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Original poster

What to do about ongoing problems with groups of Duke Of Edinburgh students?

111 replies

GunkyAndGungey · 02/07/2023 17:14

We live on a large farm, and a well known footpath crosses past the end of our garden and then through two of our fields. Its a popular route with DofE expedition groups and a lot of them pass through. I've lived here nearly 10 years and whilst occasionally they get lost and end up in the garden (which is fine, we just show them the right path) and sometimes they're quite noisy as they pass (which I don't mind, it's quite nice to hear teenagers enjoying being outside tbh) we've never been bothered by them. Until this summer...

I don't know why, but this summer they all seem to be complete fools. In the last month alone:

  • we have found one group climbing on farm machinery whilst taking photos of each other

  • we have found two groups that have wandered off the path, through a closed gate, and into one of our fields, where they've gone into the little living willow shelter we have built with table/chairs/firepit and settled down for a picnic (leaving food strewn around and litter behind).

  • my dad caught another group poking round inside a derelict and dangerous barn (again for photo opportunities 🙄)

  • we have spotted several chucking litter over the hedge into our garden - each and every time we have caught them we have made them pick it up but obviously we don't catch them all and there is definitely much more litter than in previous years

  • and to top it all, today I found yet another group off the path messing around trying to open the manhole cover that forms the lid to an old (unused) cess pit. This is not only off the path but it's invisible from the path, you can only see it once you are about 100 yards along our drive (which is very clearly marked PRIVATE) and they had to climb over barbed wire to get to it. Their excuse was that they "thought it was an old bomb shelter and they learned about them last week".

We always ask what school they're from and about half the time they do tell us, in which case we complain to the school. But I feel like we should start complaining to the DofE scheme itself now? Because clearly the students aren't being taught the basics before they're let loose in the countryside! Would there be any point though?

*Just to make clear these are all definitely DofE groups - we have also noticed an overall uptick in other walkers doing stupid shit (trying to put up a tent in a cow field without permission or letting their children into our garden to use the garden toys like it's a park, anyone?), but there's nobody to complain to about them!!

OP posts:
StillWantingADog · 02/07/2023 21:33

I have no idea how best to tackle this - good ideas above but YANBU at all to want to take action and you definitely should

I am sure the pandemic was partly to blame. As a family we actually did far more countryside stuff in the pandemic (as we are close and there was little else to do) but I’m sure the opposite was the case for many families- not necessarily the kids’ fault but they absolutely do need to be educated

swanling · 02/07/2023 21:45

If I were in your position, I would find out which schools they were from and offer to come into local schools to deliver sessions about the countryside code, and why you shouldn’t play on farm machinery etc.

That's the responsibility of whoever is running the DofE groups - they are supposed to provide training before sending kids out on expedition.

MrsMerrick · 03/07/2023 06:43

Do contact the local DofE office - they can then contact the schools and groups who use your routes.

When you do this, ask for a supervising adult to checkpoint at your farm if their groups are using the footpath. Give details of the incidents you have mentioned.

As others have said, post-pandemic, there seems to be less awareness among some young people of the impact of their behaviour. Schools or groups may well be providing the same training as normal, but it is possible it is going in one ear and out the other.

Appleshapedmum · 03/07/2023 06:56

Can you add coloured arrows of paint to the gates, big rocks, tree stump etc highlighting the correct route of the footpath? That way they cannot try and use the excuse they veered from the path as it will be blatantly obvious. I know it shouldn’t need to be done by you but might help. Many of the GR routes in France are marked by paint which makes them easier to follow. Hope things get better.

WonderingWanda · 03/07/2023 07:19

I agree with the poster who said teenagers are more immature and badly behaved since covid. Many also seem to be ruled by idiotic videos on TikTok. I'm not sure what to suggest short of demanding their school contact number and calling that person there and then. Also write to the Head and the Chair or Governors. Maybe the local press, schools hate bad press.

Since covid I have had cut three field trips short and return to school due to poor behaviour of the students. They don't seem to be able or willing to follow a single rule or instruction.

Original poster
GunkyAndGungey · 03/07/2023 07:34

It's interesting that so many of you agree that teenage behaviour has got so much worse generally! I don't like to give teenagers a hard time just for being, well, teenagers... or be one of those 'back in my day' moaners. But they really do seem to be utterly clueless and immature now!

We are going to increase signage for the footpath (tho trust me it is already very much adequate) and look into some warning signs too. And hope that the teenager crop gets a little less ridiculous over the next few years...

OP posts:
blametheparents · 03/07/2023 07:44

MrsMerrick · 03/07/2023 06:43

Do contact the local DofE office - they can then contact the schools and groups who use your routes.

