Springing into the summer
“A view from the muddy end”
Below is a view from the muddy end of the countryside and from the perspective of a woodland owner and manager. Please also take a look at the Countryside code for guidance
Looking after our rural flora and fauna
While the British countryside is a beautiful place to visit, especially in the spring, there are a lot of things that people seem to forget about our rural landscapes.
Firstly, it is a managed landscape meaning that man has had a hand it’s shaping for millennia, and still does. Whether the land you walk on is in private ownership or managed by a local authority or charity it is still owned and managed by someone.
As landowners for the last 20 years, we have seen our woodland and other local sites change over the years, in many cases due to the increase in public pressure.
One thing that never ceases to amaze and upset us is the number of people that still think it is acceptable to pick or trample wild flowers. It may surprise you to know, but it has been a specific offence in British law to destroy or pick wildflowers in the UK for more than 40 years (wildlife and countryside act 1982) with further legislation to protect wildlife and sites enacted in 2000 (Countryside and rights of way act 2000). However, we and other site managers still find flowers picked and discarded every year. Add to that the people wanting to take pictures of children both human and furry in the middle of the flowers it is little wonder that there are a lot fewer wild flowers than there once were.
Dogs in the countryside
While dogs have been used in the countryside for millennia to both work and protect livestock, there has been a massive change over the past 50 years. Now most dogs that visit the countryside are pets, while this isn’t a problem for the most part there are some issues that owners need to be aware of.
Any site owner will tell you that dog mess is a massive and dangerous problem, both for wildlife and those tending sites. While any responsible owner will make sure that their dog is vaccinated that doesn’t mean that your furry friend isn’t carrying harmful parasites within. Every year people are blinded due to toxocariasis, a parasitic worm. Dogs can also pass on mange on to both foxes and badgers. To add to the mix there is now worrying increase in Lungworm infections in the UK.
While councils are able to cover the cost of providing and emptying bins private owners like ourselves don’t have the funds to cover that. Dog waste has the potential to be extremely harmful so has to be disposed of accordingly. Add to that the cost of disposal and you are looking at a large bill so please take it home with you.
Another thing that dog owners need to be aware of is live stock and wild animals such as deer. Over the years many an owner has said that their dog wouldn’t hurt a deer or livestock; the problem is that the animals don’t know that as far as a sheep or deer is concerned a dog is no different to a wolf and is a predator. Sadly, sometimes the dogs don’t know this either and think this a good game and then start getting snappy. If a sheep is in lamb, it often ends in them aborting which is distressing for the animal and the owners.
It is an offence to allow you dog to worry livestock and can end in the destruction of your beloved furbaby. While the law surrounding wild animals is less clear, deer are also a lot bigger than a sheep and a lot more dangerous to your dog. Like most mothers they will defend their young, a full grown fallow can weigh as much as a small car and move as fast so please keep you dogs close at this time of year; ideally on a lead.
Horses
Again, horses have been part of the rural landscape for many centuries but as with dogs have become more for domestic riding than working animals.
While riding is a good way to exercise and see the countryside there are always things to consider when setting out. The main one of course is the safety of you and your horse, whether you are on the road or bridle paths. We would recommend an app called what three words as it can pin point your exact location if the worst happens.
Knowing your path is also key to enjoying you ride and not coming into conflict with others. Sadly, many riders think that they are free to roam where they please. This is not the case so looking at a map of your local area and understanding which paths are bridle paths is a good idea.
Off roading.
Off road vehicles can be very useful for those that require access to the more inaccessible areas of the country, but that comes with responsibility. For those of us that work in the countryside an offroad vehicle is a must.
However, with more people buying 4×4 vehicle and offroad motor bikes the countryside is suffering. If you want to off road join a local club and use their tracks. It is a specific offence to be found on private land without the written consent of the land owner and will result in your vehicle being impounded and possible crushed
Parking
Whether a site is owned and run by a local or national organisation or just a small woodland, parking is always an issue. With more and more people wanting to travel to see the countryside and vehicles getting ever bigger, space is at a premium.
If you are going into the countryside, consider how you travel; if you can, walk or use public transport as this is the low carbon option. If you must drive there are a few things you should consider:
- Gates – often that gate you parked in front of is the gate the emergency services need to get though to help you or your family member – while you may not be working those that work in the countryside have to carry out work with the weather and the seasons on every day of the year and at all times of the day and night.
- Roadside parking – if you park on the road verge to visit a site, please remember emergency vehicles may need to get past – not to mention the farmer/landowner who needs to gain access to their fields/woodland. Modern farm machines are huge and will make quite a mess of your car if they come into contact with them
- Security – in the past decade the level of rural crime has risen massively in no small part due to the number of cars being broken into while their owners are visiting rural sites. Add to that the number of farms and other rural workers that fall victim to crime it is not a pretty picture.
Keeping safe
In times past those that visited the countryside did so with some understanding of the conditions they may find when they arrived.
In the past 20 years we have seen everything from visitors trying to walk through the woodland in high heels or sandals to trainer clad walkers trampling woodland plants to avoid mud. As you may guess by our tone these are suitable for walking in the woods or fields of Britain.
Little Hyden Wood
If you are visiting Little Hyden Wood then please bear the above in mind; while the woodland is beautiful it is also under threat from too many visitors. In the past 20 years we have seen far more people in the woods and far more paths opening up.
The wood is an extremely important habitat and home to many threatened species including plants and animals. Since we took over as custodians of the woodland, we have been carrying out surveys of the flora and where possible fauna. While some species are doing well others are suffering including the bluebells that people come to visit.
Please help us care for our woodland and help us safe guard it for the future.
All images used with permission of the owner and copyright holder