Am I a cf for asking a farmer this question?

[Whye]

We want to buy a house which is off a rarely used but fast winding country lane - only wide enough for one car. The speed limit is 30 but we have seen cars zooming along. I would not feel safe walking my dog on these country roads. There are some woods nearby but I would probably have to load dogs up each time for the 2 min drive.

There are fields all around. Would I be cheeky to ask the farmer who owns the fields opposite us if I could potentially walk my dogs on the perimeter of his fields, obviously I will pick up messes and be respectful.

We would be 5 mins from a decent sized market town so there are plenty of options just not convenient. Am I being cheeky?

For the record, I'm not involved in farming. I just know a fair few farmers, and work my dog on a local shoot.

The vast majority of farmers do not keep horses. A lot of farms do host shoots. Drives tend to be through woodland (which hasn't been felled because either the land isn't suitable for crops or grazing, or because it's being managed for timber), through sugar beet (a commercial crop), through songbird mixes, over rough grass (not ploughed because the land isn't suitable, might have been cut for hay/silage) and over grazing. Land isn't kept exclusively for pheasant shooting: shooting and cropping/grazing co-exist.

And some people who visit my area are, sadly, often abysmal in how they behave on footpaths. One near us has become an unofficial picnic spot, complete with loads of litter, and people tormenting the cattle and abusing the farmer. Cyclists cut wire rather than lift their bikes over stiles. Dozens of sheep were killed a few years ago by out of control dogs.

Consequently, farmers are not keen on random people walking about on their land.

@FarmersWifeOf30Years

These all suggest that a robust Countryside Code should be taught early in schools and there should be compulsory lessons in nature and conservation.
People are behaving like this as they have no affection for the land as they are so disconnected from it as so much is off limits for them.

Fly tipping is a problem due to builders having to pay to dispose of waste. Perhaps councils need to think about this issue.

Temporary electric fencing would solve the problem of dogs worrying sheep; where I live that's what all the farmers do. Same with cows, the right of way could be electric fenced off do it protects humans and the animals.

No, they're behaving like this because some people are arseholes.

I regularly pick up cans and empty plastic packets when walking the dogs on the local playing fields and in the woods. There is often a lot of litter (and sometimes puke) on the streets of our local small town. None of that is due to people being 'disconnected'. It's because they are arseholes.

It's free to deposit things like fridges and old clothes at our local tip, yet guess what gets fly-tipped in farm gateways and at the end of dead-end lanes? (Clue: most of it isn't builder's rubble.) It's not because of cost. It's because some people are arseholes.

As for dogs worrying sheep...
Why should a farmer have to go to the expense and effort of fencing off footpaths to keep dogs away from his sheep? I have dogs. They're stock-safe (because I've trained them) but they're also on-lead near stock. And how do you propose farmers fence off their sheep on open land like the moors? How well do you think cattle-strength electric fences would go down with walkers whose children or dogs accidentally touch them?

People trash the countryside for all sorts of reasons, and ignorance is only one of them. If people are disconnected from anything, it's good manners and consideration for others. Why they're like that is a whole other discussion.

@EdithStourton

Perhaps it should be made law that dogs need to be on a lead on public footpaths and public spaces.

Yes - a lot of people are completely disconnected from nature and of course they won't respect it if they've never been educated on the subject.
I don't think your tone of "they're all arseholes" helps.

As with all walks of life there are people who respect the countryside and others who don't. For those who do, there should not be laws or regs passed to stop them being in the countryside, and where safe to do so, have their dogs off the lead.

I would much rather educate people, and as with this thread, farmers be allowed to choose if their land can be walked on in addition to public footpaths.

@BurntBroccoli I thought I was pretty clear that all dumpers of litter and fly-tippers are arseholes. Because they are. You should respect your surroundings and not chuck litter wherever you are. It's basic good manners.

There is very good countryside access in the UK, once you're in the countryside itself. I've just come back from a walk along local footpaths. Footpath maps are available online, for free. Disconnection is a combination of urban life, upbringing and lack of interest.

And no, it should not be a law that dogs should be on lead on public footpaths. Mine have just had a 40 minute walk. They were on lead for about three minutes of that because we were on a lane. People need to train their bloody dogs.

Edited to add, I do agree with you that education might be a good idea, though I'm not sure how much good it would do.

It's reasonable to o ask, so long as there's no livestock to chase or crops to trample, and you are careful with walls and gates, then it's reasonable to ask. Of course it's also reasonable for him to refuse - but the fact of you asking rather than assuming will be appreciated...

I've just come back from a walk too. Public footpath blocked by thick undergrowth and stinging nettles. The farmer hates the PROW so he does all he can to prevent access. He's a bit of an arsehole really.

There wasn't a single piece of litter apart from those plastic seed bags strewn around.

The other farm that you gave to go through on the other hand couldn't be more welcoming; they are lovely people and they keep everything pristine.

As a landowner. You are a CF.

youd get a no from me!