When walking in the countryside it is not unusual to see signs asking for gates to be closed and dogs to be kept on leads, but there is a good reason for these requests.
A Farmer's Point of View
Angela Whiston, from Lower Fenemere Farm in Shropshire, UK, has been farming for more than 60 years, having been brought up on the farm where she now works by her father. But recently she has found her job made more and more difficult by people using the footpaths through her fields
She said: "About four or five years ago the council put stiles in, some of which are only a few yards away from the gates, but I've had problems that people seem to be able to open a gate but they don't seem to be able to close them behind them."
Separating Ewes from Lambs
She asked for people to accept that she sometimes wanted to keep certain animals apart from others and to ensure that gates are closed properly.
"If I've put my sheep in different fields I want them there for a reason, but if people don't fasten the gates properly the ewes rub against the gates and can open them. Once that happens you get lambs that aren't ready to stop drinking mother's milk that starve and ewes that need to give milk that can develop mastitis, and once that happens it's really the end for them," she said.
"Fortunately last time it happened I noticed pretty quickly, but it took all day to sort the sheep back out again. I was so angry with the people who'd left the gate open."
Education Needed
The answer to the problem could be in better education and common sense for visitors to the farm. Ms Whiston said she was pleased that people want to take a walk in the countryside, but asked that visitors respect the land they are walking through.
"Somehow these people need to be educated that apart from appreciating the lovely environment they're walking through, this is my workplace. You wouldn't expect to be able to walk through a factory without taking certain precautions and the same applies here," she said.
Keep Dogs Under Control
Ms Whiston said it was also important that dogs were kept under control and on a lead while around livestock, and that they were regularly wormed.
"Sheep can pick up a disease called gid through dog mess, which is produced from the tapeworms. If a ewe contracts gid it has to be put down because the worm can destroy the brain and it's a very slow and horrible death," she added.
Countryside Rules
The simple rules for walking in the countryside are:
- Keep dogs under control and on a lead when around livestock.
- Leave gates and fences as you found them.
- If you find an animal which appears to be sick or unwell do not approach it, but contact the landowner and tell them where it is.
- Do not drop litter as animals may eat it.
What could seem like a trivial thing to someone passing through could mean death for hundreds of animals, and the loss of thousands of pounds to a farmer. But by obeying signs which have been put up in the countryside, walkers can enjoy their surroundings while looking after the land they are passing through.
Pam Griffin - Pam Griffin is a journalist working in Shropshire, UK. She is interested in first aid, singing and playing music, history, and ...
