People living in the countryside moaning about rural life

[SuePreemly]

I live in a village. New housing estates have gone in recently. Since then we've had complaints on the local FB page about:

Horse poo on roads
Crow scarers in the field being loud
Slurry smells
Dust during combine season

What on earth do people who move into a rural village surrounded by fields expect?

They're always on about having "consideration for others" on their posts, whilst showing none to the place and people whose work involves it 🥴

On the flip side - my toddler went to London for the first time and after two days looked deeply concerned and asked where the cows where…

I'm trying not to imagine the scene....point taken.....

😆

That's excellent.

In a similar vein, many years ago I had the pleasure of watching country boy DH coping with escalators on the underground. I'd been living there for a while and felt very accomplished that I didn't stumble on and off them any longer.

I live in an area that had a massive influx of people moving into the countryside around pandemic time , because it's comparatively cheap for a decent size house with a bit of land . So far , they've complained about no street lighting , no pavement , no buses , no takeaway deliveries, not many taxis , mud on the roads , the occasional loose animal , the neighbour ponies eating their hedge. and tractors working at all hours .

There's a reason why houses are cheaper here - you moved into the largest area of concentrated farming in the country . It puts nearly 70% of all foot crops on your plate . It has the highest percentage of grade 1 ( most fertile) soil in the UK. You're living in the middle of a food factory for gods sake ,

The bastards also drive at a consistent, infuriating 40mph on the lanes then remain at 40 when they hit a village 😡

We live opposite a farm in an AONB and I love it. I love the seasons and watching everything happen. I love the smells. It’s a privilege.

Horse riders, I don’t get why they need to hack down the only road out of the village at commute time when there’s a whole network of bridle paths a few hundred yards away. It’s got nothing to do with farming nor food production around here, it’s just a posh hobby that destroys the soil in the fields they graze in. For us it caused significant ground water flooding over the winter.

I so wish that Thelwell was still around to draw a cartoon of this!

Because most horse owners work, you know to pay for their horses so only have limited times when they can ride.
Most bridleways can only be accessed via riding on roads thanks to councils selling fields with bridleway access to developers to build houses on.

Horse riders, I don’t get why they need to hack down the only road out of the village at commute time

Porridge - They've got just as much right to be on the road as you.

Ah the newbies with a clean range rover, schoffel and an out of control gundog. Round here they're called DFLs (down from London)

I mean I have a half trained spaniel (it's as good as they get) but also a 14 year old people carrier and it's very much a Rydale fleece for me 🤣

Tbh, people acting dickishly after moving to the countryside are probably dicks wherever they live. They were probably dicks in the towns they moved from too. So it’s a bit silly and tunnel visioned to tar all ‘townies’ with the same brush. I’m sure countryside dwellers also have their own born and bread rural idiots living amongst them too….

And yea, horses have equal right to be on the road, and are classed as vulnerable road users.

Live in the countryside, deal with countryside matters.

Very true!

bred

I was waiting for the "posh" hobby or "rich" comment as soon as horses were mentioned, and I see it's turned up. First time I've seen someone moaning about horses being grazed in their own fields (presumably fields owned by people more than happy to keep horses on their land) though so will add to the list.

Oh please, let them go from round us as well before I find my patio has to be dug up to level it!

Most of the people who move out to rural areas do their homework and think about things carefully. They make a welcome addition to village life. We have had some though who just have not thought it through. Farming is an industry like any other and at times it is far from quiet. We have had complaints around tractors (driving slowly and just well being tractors), animal noises and smells.

What @Livelovebehappy said.

Not all townies or Londoners are dicks. These people probably complained about things when they lived in cities. They’re just idiots

I hope you’re kidding about the horse poo?! Do you really expect a rider to get off their horse to pick up poo in the middle of a road - dangerous but also some riders wouldn’t be able to get back on again without a mounting block. Horse poo is good for the plants, unlike dog poo which is acidic. I think you just need to toughen up a bit!

Completely agree.
I always take the 'pass wide and slow' approach.
My comments re poo in walking areas are really my only 'complaint', tbh it's more a minor gripe, and in general the horse riders here are (mostly) very considerate of everyone else.

@SuePreemly it's very much a Rydale fleece for me
I have a massive Ryedale raincoat. I used to do the school run (walk) in the previous one. Bloody amazing garment.

Never heard of Ryedale tbh, are they good quality?

You try getting off a horse in the middle of a road with a shovel, holding the horse behind you with cars behind or infront of you. If the horse doesn’t freak at the shovel , the plastic bag with definitely do the job, never mind trying to get back on it without a mounting block, you’d get motorists complaining about being delayed then. Horse poo isn’t toxic like dog poo to plants. I think you need to toughen up a bit!

They always have stands at county shows etc & now have a website. Sort of how joules started out but they've stayed more practical/rural whereas joules went mainstream.
Decent quality & reasonably priced fleeces, waterproofs, tweed etc