is there an issue with going for a long walk in the countryside?

[EricaNernie]

that is remote and accessible on foot?

why should this be for an hour?

it does not say anywhere about not touching gates. that would be ridiculous

No actually it’s not ridiculous. We have put chains on our gates to protect us working with our livestock. We had so many people wandering through our fields we had to. We are in the middle of lambing and can’t afford to be ill - what is is you don’t understand?

Not sure why people feel the need to bleach their groceries but can't believe that the virus could be left on gates!

That depends destroyer if people using the footpath outside your house were regularly diverting to play football in your house, wrecking equipment vital to your work and reducing your income, feeding your dog chocolate, letting your dc onto the road, parking on your lawn, shitting in your flowerbeds and meandering around your house claiming they thought it was part of the footpath then I'd also completely agree with you blocking the footpath.

But people do do those things in towns as well. Not all on the same property, maybe, but farmers aren’t special. It’s just that farmers have acres and acres of land.

A public footpath is a public footpath. Some farmers just want it all to themselves regardless.

• Style by the gate. Kissing gate. Self closing ates on springs. Steps over wall by the gate etc

Those options aren't always feasible. Whereas just shutting the gate always is. The root cause of the problem here is people behaving irresponsibly.

farmers aren’t special

They are actually. Or they bloody should be. They are key to this countries future food supply so now is not the time to be messing about and making their lives harder.

Not sure why people feel the need to bleach their groceries but can't believe that the virus could be left on gates!

Probably different sets of people. We started avoiding touching gates and stiles ages ago.

What exactly do you mean by 'farmers have plenty of space'? It's not like having a big garden, every single acre has a purpose and is being used in some way even if it's not obvious to a non farming person.

That the extra people aren’t likely to be infecting them.

I'm not worried about being infected other than through transmission on gates or from my horse if people leave the footpath and go and pat him, which they do. Sometimes i wish he was less friendly and more kicky and bitey.

For example, that nice green empty field is where we are letting grass grow for sheep and twin lambs to move into next week. It's not a big empty playground for your dog and children to have a run around.

Please don’t begin to be patronising, it’s not rocket science knowing all of this.

Some people don’t care, town or country. Idiots are idiots everywhere.

Some farmers just want it all to themselves

They want it for their livestock and crops too.

Those options aren't always feasible. Whereas just shutting the gate always is. The root cause of the problem here is people behaving irresponsibly.

Well, yes. But of people aren’t shutting the gate, then you need alternatives.

Another option is a long chain. Long enough for the gate to be opened wide enough for people to get through, but short enough that the livestock can’t escape.

Some people don’t care, town or country. Idiots are idiots everywhere.

Right, and so farmers have to protect their livestock, and also protect people from themselves if they're being idiotic around cows.

Well, I'll sleep well tonight knowing that dhorses gate won't be left open.

Destroyer, i do actually have to be able to open the gate properly to get dhorse in and out

Another option is a long chain. Long enough for the gate to be opened wide enough for people to get through, but short enough that the livestock can’t escape.

I suppose that might work for larger animals if they've got a long chain available , but wouldn't work for sheep.

Those options aren't always feasible. Whereas just shutting the gate always is. The root cause of the problem here is people behaving irresponsibly.

Yes, but they don’t have the right to stop the normal, respectful people from using the public footpaths, especially not when exercise, sunlight and health (within the government guidelines) are so important.

I suppose that might work for larger animals if they've got a long chain available , but wouldn't work for sheep.

I was thinking of the horse particularly.

Yes, but they don’t have the right to stop the normal, respectful people from using the public footpaths, especially not when exercise, sunlight and health (within the government guidelines) are so important

No legally i have no right to padlock the gate. But I'm doing it anyway and tbh it will be for 3 weeks max and no council near me will give a shit at the moment, so its tough I'm afraid.

I can't stand people.

Honestly, I really do understand your frustrations (I’m from a horsey background and have witnessed much,mans particularly the 'kindness' of trying to feed horses grass clippings 🙄😡), but I can’t stand the way some of my farmer friends want to go out of their way from preventing anyone going where they’re allowed.

Leaving gates open is as bad as closing ones that have been left open on purpose... but the solution is often to provide alternatives that avoid the need for opening and closing gates.

Dog poo is awful (and why people seem to thing they don’t need to pick up in the countryside, I’ll never know). But dog poo is dog poo, wherever it is.

People do need to get out. Gyms, swimming pools and sports clubs are closed, which means the only exercise left is to walk or run, town or countryside.

I’m sorry that idiots spoil it for everyone.

Yes, but they don’t have the right to stop the normal, respectful people from using the public footpaths, especially not when exercise, sunlight and health (within the government guidelines) are so important.

People like me... under normal circumstances (as I said) I'd be pissed off at a chained gate on a right of way. But frankly at the moment, their responsibility to protect their animals (and also the public, stock in the wrong place can be a danger) has to outweigh my right to a particular walk.

I’m sorry that idiots spoil it for everyone.

On that we can all agree.

but the solution is often to provide alternatives that avoid the need for opening and closing gates yes and I've said I'm going to put a stile in, but theres noone free to do it at the moment.

If the idiots hadn't left the gate open I wouldn't have considered locking it.

I think they must have done it in purpose, I mean who aees a horse in a field and leaves a gate open??

Destroyer, i do actually have to be able to open the gate properly to get dhorse in and out

Well unlock it to get the horse out ? Not sure how my suggestions would stop you getting him in or out? The long chain idea was a way of keeping the gate closed enough to keep the horse in, but long enough to let people pass through without them being able to leave it open.