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Original poster

To maintain a farmer’s land myself?

62 replies

Shan5474 · 20/06/2024 13:41

I think some people will say this is petty and I need to get a hobby, thing is walking and gardening are my hobbies.

In a nutshell, if you were a farmer or landowner, would you be annoyed at someone maintaining a path that runs in between/through your fields?

The path is the quickest way to the neighbouring village and river, it’s hilly but lovely. Public transport takes an hour whereas this is a direct 30 minute walk. The problem is the path (it is a right of way, marked on paper maps and has yellow arrows by the styles) is maintained about twice a year so for much of the summer and winter it’s impassable unless you’re wearing chainsaw trousers and a helmet due to 6ft+ nettles, brambles and weeds. The path was maintained a few days ago but it’s still impassable (see photo - it’s really not possible to walk through). Second photo is just the nice view while on the walk.

I know farmers are very busy. However this farmer does have time to set up occasional shoots in one of the fields that the path runs directly through which I’m surprised is allowed on a public right of way.

This is really rambly but my question is if I were to contact the farmer somehow and offer to maintain it, or in fact just do it myself, would this be unreasonable and what kind of response can I expect?

To maintain a farmer’s land myself?
To maintain a farmer’s land myself?
OP posts:
Satanzlilhelpa · 20/06/2024 22:38

Farmers who go in for bloodsports?

Do you actually know any farmers? They work all day EVERY day for very little.

My Auntie farms and has farmed since she left school at 15. She's constantly broke and she's one of the hardest working people I know. The food on your plate - you do realise a Farmer has toiled HARD for that.

Satanzlilhelpa · 20/06/2024 22:35

If it was my land. I'd prosecute.

sprigatito · 20/06/2024 22:17

OrlandointheWilderness · 20/06/2024 19:03

Ah I suspect if they shoot the land through the winter I doubt the farmer wants all and sundry walking through where he is rearing his birds! However it's a ROW so it's tough shit tbh. Might be worth speaking to him - through rearing season he might be open to you taking a slightly different route then everyone is happy.

This. The farmer is probably neglecting it on purpose because he doesn't think rights of way should exist. Lots of farmers don't, especially the type who go in for bloodsports.

Mutstersmum · 20/06/2024 22:15

As a farmer I would be delighted if someone offered to cut the ROW access :) The worst they can say is no, which would be unreasonable!

Beamur · 20/06/2024 22:13

If it's weeds etc, it's not the farmers responsibility for clearing it. It's the local authority.
Contact them but if you're willing to do some maintenance yourself, see if there's any volunteer opportunities.
Some Councils or other local groups run work parties - this also means you're insured, and aren't going to fall foul of the law.
Common law also says you can remove enough of an obstruction to get past. But you can't walk along equipped with a strimmer for example, and you need to leave anything you cut off in situ.

AbraAbraCadabra · 20/06/2024 22:10

Greenbike · 20/06/2024 18:58

I think if you went out with some shears the chances of any negative repercussions are near zero. What’s the landowner going to do - sue you and tell a judge he wasn’t properly maintaining the RoW? If that path was near me I would happily cut it back.

This. Just go and cut it back. Round our way there's a local group that maintains them. The likelihood of being done for criminal damage is zero to nil.

WiddlinDiddlin · 20/06/2024 22:04

If it was me.. and I could physically do it... I would take a walk with a suitable bit of kit ... but I'd make super certain I was accurate about the path route, and the width the path should be.

Technically, the landowner could claim criminal damage. They'd need to be fucking stupid to do so because it would just draw more attention to any wilful attempts to block the footpath and stop it being used. They would also lose, unless they can evidence that you've actually done damage - cutting back nettles and brambles that block a ROW is not 'damage'... but if you did cut it back too far, that could be a problem.

I'd also recommend being subtle about it - a pair of loppers and secateurs, on a quiet evening, yes. A massive Stihl petrol chainsaw and a gas flame thrower on a shoot day... not so much.

Fortunately for the countryside and the population whilst I do have the chainsaw, I do not wield it from my power wheelchair!

BoobyDazzler · 20/06/2024 21:41

I’ve done mine favourite foot path a couple of times with shears when it’s become impassable.

I can’t see there’s anything wrong with it.

