I was told by the local MP that this was supposed to be discussed in parliament. I totally agree that subsidies should be linked to ROW clearance.
They are....see my previous post: cross compliance linked to BPS (Basic Payment Scheme...ie main farm subsidy). Cross compliance breach if found not to be complying resulting in penalty taken from BPS payment.
However, given us leaving you know what, BPS is being phased out by end 2027 and i do wonder what will be used to incentivise farmers aside those that are taking up CS or SFI (or any other new scheme under ELM)
People talking about “going round the edge” – fine, but a farmer near me gave me a telling off for going round the edge when the RoW goes across the middle. How can I know which kind of farmer I might encounter?
I didn't mean to suggest you take a unilateral decision to go around the edge. Rather, that a rerouting of some of these crossings to around the edge might be in the best interests of all parties. How one makes that happen is another matter, of course.
As for making a diagonal crossing permanent, the issues there are quite a few. You'd tend to end up with a lot of extra tractor wheelings, and many of the worst kind, with tight turns which are bad on the soil, nooks and crannies reducing food production etc. In my humble opinion it is better to make the big fields produce well and take lots of nooks and crannies, wet spots etc out of production completely and into genuine habitat creation. Not hard to imagine a field with an existing RoW across it that could be replaced using a boundary up the northern side of the hedge around the edge, which gets a lot of shade so is limited in yield anyway, while at the same time making a straight run to finish the field and leaving a wiggly field edge filled permanently with wildflowers and whatever, even just let go? There's a fair bit of this (well, sort of) going on and perhaps a recent acceleration but I'd like to see a bit more supporting this kind of idea in policy making terms, and none of it so far has links to access as far as I know.
"countryside use isn’t just for confident know it alls."
Well it bloody well should be. We can't spend all our time pandering to the failings of every useless nitwit who wants the joys of the country side without a bit of work to get them.
Oh why oh why isn't there a smiley box I can click on?
So what if the RoW isn't pan flat. Get your feet muddy and walk across.
Of course perfect paths would be nice if that's your bag but in the real world a bit of dicount on the energy bill is a tad more important don't you think.
Bit of a first world, Mumsnet problem methinks.
I’m pretty agnostic on the rerouting of bridleways as does offer the opportunity to explore alternative routes. Happens a lot in the South Cotswolds and offers free range to explore with a guilt free conscious.
Well, these are the new schemes. Due to be implemented from 2024:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-land-management-schemes-overview/environmental-land-management-scheme-overview
Nothing obvious about PROW in there...yet
So what if the RoW isn’t pan flat. Get your feet muddy and walk across.
Of course perfect paths would be nice if that’s your bag but in the real world a bit of dicount on the energy bill is a tad more important don’t you think.
Bit of a first world, Mumsnet problem methinks.
The op wasn't on about the quality of the surface. That's something a few of you are mistakenly getting wound up about.
👍
The op wasn’t on about the quality of the surface. That’s something a few of you are mistakenly getting wound up about.
Correct they were complaining about ROW not being open despite them being open but a little muddy.
So what if the RoW isn’t pan flat.
Not the point I was making at all. It was about knowing where you can go. Some people might be referencing the definitive RoW maps and following a GPS route or a compass, but for others a plowed field with no finger pointers is just a “turn back” situation. They don’t want to interfere with farmland being worked.
Correct they were complaining about ROW not being open despite them being open but a little muddy.
Yeah, except they weren't really were they? But hey, if it makes you happy. Derail away. 😊
The op wasn’t on about the quality of the surface. That’s something a few of you are mistakenly getting wound up about.
The OP complained that the landowners don't "reinstate the ROW" but the ROW doesn't cease to exist because it's across a ploughed field, it exists regardless of the surface.
A RoW that exists on maps only is of no use to most people.
The OP complained that the landowners don’t “reinstate the ROW” but the ROW doesn’t cease to exist because it’s across a ploughed field, it exists regardless of the surface.
Yeah, we know it doesn't literally cease to exist.
I run an arable farming business
You monster.
In my local area we have both extremes. Many are very good at clearing thru crops and in general maintaining the BWs etc. Whilst others just take the p***. Last year one field was covered in crops, with deep furrows (30cm) at 45 degrees to the path - I suspect less than 1% of riders could stand any chance of riding that. Nothing ever done to clear it, then this year no path, and nearly impossible to get thru the hedge.
Last year one field was covered in crops, with deep furrows (30cm) at 45 degrees to the path
Potatoes ?