When you do this, ask for a supervising adult to checkpoint at your farm if their groups are using the footpath. Give details of the incidents you have mentioned.

As others have said, post-pandemic, there seems to be less awareness among some young people of the impact of their behaviour. Schools or groups may well be providing the same training as normal, but it is possible it is going in one ear and out the other.

Definitely agree that an adult could be near your farm to check on the kids.
The school or scout pack, or whoever is running the scheme, have a responsibility to ensure that their participants behave responsibly.

Nowtworthlookingat · 03/07/2023 07:45

Our stables backs onto moorland. Since Covid we easily have ten times more DofE around than we used to and not one of them knows how to safely behave around a horse (going past on a moorland path, through a field footpath etc). The constant shouting and shrieking on Saturdays is pretty wearing too.

TheaBrandt · 03/07/2023 08:43

Pretty much every other year 9 kid seems to be doing it this year. Not guilty dd2 flatly refused!

Hibiscrubbed · 03/07/2023 08:50

GunkyAndGungey · 02/07/2023 17:14

We live on a large farm, and a well known footpath crosses past the end of our garden and then through two of our fields. Its a popular route with DofE expedition groups and a lot of them pass through. I've lived here nearly 10 years and whilst occasionally they get lost and end up in the garden (which is fine, we just show them the right path) and sometimes they're quite noisy as they pass (which I don't mind, it's quite nice to hear teenagers enjoying being outside tbh) we've never been bothered by them. Until this summer...

I don't know why, but this summer they all seem to be complete fools. In the last month alone:

  • we have found one group climbing on farm machinery whilst taking photos of each other

  • we have found two groups that have wandered off the path, through a closed gate, and into one of our fields, where they've gone into the little living willow shelter we have built with table/chairs/firepit and settled down for a picnic (leaving food strewn around and litter behind).

  • my dad caught another group poking round inside a derelict and dangerous barn (again for photo opportunities 🙄)

  • we have spotted several chucking litter over the hedge into our garden - each and every time we have caught them we have made them pick it up but obviously we don't catch them all and there is definitely much more litter than in previous years

  • and to top it all, today I found yet another group off the path messing around trying to open the manhole cover that forms the lid to an old (unused) cess pit. This is not only off the path but it's invisible from the path, you can only see it once you are about 100 yards along our drive (which is very clearly marked PRIVATE) and they had to climb over barbed wire to get to it. Their excuse was that they "thought it was an old bomb shelter and they learned about them last week".

We always ask what school they're from and about half the time they do tell us, in which case we complain to the school. But I feel like we should start complaining to the DofE scheme itself now? Because clearly the students aren't being taught the basics before they're let loose in the countryside! Would there be any point though?

*Just to make clear these are all definitely DofE groups - we have also noticed an overall uptick in other walkers doing stupid shit (trying to put up a tent in a cow field without permission or letting their children into our garden to use the garden toys like it's a park, anyone?), but there's nobody to complain to about them!!

Jesus Christ. I too, live rurally on a farm, and the utterly stupid shit that members of the public do on a horrifyingly regular basis in our land could fill a book. My blood pressure raises just thinking about it.

I don’t know if they’re entitled, genuinely don’t give a shit or they’re beyond stupid, but it’s relentless.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 03/07/2023 08:51

It’s useful for you to know that the DofE participants on expeditions have to fulfil the 20 conditions laid down by the DofE, one of which is:

  1. Participants must behave responsibly with respect for their team members, Leaders, the public and animals.

so when you report them to their school and the DofE, point out that their behaviour means that they are failing to fulfil the 20 conditions and thus you presume that they will be required to repeat the expedition to demonstrate the necessary level of competence.

Terryer · 03/07/2023 08:54

People in this country are now completely mad.

I've had people drive their car into the middle of my recently topped field and have a picnic while their dogs run around and shit everywhere then knock on my door and ask if they can use the loo

And holding a toddler age child on my horses back and taking a photo

twistyizzy · 03/07/2023 08:59

This is crazy but sadly I'm not surprised. So many people have no idea how to behave in the countryside and zero notion of the countryside code. Surely it is the responsibility of parents and the DoE leaders to ensure all participants are fully aware of this before they start? Im hoping DD will do this once she is old enough but she already knows how to behave in the countryside, and especially around livestock + someone else's property.

twistyizzy · 03/07/2023 09:00

Terryer · 03/07/2023 08:54

People in this country are now completely mad.

I've had people drive their car into the middle of my recently topped field and have a picnic while their dogs run around and shit everywhere then knock on my door and ask if they can use the loo

And holding a toddler age child on my horses back and taking a photo

Wtaf??!!

Terryer · 03/07/2023 09:03

twistyizzy · 03/07/2023 09:00

Wtaf??!!