Original poster
Shan5474 · 20/06/2024 21:35

I’m surprised most people are saying they wouldn’t contact the farmer. I naively thought he might be pleased I’m willing to do it for free. I don’t think it will encourage extra footfall due to the steep hills

OP posts:
Bemusedandconfusedagain · 20/06/2024 19:35

If it's West Sussex they're really proactive. They have volunteers who go out and inspect them abs a team to organise follow up work.

Satanzlilhelpa · 20/06/2024 19:28

Not if he can aim

grassyknees · 20/06/2024 19:11

Personally, I wouldn't talk to the farmer!

grassyknees · 20/06/2024 19:09

I've done a few reports in my time 😀

Try this

www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisure-tourism/discover-east-sussex/rights-of-way/problems-on-rights-of-way/report

OrlandointheWilderness · 20/06/2024 19:03

Ah I suspect if they shoot the land through the winter I doubt the farmer wants all and sundry walking through where he is rearing his birds! However it's a ROW so it's tough shit tbh. Might be worth speaking to him - through rearing season he might be open to you taking a slightly different route then everyone is happy.

ZoeyBartlett · 20/06/2024 19:03

I wouldn't even think twice about it! I went out last weekend with the hedge trimmer and cleared path near me that was getting overgrown. And yes it is a proper ROW.

Greenbike · 20/06/2024 18:58

I think if you went out with some shears the chances of any negative repercussions are near zero. What’s the landowner going to do - sue you and tell a judge he wasn’t properly maintaining the RoW? If that path was near me I would happily cut it back.

Original poster
Shan5474 · 20/06/2024 18:42

PaganOfTheGoodTimes · 20/06/2024 17:33

I go out walking with a big walking pole and secateurs in my pocket OP - I refuse to let these ROW disappear, sod the farmers who refuse to maintain them. I've previously tried reporting the council which achieves the sum of fuck all so 🤷🏼‍♀️

Edited

I’ve just looked on the council website and it says that right of way issues are usually dealt with in 3-6 months 👎. If taking a hedgetrimmer would be criminal damage like PPs suggest I think I also need to get myself a big stick!

OP posts:
PaganOfTheGoodTimes · 20/06/2024 17:33

I go out walking with a big walking pole and secateurs in my pocket OP - I refuse to let these ROW disappear, sod the farmers who refuse to maintain them. I've previously tried reporting the council which achieves the sum of fuck all so 🤷🏼‍♀️

Original poster
Shan5474 · 20/06/2024 15:35

Such a shame to hear we’re at risk of losing so many paths! It’s in Sussex and I don’t know the landowner. I didn’t know about ROW teams, I’ll report the path along with photos of the condition and I suppose be prepared to keep reporting as it’s been a similar story for the last couple of years. If I were going to do it I’d use a hedge trimmer instead of wandering about with a scythe as I might get to reported to someone myself!

I also didn’t know it was legal to organise shoots on or near ROWs!

OP posts:
Original poster
Shan5474 · 20/06/2024 15:23

Thank you everyone, I think it’s definitely a ROW and not rewilding, it’s marked by yellow arrows on the (broken) styles and one of the paths is covered in bindweed which I don’t think is native or wild.

I do feel the farmer/owner is doing the bare minimum, I stomped my way through part of the route that I could still just about get access through and when I came through that bit after it had been maintained, the only evidence I saw was about 5 nettles had been broken in half - I did more than that using a leaf for a glove 😂

OP posts:
Butterflyfern · 20/06/2024 15:00

Satanzlilhelpa · 20/06/2024 14:54

@user1492757084 I can assure you if whoever owns it wanted it accesible it would be

But whether the landowner wants is accessible or not is actually not relevant, as long as it is a proper public right of way.

Absolutely contact the council as pp said. We are potentially at risk of loosing 100s of miles of public footpath in this country, one of the causes of this is landowners quietly not maintaining their footpaths as legally required in the hope that people stop using them and then eventually forget they exist https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/mar/22/government-accused-u-turn-england-footpath-promise

Fears England risks losing historical footpaths forever in government U-turn

Walking groups protest as deadline reimposed to register rights of way lost to private landowners

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/mar/22/government-accused-u-turn-england-footpath-promise

Satanzlilhelpa · 20/06/2024 14:54

@user1492757084 I can assure you if whoever owns it wanted it accesible it would be

Satanzlilhelpa · 20/06/2024 14:53

Do you know the owner?

Satanzlilhelpa · 20/06/2024 14:52

She can't cut with a sycthe - it's criminal damage.