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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to tell people that you can go for walks in the countryside which is lovely

496 replies

chomalungma · 01/11/2020 10:37

But the pubs will be shut so you can't get a lovely lunch whilst out

So it's going to be pack lunches again.

At least this time there won't be people complaining about people exercising in the Peak District like last time!

OP posts:
Orcus · 01/11/2020 20:29

@CherryPavlova

I think given the change in the weather there won’t be too many driving out to yomp for miles through mud and down slippy chalk paths for easy entertainment. We’ve no lavatories, no public transport, no picnic benches, no coffee shop pub and the church is closed. Unless you genuinely enjoy ‘proper’ walking (and thus are likely to understand ad respect the rural way of life) then I cannot see a wet countryside holding huge popular appeal. Thank goodness. We really don’t want bored townies bringing a higher risk of the virus to our old folk.
Nobody cares how you want public land to be used.
flaviaritt · 01/11/2020 20:31

flaviaritt, what exactly is so hard to grasp about this

There are no known cases of viral transmission from any surface, let alone an outdoor space where physical distancing is easy to achieve. This is literally hysteria.

TrainspottingWelsh · 01/11/2020 20:34

Yabu. If you have enough intelligence to visit the countryside and behave in a respectful, legal and considerate manner, you should be capable of thinking up countryside walks unaided. So you're only encouraging the idiots.

What we don't need is a repeat of spring and summer, with hordes of stupid entitled people trespassing, damaging private property and businesses, harming and killing pets, livestock and wildlife, causing chaos with their shit parking, trailing litter, moaning about anything that didn't match their sanitised version of how the countryside should be and generally behaving like arseholes. They spoil things for residents and decent respectful visitors.

We aren't a tourist hotspot, and thankfully I don't have any rights of way on my land. Pre covid if I saw a stranger near my fence or met one on a path, I'd count my blessings to have this on my doorstep and share a greeting. Now, I watch closely because it's more likely to be someone acting like a twat.

Hopefully winter weather will mean I can get back to encountering families and dog walkers and letting the dc stroke a horse, assuring the dog owner that they can release their well trained dog from heel because I don't mind a few muddy paw prints etc. Rather than having to grit my teeth while I try and politely explain why their brats can't feed or climb on the horses, catch badly trained dogs, point out my driveway, land and the neighbours aren't fucking car parks, and generally tell people to fuck off private property.

Pumperthepumper · 01/11/2020 20:35

@flaviaritt

flaviaritt, what exactly is so hard to grasp about this

There are no known cases of viral transmission from any surface, let alone an outdoor space where physical distancing is easy to achieve. This is literally hysteria.

YOU'RE GOING TO GO ANYWAY! What you want is for the locals to be delighted that people are descending on their small towns because they rely on tourists. You’re not going to get that because people are scared. So you’re going to boycott forever!
CherryPavlova · 01/11/2020 20:40

flaviaritt, Your evidence base?

Here’s some reading to get you started.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190947/

Buddytheelf85 · 01/11/2020 20:41

The message has been that outdoor recreation is encouraged. Which is madness, given the exponential spread caused by Covid-carrying city dwellers touching stiles.

CherryPavlova · 01/11/2020 20:47

Orcus I don’t have an opinion about the activities people choose to use our area for as such. I care if they are disrespectful, upset livestock, leave litter, cause damage or place others at risk.

A kindly and mindful fifty-year-old dancing naked around a beech tree, on a designated footpath - fine by me. I just think the weather is going to put them off at the moment. That’s good because their are no bonfires, few trespassers, less litter and fouling Three families deciding to picnic in a private field, to light a barbecue, to leave their dog running around the livestock and children screeching and carving initials in the trees is less acceptable.

Nobody minds thoughtful and considerate people going about their business. It’s the rather dim, lazy and selfish I’d rather stayed away.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 01/11/2020 20:51

Earlier in the year, lack of countryside and parks was depressing. Lovely unmuddy walk this afternoon mostly along the Thames; London is coming in to its own, it was great.
Shame there won't be any galleries to visit before turning around and going home again.

Are zoos able to stay open this time around?

flaviaritt · 01/11/2020 20:54

CherryPavlova

I don’t need to provide an ‘evidence base’ or read things you suggest, thanks. If you don’t believe me, don’t believe me. I am just going to follow the law.

Orcus · 01/11/2020 20:54

@CherryPavlova

Orcus I don’t have an opinion about the activities people choose to use our area for as such. I care if they are disrespectful, upset livestock, leave litter, cause damage or place others at risk.

A kindly and mindful fifty-year-old dancing naked around a beech tree, on a designated footpath - fine by me. I just think the weather is going to put them off at the moment. That’s good because their are no bonfires, few trespassers, less litter and fouling Three families deciding to picnic in a private field, to light a barbecue, to leave their dog running around the livestock and children screeching and carving initials in the trees is less acceptable.

Nobody minds thoughtful and considerate people going about their business. It’s the rather dim, lazy and selfish I’d rather stayed away.

Which is not quite what you said initially, and in any case, those people still have the precise same right to be present in your locality as you do.
flaviaritt · 01/11/2020 20:55

Pumperthepumper

You sound totally calm and reasonable. Yes.

