We had a phonecall this morning from a fellow dog walker, telling us that one of our favourite footpaths had been made almost impassable due to the three Cattle that are now going to graze on the fields up there.
This afternoon we decided to go and take a look - first we were greeted by this..........
On the other side you had to carefully try to balance on yet another stepping stone ! Not at all easy for the more mature or shorter walker ! Wooster being Wooster refused it altogether and was helped over by Jim. There was also a piece of wood - I don't know if this was across the stile originally as it had already been removed and thrown on the ground.
This is the "grazing" land in question - I gather in the past it did not grow well enough for horses and at the moment these nothing for the cattle at all.
This is the second field as you walk down the hill - yet again just soil !
When we reached the stepping stones at the bottom of the hill yet again there was a piece of wood with writing on it abour cattle grazing - again it was on the ground, so I don't know where it had been put
As we walked towards Trenow Cove we looked up the hill and there they were - eating the only greenery on the field - the hedge ! - I expect their escape committee is planning yet another escape through the hedge and off the fields and towards Perranuthnoe again just like Sunday.
I fully realise that we live in a farming area, but we also live in an area which relies even more on tourism and keeping the much used footpaths in good condition and nice (and easy for all ages of walkers) to use should also be priority !
Sometimes my cows escape into the 2 soil fields with the footpath in it. Whereupon they cross the stile and into the village, or cross the bottom stile into the field where the footpath crosses the middle of it. The top stile always had large stone under the top stone (not put there by me)and despite having dug the ancient Cornish stile out the cows still managed to jump it! Those fields will grow good grass once it has been seeded out, so will be grazed towards the end of the year. At my request, Cornwall Council are looking at the situation this week as they are responsible for providing a stock proof stile. My wooden stake was a temporary measure for protection, regretably common sense and temorary awkwardness with the stile does not seem to be tollerated
ReplyDeleteSince there is no grazing for the cattle at the moment on those fields, why put them in there at all ! ! ! I don't believe that they have got out that way - none of the hedges are stockproof due to the fact they have not had stock in for years. There are huge holes in the hedge into the bulb fields for these animals to get through and yet again wander all over the place (see todays photo of daffodil field) I think you need to invest in proper fencing to keep them in and away from the footpath. Keeping this kind of animal is a big responsibility as any farmer would tell you.
DeleteI also think that giving some notice of the digging out of the stiles along with your piece about milk might have helped as it came as a complete suprise to our friend who told us.
it is a nightmare - dogs too frightened to cross the stile now.
ReplyDeleteYet ANOTHER walk curtailed - along with the walk with the electric fence beside it.
So much for the 'roam free' policy.
Yep, we took another look yesterday - vertical posts have now been put in, which gave me something to pull myself up onto the top step with - but Wooster refused and I bundled him up and he went round the side in the end. Heaven help anyone with a big rucsak - just no room to get between the poles. Still huge gaps in the hedge though, so the cattle will still be "heading for the hills again !"
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