To maintain a farmer’s land myself?

[Shan5474]

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?

Personally, I wouldn't talk to the farmer!

Not if he can aim

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

If it was my land. I'd prosecute.

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.

If it's an actual footpath, the footpaths team from the council should be maintaining access. I'd start there. (I know this as I have a public footpath running across my land and the council come by and cut all the hedges back etc and regularly check the footpath)

OP - are you 100 per cent it's a right of way. I'd check that first.

Who can blame the farmer really? People are such a-holes on land belonging to others. Take the pandemic - people didn't like the mud, so they walked alongside the footpaths, making them bigger and bigger.

For criminal damage of nettles and bindweed between your hedgerows?

I definitely thought it was the landowner or tenant’s responsibility but maybe I’ll check that. If it was the council who did it here a few days ago they did an awful job! Does that mean you don’t own your hedges or do they back onto public/council-owned land?

I've been for walks with shears on my local footpaths. I'd say do it

It's criminal damage - even if it's weeds.

OP - there is the Weeds Act 1959 - I'd try asking your local council

If it was a ROW?!

Yes, I know rather a lot of farmers. They vary enormously in their personal values, like everyone else. And the overlap between the ones who facilitate and organise bloodsports and the ones who think rights of way aren't real is considerable. Your Aunt isn't really relevant either way, lovely as I'm sure she is.

Just take a pair of secateurs with you on your walks and cut a bit back each day. Got to be the easiest solution. In this situation I'd definitely ask for forgiveness, not permission!

Where are you?

You know farmers going on hunts? Actual Farmers or Gentleman farmers?