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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I a cf for asking a farmer this question?

285 replies

Whye · 07/09/2024 15:18

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?

OP posts:
Areolaborealis · 07/09/2024 18:48

The field is someone's private property. Ask yourself how you would feel is a complete stranger came to your door and asked if they could let their dog poop in your garden because they don't have a garden and can't be bothered going to the park?

Tocleanornottoclean2 · 07/09/2024 18:50

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 07/09/2024 18:09

Also from a farming family and every farmer I know would say no.

My cousin has had so many sheep injured by dogs. My uncle lost several metres of crops because walkers were letting their dogs and kids run through it. We've had sheep and cows get onto arable land because gates were left open.

Then there's what happens if someone gets injured on your land, especially if you've given permission to be there.

I've been allowed by a farmer to use his land to walk, but after several years of chatting to him. He knew I understood the lifestyle and any consequences of mistakes on the land. He knew I'd keep the dog in check. At first, he told us immediately that there was no dog walking on his land. My cousin and uncle have said no to people on their land before now too.

I'm here giving my experience of what will be said and the reasons for it. Not because I want to speak for a farmer because I live in the countryside. I lived rurally. Currently I live on the edge of a housing estate.

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I can count on one hand the problems we have had with people walking, my family has farmed 500 acres for generations. Those problems were not from people who asked if they could walk their dog around the edge of a field. I say ask, they can say no but I imagine it'll depend on the area of the country and the proximity to potential hooligans. The only hooligans we get in our area is the DPD driver who took to shitting in a barn.

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 07/09/2024 19:01

Tocleanornottoclean2 · 07/09/2024 18:50

I can count on one hand the problems we have had with people walking, my family has farmed 500 acres for generations. Those problems were not from people who asked if they could walk their dog around the edge of a field. I say ask, they can say no but I imagine it'll depend on the area of the country and the proximity to potential hooligans. The only hooligans we get in our area is the DPD driver who took to shitting in a barn.

Edited
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You've been lucky. My family have had problems.

ReadWithScepticism · 07/09/2024 19:02

the DPD driver who took to shitting in a barn
GrinGrin That's a delivery I expect you could have done without. Unless you are very very organic ,I suppose.

Tocleanornottoclean2 · 07/09/2024 19:04

ReadWithScepticism · 07/09/2024 19:02

the DPD driver who took to shitting in a barn
GrinGrin That's a delivery I expect you could have done without. Unless you are very very organic ,I suppose.

We wouldn't have noticed probably it he hadn't left loo roll! Happened a few times before we connected the dots. We have an outside loo as well, the postie always used it on his rounds but nope, the corner of an old barn was preferable for this chap!

YourWildAmberSloth · 07/09/2024 19:08

Ago · 07/09/2024 15:26

Then id look somewhere else, what could start as a yes could easily become no in time.

This. He might say yes and then change his mind, or the farm may change hands.

PolePrince55 · 07/09/2024 19:09

It's not cheeky but if he has live sick he wouldn't want dog off lead I wouldn't imagine. If he has crops he won't want them trampled.

PolePrince55 · 07/09/2024 19:10

Whye · 07/09/2024 15:25

Well i won’t buy house if this is not possible. I need to be able to walk dogs without getting in car.

Edited

It's a silly reason to buy or not buy a house.
He could say yes and then put live stock in field and change his mind a year down the line.

Drearydiedre · 07/09/2024 19:11

Our farmer let's us but we made friends first, he saw using the only footpath and said we can walk the perimeters. It's arable though. He doesn't take kindly to the other people who do it though. I don't think id ask before moving in and being neighbourly! Dogs can be a nuisance to farmers

BlueEyedLeucy · 07/09/2024 19:13

We walk on farmer’s fields but I think this may be another if those ‘Scotland is different’ scenarios. And we don’t when there’s livestock in the field, and not through the crops. We walk the edge of the field. So it’s not an option all year round cause it’d be damaging his livelihood.