CherryPavlova · 01/11/2020 20:55

@flaviaritt

CherryPavlova

I don’t need to provide an ‘evidence base’ or read things you suggest, thanks. If you don’t believe me, don’t believe me. I am just going to follow the law.

You said the virus couldn’t be spread outside. Dangerous nonsense with no factual basis.
flaviaritt · 01/11/2020 20:57

CherryPavlova

I said it isn’t spreading outside, not that it is impossible. But you keep going with your fictional complaints. I will just do what I know is safe and reasonable, as I am entitled to do.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 01/11/2020 20:58

People are ready to get the pitch forks out. For the love of god people just learn to sit and stay

Looks round for a tail Hmm. Nope, haven’t got one, I’m not a dog so I won’t sit and stay.

I live about 18 miles from the Peak District and if it’s not pissing it down we will be coming for a walk there, Kinder most likely.

The Peak District is really our nearest property countryside - we’ve got a country park a few miles away but you have to book to get in to the carpark - very limited numbers permitted, despite the park being fucking enormous!

Other than that we have a river walk we can get to from our house but it runs through heavily populated areas so gets extremely busy with walkers, runners, cyclists.

People from the Peak District come to our town when you can’t get what you need in your villages and also use our acute hospital all year round and when you have babies so why the hell should we ‘sit and stay’ rather than travel to our nearest proper countryside - you don’t own it!!

AcornAutumn · 01/11/2020 20:58

OP half the problem is that even lawyers are struggling to work out law vs guidelines.

I’m in the city - if I went out to the country, I too would have the loo problem.

Pumperthepumper · 01/11/2020 21:00

@flaviaritt

Pumperthepumper

You sound totally calm and reasonable. Yes.

I’m using your logic. Boycotting places you previously loved because they weren’t delighted you when you insisted on visiting during a pandemic. Genius.
flaviaritt · 01/11/2020 21:01

I’ll do what I like, Pumper. Not interested in your opinion on it. You are not in charge of the whole world.

CherryPavlova · 01/11/2020 21:01

Orcus without wishing to be pedantic, some really don’t have as much right to do as we had authority to do

Some in the earlier lockdown chose to break all sorts of rules and were guilty of trespass, criminal damage, offences under Dogs (protection of Livestock) Act 1953 and innumerable parking and Road Traffic Offences. They can be present if no more than two people but it’s those who flout their entitlement that are less welcome.

The weather is our friend at the moment. It’s likely to be a non-issue.

Pumperthepumper · 01/11/2020 21:04

@flaviaritt

I’ll do what I like, Pumper. Not interested in your opinion on it. You are not in charge of the whole world.
I stand by my original statement. You’re being short-sighted and petty.
Youandmeareluckytobeus · 01/11/2020 21:05

I hope that every rule and exemption is made into an emergency law rather than guidance because the number of people on MN seeking loopholes is bloody ridiculous.

TrainspottingWelsh · 01/11/2020 21:10

Actually @Orcus, they don't have any right to behave in the way described. I have the right to visit urban areas, it doesn't follow I or anyone else has the right to enter private homes or businesses, vandalise private property or public amenities, dangle into gardens feeding dairy milk to other people's dogs, dump my shopping wrappers or cheerfully ride or herd cows through gardens and play areas telling any objectors I'm not doing any harm. Strange as you obviously find it, the countryside and it's residents deserve exactly the same respect, and have exactly the same legal rights as town dwellers.

flaviaritt · 01/11/2020 21:10

I hope that every rule and exemption is made into an emergency law rather than guidance because the number of people on MN seeking loopholes is bloody ridiculous.

What is a ‘rule’? Surely we either have laws prohibiting things, or we don’t?

Orcus · 01/11/2020 21:11

@Youandmeareluckytobeus

I hope that every rule and exemption is made into an emergency law rather than guidance because the number of people on MN seeking loopholes is bloody ridiculous.
I hope the general population achieves sufficient understanding that nobody is servile enough to think understanding the difference between law and guidance is seeking loopholes.
Orcus · 01/11/2020 21:13

@TrainspottingWelsh

Actually *@Orcus*, they don't have any right to behave in the way described. I have the right to visit urban areas, it doesn't follow I or anyone else has the right to enter private homes or businesses, vandalise private property or public amenities, dangle into gardens feeding dairy milk to other people's dogs, dump my shopping wrappers or cheerfully ride or herd cows through gardens and play areas telling any objectors I'm not doing any harm. Strange as you obviously find it, the countryside and it's residents deserve exactly the same respect, and have exactly the same legal rights as town dwellers.
Which is why I didn't say they did. Why do you think saying people have a right to be present is the same as saying they have the right to do the things you mention?
chomalungma · 01/11/2020 21:21

@Youandmeareluckytobeus

I hope that every rule and exemption is made into an emergency law rather than guidance because the number of people on MN seeking loopholes is bloody ridiculous.
It gets hard to define things into law - because then unexpected things crop up because of rushed leglisation.

They could do a distance limit in law for exercise. So if people were travelling for exercise, it could only be up to say 10 miles from their address.

OP posts:
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