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

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

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.

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 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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

People visiting the country often behave like its a theme park. It isnt! Stay out of fields with livestock even if you may think you have a "right of way".

On holiday in Suffolk one year, we came across a sign on a field gate saying:
Unless you can run like Linford Christie, beware of the bull in this field.

Well yes, Katek, and NO.

There are very well established and official footpaths- and people should be able to use them. Public walking in the UK is very limited anyhow.

I am finding that the present drive to 're wild' areas means there are more paths that I have to avoid. One I came across recently was a secrion of the Nar Valley Way near West Acre. I will not knowingly enter a field with cattle, even without my dog, as reduced mobility from osteoarthritis would prevent my fast escape from a cattle rush.

I'm really not being facetious. but couldn't walkers just stay out of fields with cows/horses in them?

Perhaps the farmer should put signs up at the entrance to his field ‘Walkers beware. Cattle grazing’ or similar.

That way, it’s up to the individual if they decide to walk there, and are made aware of the risk.

Yes, public footpaths are for the public, but it’s the farmer’s land. Why shouldn’t it be used to graze his own animals? If it were our land, would we want people trampling over it?

Probably not.

A similar thing happened to my dh and me Fleur, except we didnt have a dog. The cows came from nowhere and as far as we knew, there were no calves in the field. Absolutely terrifying.
My neighbours brother was attacked on his farm by his own cows and the man who came to his assistance was killed.

I belong to a rambling group and am always wary of walking through a field with cows. The public footpath runs straight through and it’s a long walk round if you don’t go through.
Most rambles do encounter these problems . Don’t know what the answer is.

Thank you foxie48. I am NOT a townie and grew up with farms and farmers all around me. This happened to me once- on a public footpath where cows where always kept int he next field with gate closes. I always checked beforehand.

That day, I parked the car, and got onto footpath with my dog on leash. Checked that the friesians were behind the fence and gate in next field, then went on (footpath is about 300 metres from gate to cow field. When we were about half way to the next gate, to get access to old railway line, I saw them passing through their gate. I dropped to the other side of the hedge along the footpath so they would lose sight of me and dog- but I heard them running.

I've never been afraid of cows and know how to handle them. I turned and faced them as they came towards me, and with a very low voice, making myself as big and tall as poss- called 'OH NO- BACK' that would normally stop them. It was clear they would come for me and the dog. Let the dog off the leash and told her to go, and I managed to get to wire fence- but could not escape below as it was fixed into the ground. Managed to climb up near post to stop the wobble then over the tow rows of barbed wire and drop to the marsh the other side. Trousers torn and both thighs torn to shreds an bleeding heavily. Up to my knees in the marsh, I managed to get to other fence onto pavement by roadside and back to my car- took me about 1 hour. And found my poor dog cowering under the gate, she had managed to put half her body under, and rest still in field. Cows had gone, and she was miraculously not injured or trampled.

I contacted the Police, the Ramblers Association and the farmer. The biggest milk provider in the region, and a very aggressive and rude man (not just to me, his reputation was well-known). Had I not known how to handle the situation and not let my dog go, I am sure I would not be here to tell the tale. The farm worker who had put the effers in the field in the morning had not closed the gate properly.

Do we ever hear of people being killed by cows who don't have a dog or dogs with them?

If we do encounter a field of cows with calves we pick up our little dog so they can't see him running around and get as far away as possible from the cows.

It's the herds of youngsters that I find more intimidating; they are very nosy and come rushing over to investigate walkers. They'll follow you right through a field, which is intimidating but they aren't aggressive, just nosy.

Horses would possibly come and mug you for treats, but they're no danger. They're much more likely to ignore you.

It's all very well saying don't walk in fields with livestock, but there is very rarely a way round.

Blondiescot sadly your post hits the nail firmly on the head.

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.