Ladybird11 · 07/09/2024 19:21

The thing is.. if thrre are no livestock in the field, its crops which you will def not be allowed to walk on. Why would they let you tramp on something they then can't harvest?
Unless you'd like someone doing 3m circumference circles around your garden, give your head a wobble.. smacks of entitlement and you'd be wise not to ask.

Maka21 · 07/09/2024 19:31

Are you sure the countryside is for you?!

HauntedbyMagpies · 07/09/2024 19:32

Werweisswohin · 07/09/2024 15:43

Please don't do this, it sounds incredibly entitled.
Even if he/she doesn't have/appear to have crops/animals in there now they well use it in the future/have plans, never mind not wanting random folk in there.

How is asking a question'entitled' ffs?!

Miyagi99 · 07/09/2024 19:33

Tocleanornottoclean2 · 07/09/2024 18:50

I can count on one hand the problems we have had with people walking, my family has farmed 500 acres for generations. Those problems were not from people who asked if they could walk their dog around the edge of a field. I say ask, they can say no but I imagine it'll depend on the area of the country and the proximity to potential hooligans. The only hooligans we get in our area is the DPD driver who took to shitting in a barn.

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😂😂

Sandywoes · 07/09/2024 19:48

Hi Viz for you and your dogs (even on the brightest of days) and just tuck yourself in when you hear something coming. You'll be fine :) welcome to country life!

Werweisswohin · 07/09/2024 20:08

D12troop · 07/09/2024 17:25

Cant get much more rural than round here and believe it or not many farmers are nice and approahable and would be happy to meet OP if she's going to be their new neighbour.

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Being happy to meet someone isn't the same as being happy to allow them to walk their dog over your livelihood.

Werweisswohin · 07/09/2024 20:11

D12troop · 07/09/2024 17:32

Thanks for being a voice of reason. Many posting are just angry NIMBYers who live in the countryside advocating on behalf of farmers!

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The voice of reason?
Perhaps just someone with a different view.
Some of us also know farmers who wouldn't be happy with OPs suggestion.

Werweisswohin · 07/09/2024 20:15

D12troop · 07/09/2024 18:10

Who knew that there would be several farmers perusing mumsnet on a saturday afternoon?! What's that I smell?! Is it cow dung 😆

I live in a farming community.
I can often smell actual slurry.

Werweisswohin · 07/09/2024 20:16

D12troop · 07/09/2024 18:20

I know loads of farmers thanks but I'm not pretending to be one.

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Who do you think is pretending to be a farmer? 🫣

Werweisswohin · 07/09/2024 20:17

HauntedbyMagpies · 07/09/2024 19:32

How is asking a question'entitled' ffs?!

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Already explained numerous times.

Chipsahoy · 07/09/2024 20:24

Need the right to roam like we have in Scotland. Farmers here leave a gap around the outside of their fields for people to walk. Have to respect livestock though, we stick to crop fields and walk the line they leave.

Werweisswohin · 07/09/2024 20:26

Chipsahoy · 07/09/2024 20:24

Need the right to roam like we have in Scotland. Farmers here leave a gap around the outside of their fields for people to walk. Have to respect livestock though, we stick to crop fields and walk the line they leave.

Even with right to roam it's not always advisable to enter a farmer's field, especially with a dog. Right to roam also comes with responsibility.

Faceplantagain · 07/09/2024 20:27

If you're near the edge of a town I'd really advocate researching planning applications nearby and in particular over those fields. You can do that using the Council's planning portal. Your friendly neighbourhood farmer may have already sold those fields!

TealPoet · 07/09/2024 20:30

I don’t think it’s ever really cheeky to ask this sort of question as long as you respect the response…

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 07/09/2024 20:39

Farmers tend to not like people seeing what they’re up to. Also, what if they’ve just sprayed pesticide or glyphosate and you’re not aware ?

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