Show quote history

Yep. Since Covid

I honestly am starting to think that covid may have done something to people's brains

Original poster
GunkyAndGungey · 03/07/2023 09:09

Terryer · 03/07/2023 08:54

People in this country are now completely mad.

I've had people drive their car into the middle of my recently topped field and have a picnic while their dogs run around and shit everywhere then knock on my door and ask if they can use the loo

And holding a toddler age child on my horses back and taking a photo

Don't get me started on the general public. We've also had someone drive a Landrover along the footpath (it's a footpath not a green lane or bridleway, absolutely no vehicle access permitted) into the middle of a field that has a nice view, and set up a fucking BBQ with a folding table and camp chairs! And get super arsey when asked to leave, told me it was open access land (it isn't) and that I'd be hearing from his solicitor (I didn't 😂).

OP posts:
SaturdayGiraffe · 03/07/2023 09:13

The best sign you could put would be “Free phone charging and wifi” with an arrow pointing away from your land.

JaukiVexnoydi · 03/07/2023 09:23

Agree with PP that said identity the campsite where they are staying. Complain to them - their business operations are directly encouraging activities which are creating unmanaged risks and dangers. It won't be an ordinary "holidaymaker" campsite but some kind of outdoor education activity centre somewhere in a 10 mile radius.

As well as the covid effect that others have suggested - another reason for it getting worse might be if the kids are younger? My DCs school always used to start them off on DofE in y10 but they have changed to y9 in order to reduce the impact on GCSE studies.

midgetastic · 03/07/2023 09:30

DOE groups do use ordinary everyday campsites

Catspyjamas17 · 03/07/2023 09:31

I don't think kids have got any worse. We didn't do D of E en masse at my school 30 years ago (I think some kids did it who were in scouts/guides) - when I think of how completely bonkers and naughty my year were in Y9, especially the lads, I shudder to think about us being allowed out to roam freely in the countryside in 1989! We'd probably have organised an illegal rave.

Though what the others said about writing and complaining - fair enough, climbing on farm machinery is pretty dangerous. And also you may be liable if they are injured.

Hibiscrubbed · 03/07/2023 09:31

GunkyAndGungey · 03/07/2023 09:09

Don't get me started on the general public. We've also had someone drive a Landrover along the footpath (it's a footpath not a green lane or bridleway, absolutely no vehicle access permitted) into the middle of a field that has a nice view, and set up a fucking BBQ with a folding table and camp chairs! And get super arsey when asked to leave, told me it was open access land (it isn't) and that I'd be hearing from his solicitor (I didn't 😂).

Show quote history

We’ve had similar. And a family who built a fire and got out a picnic in a field full of cows and calves, people feeding my livestock all sorts of shit including ham and beer, people trying to ride my unbroken horses, dog walkers in my garden, people leaving gates open all the fucking time so livestock escapes, and a man who threatened me physically and became very aggressive because he drove his car illegally into a field and ran over some machinery hidden in the long grass, and got stuck and fucked his car.

😂 it’s just unbelievable. He also claimed to have a right to access my land. He didn’t. Fortunately I got him on video as I have a camera on the quad for just such occasions.

On top of actually running the land, it’s a full time job just making sure ignorant twats don’t fuck it up at every turn.

ChocChipHandbag · 03/07/2023 09:35

How have the schools responded when you’ve complained?

Catspyjamas17 · 03/07/2023 09:35

Also this Y9 cohort did not have a school journey or any celebrations in Y6, nor a proper transition to secondary school, nor a Y7 bonding trip, and most will have not had any school trips or enrichment activity at all in secondary school as Covid, the cost of living crisis, high insurance and Brexit has curtailed most extra curricular activity. I'm not surprised they are a bit giddy about their sudden freedom.

Terryer · 03/07/2023 09:36

GunkyAndGungey · 03/07/2023 09:09

Don't get me started on the general public. We've also had someone drive a Landrover along the footpath (it's a footpath not a green lane or bridleway, absolutely no vehicle access permitted) into the middle of a field that has a nice view, and set up a fucking BBQ with a folding table and camp chairs! And get super arsey when asked to leave, told me it was open access land (it isn't) and that I'd be hearing from his solicitor (I didn't 😂).

Show quote history

Omg the arseyness!

I told horse man to fuck off in my best posh voice and he called me a cunt back. I actually though he was going to punch me. I moved the horse after that for a bit as I was worried he was going to come back and hurt it.

PuttingDownRoots · 03/07/2023 09:41

Quick question for OP and any other farmers/landowners...

We teach our Scouts to leave gates as they found them. But is there any way you can tell if a gate has been left open accidentally/ignorantly as opposed to deliberately being open?