the older cows;
If it is reasonably practicable temporarily fence alongside the public right of way;
Ensure that paths are clearly marked or consider offering an alternative route by signposting walkers to routes with no livestock but bear in mind that it is an offence in itself to prevent members of the public from using a right of way;
Plan the location of the handling and feeding areas away from the public right of way – make sure that water containers are not kept near any right of way; and
Regularly check that fences, gates and stiles are safe and fit for their purpose. For full guidance, read here >

The HSE state that it is good practice to display signs informing the public when a bull or cows with calves are in the area and that this is something that should be considered by farmers. There are further details in the guidance regarding the location of signs and the type of signs recommend to alert the public to the presence of livestock, these can be sourced for free from the NFU.

Based on his assessment of the Health and Safety, Corporate Manslaughter and Food Safety and Hygiene Offences Definitive Guideline District Judge Kitson at Leeds Magistrates Court sentenced Mr Sharpe to a custodial sentence of 12 weeks suspended for one year, a fine of £750 and prosecution costs. A key element of the Judge's decision was his view that a reasonably experienced stockman would have erected warning signs warning members of the public of the presence of cows and calves but the Judge also considered that a reasonably experienced stockman would have considered implementing fencing to keep cattle with calves away from members of the public exercising a right along a public right of way.

foxie48 QED

Personally, I think it is a stupid idea to have public walkways through farming land. Farming land is just that, land to farm on. Stay away from these places, find somewhere else to walk. I do realise that England is a small country but surely there are other places to wander around in.

foxie48

Thank goodness some people have commented that the public have a legal right to walk on a footpath and the farmer has a responsibility to ensure they are safe when doing so. I thought I was the only one! Let me say again, it is sometimes not possible to avoid using a footpath. We frequently take holidays with out dog, plan circuit routes using designated footpaths. They are often day walks with a stop at a pub for lunch. We frequently come across footpaths that are not marked as such (illegal), blocked (illegal) been moved (illegal) go through fields containing stock (not illegal but the farmer has a legal responsibility to make it SAFE for walkers). It is not up to the walker to deviate onto private land (trespassing) . If someone has walked most of the day and is within a mile or two or their destination, it isn't possible to turn round and come back when the cattle have gone. I have a very well trained dog who will "sit, stay" off lead so I can go through a field and call him through when I am safely across, but most people can't do this. Just put up a temporary fence, put a sign up at each end of the footpath so people know there are cattle with calves at foot and if possible make another route that is temporary but safe. it is not just common sense it is a legal requirement to ensure walkers are safe.

Excellent post, recently we did a circular walk, one that’s in many guide books and actually has little mosaics as markers all the way.
The very end of the footpath would have taken us through two fields of cattle with calves at heel.
We did find a diversion but it meant scrambling over a stone wall and deviating from the footpath.

The HSE advice on signs is fine if walkers take notice of the advice given, if entitled walkers deliberately ignore the signs it is still the farmers fault if injury occurs.

Just like any other business farms have to do a risk assessment for every activity, with various safeguards, at the highest level (death or serious injury) you eliminate the risk, separate walkers from the livestock, signs are not enough.

Kartush

Personally, I think it is a stupid idea to have public walkways through farming land. Farming land is just that, land to farm on. Stay away from these places, find somewhere else to walk. I do realise that England is a small country but surely there are other places to wander around in.

Well of course you can walk on the pavement, not very enjoyable or you could go to a park or you could get in your car/train/bus and travel to your nearest open common or pay to walk round the grounds of an historic house. However, I doubt the owners of pubs, cafes, accommodation etc in areas like the Peak District, Lake District, Exmoor, Dartmoor etc etc would agree with you. Footpaths enable people who are not "land owners" to enjoy the countryside, get healthy exercise ,saving the NHS goodness knows how much, brings money into rural communities and generally contribute to the UK economy. Kartush there is very little publicly owned land in the UK. I own a small amount, 12 acres, not enough to walk on, but as I have said already, I have a footpath across one paddock, so I know it can be a nuisance but we are so fortunate to have an extensive network of footpaths and the right to use them should be defended.

We are so fortunate to have an extensive network of footpaths and the right to use them should be defended. They were hard fought for too, Foxie.

“The Kinder Trespass took place in 1932. The event was organised by the Manchester branch of the British Workers Sports Federation. They chose to notify the local press in advance, and as a result, Derbyshire Constabulary turned out in force along with landowners and gamekeepers. A smaller group of ramblers from Sheffield set off from Edale and met up with the main party on the Kinder edge path. Five men from Manchester, including the leader, Benny Rothman, were subsequently jailed. It has been described as the the most successful direct action in British history. It arguably led to the passage of the National Parks legislation in 1949[8] and helped pave way for the establishment of the Pennine Way and other long-distance footpaths. Walkers' rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland were eventually protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW Act) of 2000.”

Greyduster I can't help thinking that many of the contributors to this thread are not walkers and therefore might find it hard to appreciate what a wonderful amenity our network of footpaths provide. I live rurally and used to be surrounded by dairy farms, all but one gone now, but we still have store cattle and sheep. Many of my friends are farmers, both of my OH's parents were born on farms, so I am totally supportive of the farming community. Farmers know what their responsibilities are regarding footpaths on their land, many take their responsibility seriously others unfortunately, do not. When a woman is murdered on the streets at night, should we tell women to stay indoors in case there's a murderer on the loose? It seems to me that people are telling walkers to stay off footpaths in case they get trampled by cattle, whereas the answer is for farmers to follow the advice given by the HSE and in the article I posted in Farmer's Weekly.

If this thread has proved anything, it's that common sense isn't all that common!

The field at the end of our garden is a pilgrim route. The footpath goes across the middle of the field, which is a long field. In summer it has cows calves and a bull. There is a sign on the gate to say there’s a bull in the field but people will have walked miles along the pilgrim route and will just continue to follow the signs. There is nothing to say that walkers could just walk along the pavement for a short way and pick up the route. DH saw a cow turn on a fox that ran across the field one day.