Piss off out the countryside

[orangeandbananas]

Aibu to think the idiots who have all fled from towns to the countryside are incredibly selfish.
I live in a small rural estate.
There are quite obviously people from towns and cities coming together on gatherings suddenly 'embracing' the countryside.
Ok fine; but they apparently can't stick to the public footpaths where they can all infect each other. Instead they keep coming off the footpath and walking the mile to our estate from it and hanging about.
The average age on our estate is 70+. I don't know anyone else that is under 70 and many are 90+ I haven't seen anyone leave their houses for a long time but today I saw a very elderly frail man take a walk on the estate and he was leaning on a bench when a load of teenagers came right up to the boundary of the road to our estate and I saw the man try to get away but he couldn't fast enough and nearly fell over from trying.

We live in isolation anyway generally. This is the first time we've had to deal with so many people coming through our field off the public footpath.
I wish they'd stay away. I also wish less risk people would understand what social distancing means. If they're venturing into our estate I've no doubt they're off gallivanting on to further farms etc. Which can only heighten the problems we face today. These dc are not from the rural area. I've never seen so many cars parked near the footpath. It's so daft it's upsetting.

Boris has warned we will have to go to lockdown. Is this really what people want?
Get out of the countryside if you don't live here. It's obvious so many elderly people live here. Come back in better times.

If they are only visiting for the day I don't see the problem. @Ginnymweasley

If the hotels are still letting rooms it's them you need to talk to, really.

There is no advice here to stay in your own area though.
Impossible to go for a walk here and observe social distancing unless you do it when it is dark. I live in a densely populated area. So people do have to drive somewhere to exercise.

We have been overrun today in the Scottish Borders. And all common sense has gone out of the window too. Yes, we have right to roam, but that applies to forestry, open countryside and waterways. It doesn't mean you have the right to open the gates and let yourself onto my yard so your kids can pet our animals! NEVER had this problem before so I wonder if people who would normally never visit the countryside are coming out in droves to escape Corona? I normally find the vast majority of people who walk and ride around here very respectful. I am meant to be self isolating, so if this continues, I will be locking the gates to my yard and house and turning it into Fort Knox! I find it unbelievable that I am trying to self isolate and people are letting themselves onto my property!

@SarahInAccounts so no one went on your land then. Good luck when your village gets hit and the hospitals can't cope then.
Are you in the vulnerable group as well? If not carry on nodding away but I personally will not be encouraging people to come to our estate where nearly everyone is classed as a vulnerable person to this disease.

And I still believe those rushing out of their own areas are selfish and only thinking of themselves.

I understand the issue with what is happening. But people were encouraged to exercise. I think some of you have no idea that in densely populated areas this is not possible to do and keep 6 feet apart.

You dont see the problem of them potentially spreading the virus to a rural area with less resources. As for having a word with hotels the local tourist board has asked them to close but until the govt orders it then a lot of them won't and that doesnt even account for the hundreds of self catering let's in the area. It is a huge problem in wales right now. Drs are having people trying to register as a temporary patient while they spend a few weeks here. Check out welsh news and you will see what I am talking about.

You dont have to walk to exercise. Due to the crowds of people arriving in our area, locals are instead staying at home. I did an online dance tutorial last night. But as long as the people travelling from miles away get their fresh air and exercise eh?

Well soon they will have to learn how to keep fit inside🤷🏻

@krustykittens that's actually just... I am speechless

People have to be told to stay indoors. And that won't happen. I am ill so we have all had to stay in the house. But if I had not been, we would have driven somewhere quiet in the countryside to go for a walk.
I would not have taken my kids to go for a walk round our streets because the 6ft rule would be impossible to observe.
And yes we have parks, but they are packed whenever it is a nice day.

I get you OP. I dont live on a rural estate but I am in the country. I've had more people rambling about in my horses paddock today, claiming they got lost or took a wrong turn, whilst scaling the fence , than on any regular bank holiday.

And there was masses of them, I don't where the hell they all came from but they can fuck back off again.

I didn't want to turn the electric fence on yet but I will if I have another day like today

@orangeandbananas

Are you in the vulnerable group as well?

I'm in 2 vulnerable groups. I keep my distance from visitors and locals alike. It's all I can do.

I don't begrudge city dwellers a bit of our space.

Bodiesmakeforgoodfertiliser I was pretty dumbfounded myself! They were terribly sweet and just didn't see the problem, which makes me suspect they are not used to countryside. They genuinely didn't mean to cause offense and were very apologetic.

This thread just shows why we aren't going to see a decrease in deaths..

We must share the countryside? Yes, we do need to do that, when there ISN'T a disease being spread around by morons.

Sadly its unlikely to the the stupid who die.

@SarahInAccounts well good for you that's what aibu is for a debate. And again I don't think it's right for anyone to act so entitled as to go on land that's not there when there's a perfectly accessible public footpath.
And as I said, people are being very selfish right now imo. That is not your opinion clearly.
Thanks to this thread at least I could sign the petition for further lock downs.

Exactly dogs we all need to share.

Well with your ridiculous attitude you’ll soon be sharing Coronavirus so crack on. The trouble is, you’ll be sharing it with others who don’t want to share.

Didn’t seem to have all this drama where I live. More people, all keeping safe distances. Everybody getting a dose of fresh air. It’s not really that difficult keeping safe distances in large open spaces. Seeing lots of cars doesn’t infect you.

It's not about rights to roam or begrudging the space. It's about spread of infection and over stretched resources.

You're right OP. Our neighbourhood watch lady emailed as local farmers have had problems with kids running amok, entering barns and outbuildings, dogs shitting everywhere and off lead amongst livestock.
People's sense of entitlement when on other people's property is astounding.

Why is there spread of infection? How small are your fields? Here fields, woods and lanes are plenty big enough for safe distances.

We all want to protect ourselves and our own loved ones in these sad strange times. Witness the panic buying in supermarkets. Part of protecting our own sanity and mental health is to get out into the fresh air and walk, keeping a social distance if we can. No-one 'owns' the countryside, it is part of our national heritage and in happier times we our encouraged to support the countryside economy. I don't own my local super market and I can't tell people who live in the countryside not to come and use it because we are all struggling. They are welcome in happier times and I can't tell them to stop coming and leave the foodstuffs to the locals because they live isolated 10 miles out. Nor must you try to keep the open spaces to yourselves. We welcome you to our cities, our cinemas, theatres and more importantly to our supermarkets at this time. Lets keep sharing people and not try to keep certain areas to ourselves like the greedy panic buyers.

Ta-da. @Zombiemum1946

It's not about rights to roam or begrudging the space. It's about spread of infection and over stretched resources.

that really. ^

And being respectful of others and their also property and wellbeing.

Smiling and nodding at selfish people is all very well. It just isn’t all very well when your lungs stop working.

Seriously have people not seen the pictures of people crowded onto seafront and beaches, people queuing up snowdon. If you have a large area and 50 people in it then ok but some of these places had 1000's of visitors this weekend. Cumbria, Cornwall, devon, wales, scotland etc all had problems this weekend.

Yes that is not okay. Presumably they thought it would be quieter? And they would have been ever more over crowded if they all went to local parks.

Some in here sound like they already have it and are delusional with fever🤦

It will be so sad in few weeks. And I really doubt these people will say anything remotely similar to sorry we didn't care...

The thing is I imagine most of them would never bother to walk normally. By travelling here they could have brought the virus to an area that will not cope. Most of the people will have been from north west england and the borders. They will have driven for over an hour to get here. Is that necessary travel? That has what got people annoyed. They are risking bringing the virus to an area that doesnt have resources to sope just to get some sea air....