To just ask you all to either wear some proper wellies and walk on the footpath, or stick to the sodding pavements

[flamingflamingos]

This is my field. It's winter wheat - it's been ploughed and pressed and drilled and rolled and just as it's starting to grow into what will be harvested for flour to produce bread, the general public have trampled it into the ground.

I understand the need to get outside, absolutely I support this country's network of footpaths - we have 6km of footpaths on this farm which are maintained so that everyone can enjoy the countryside.

But this is taking the piss. If you don't want to walk in the mud, don't walk in the countryside in January. Please, stop this. We are all accountable for how we behave.

[BexR]

Nightmare @flamingflamingos x

[MyGirlDaisy]

I was brought up in the countryside but now live by the coast but with woods and fields to walk in. I always stick to the paths, close gates etc but I have seen people letting their dogs run through crops, people trampling over the crop and I am always shocked by it. I just think they don’t realise what damage they are doing. Totally understand how cross and fed up you are. Am sure you are rushed off your feet but do you think some information would help - a sign saying what the crop is, what it’s used for and to keep to the path? Sorry that people have been so thoughtless, farming is hard enough!

[TaraR2020]

I think you're being very measured in your plea, op - people ought to have more respect and bother to learn the country code!

[AnneLovesGilbert]

That sucks. Sorry OP

[LibrariesGiveUsPower45321]

YANBU. My family have had this issue for years. Hard clay soil so waterlogged in the winter and locals ride thier horses all over the crops instead of the bridle way

[MichelleScarn]

Absolute arseholes OP. Am sorry to see your field. Everyone is walking through the fields where livestock is. People don't give a fuck. I was sadly highly amused by post I saw on social media where farmer said they'd had a complaint by walkers (who were going through the farmers land!) that the sheep dog wasn't on a leash and the walkers on the farmers land could legally tell the farmer to leash the dog...

[DitherFlicker]

Agree, feel so cross on your behalf. I grew up in rural area and just knew never to walk on crops. Yet even in dry weather last summer, while families (and their dogs), were taking short cuts across field corners or veering off the path into the crops to social distance, rather than just wait their turn.. Thoughtless.

[Bailegangaire]

How could you even ask if you’re being unreasonable. Sympathies, OP. You’re being more composed and gracious than I think I’d be able to be in your shoes.

[Frenchdressing]

Ugh that’s awful. So sorry.

Some people have no idea how to behave. There is a lovely walk through a farm and meadows along to a river near us. Been going down there for years. Unfortunately a coffee shack has opened and it’s become a ‘destination’ . Footfall has increased hugely. The paths and bits of meadow are total quagmires now. People not keeping to the paths either. Just so people can walk about with takeaway coffee.

[ArchbishopOfBanterbury]

Not unreasonable at all.

Are you allowed to put in some wire fencing?

[5foot5]

Hard to believe people can be so sense. When I was growing up in the 70s we were taught something called the Country Code. Do they not do that anymore? Mind you it was all such common sense obvious things you can't imagine why it would need to be taught.

Having said that, we were on a walk this summer, sticking to the path of course, then we went over a stile and found the footpath route was right across the middle of the field and sign posted so. Well fine, except the field had been planted with potatoes and there was no obvious gap. It was also an immense field with a slight rise so we couldn't actually see the way out. We set off trying to keep between two rows but the potato plants were so large by then that it soon became really difficult to tell if we were on the right path at all. After a long and difficult trudge we finally got to the other side and found a corresponding footpath sign pointing back the way we had just come plus a request to stick to the path! In that case I couldn't help feeling that if a slightly larger gap had been left rather than trying to plant on every last inch then ultimately there might have been fewer trampled plants.

[MichelleScarn]

In that case I couldn't help feeling that if a slightly larger gap had been left rather than trying to plant on every last inch then ultimately there might have been fewer trampled plants. sorry you do realise the farmer is more bothered about their income from the crop rather than ease of access for walkers? You don't have to walk there, they have to plant their crop!

[MynephewR]

OP that's awful!

Forgive me if I'm being dense, I've always lived in cities and know next to nothing about walking in rural areas, but why on earth do people choose to walk on a field rather than stick to footpaths? Surely the footpaths are there for a reason and you wouldn't want to be trespassing or walking through people's crops? I can't get my head around this. I love walking but it would never occur to me to walk on a field, especially when it's wet and muddy.

[bluecheesefan]

People forget that the countryside is a workplace and a food factory, don't they?

[Changechangychange]

@MynephewR

OP that's awful!

Forgive me if I'm being dense, I've always lived in cities and know next to nothing about walking in rural areas, but why on earth do people choose to walk on a field rather than stick to footpaths? Surely the footpaths are there for a reason and you wouldn't want to be trespassing or walking through people's crops? I can't get my head around this. I love walking but it would never occur to me to walk on a field, especially when it's wet and muddy.

If lots of people have already been there, the footpaths get churned up and muddy. But there is a tempting bit of non-churned field right next to them, with wheat shoots to provide a bit of traction for the soles of your shoes.

It is awful and destructive, and shouldn’t happen, but of course it is easier to walk over “grass” than through churned up mud, so selfish people will just do it anyway.

[SoupDragon]

sorry you do realise the farmer is more bothered about their income from the crop rather than ease of access for walkers? You don't have to walk there, they have to plant their crop!

I thought they were supposed to leave an obvious path clear and not obstruct it if there is a public footpath. Most do around here.

[SoupDragon]

OP that is awful. What idiots! It's surely common sense not to walk on a planted field but clearly some have no idea.

[CrotchBurn]

Thanks OP I dont go to the countryside but if ever I do I will remember this. Looking at that photo it wouldnt have occured to me that something was growing there

[Livelovebehappy]

I’m guessing it’s a public footpath? If people are diverting off it onto your field, can’t you put a fence up?

[VeniVidiWeeWee]

Unfortunately OP, I suspect this isn't allowed now.

[Stellaroses]

If there is no public right of way there, then yanbu. If that’s a footpath that’s been enlarged by people going round or all-nighter side by side (and presumably there’s not a clear “path” marked out) then I’m sorry then I couldn’t get worked up about it. Mark out your “in use” area.
Have lived in the country all my life.

[MynephewR]

@changechangychange aah OK, I see, thank you. Now I understand what the OP means about wearing wellies.

[InsertRudeWord]

YANBU. I don't think it even occurs to most people that the land actually belongs to someone.

[Sparrowfeeder]

Electric fence?

[BlackeyedSusan]

is there a cheap solution?