Countryside visitors must ‘act responsibly’ to avoid endangering rural communities

Several dog worrying incidents in Lake District yesterday - some on my friend’s farms

Bad enough that people aren’t complying with rules to stay home - but to then have their dog off leads killing our sheep is so irritating and unfair

— James Rebanks (@herdyshepherd1)

Several dog worrying incidents in Lake District yesterday - some on my friend’s farms

Bad enough that people aren’t complying with rules to stay home - but to then have their dog off leads killing our sheep is so irritating and unfair

— James Rebanks (@herdyshepherd1) March 23, 2020

‘Walkers gate’

Didn’t realise it was so difficult to shut it after yourself....🙄 so thank you!!👍🏻 #respectthecountryside pic.twitter.com/UvlaJDQtLu

— Ffion Hooson (@ffionhooson

‘Walkers gate’

Didn’t realise it was so difficult to shut it after yourself....\uD83D\uDE44 so thank you!!\uD83D\uDC4D\uD83C\uDFFB #respectthecountryside pic.twitter.com/UvlaJDQtLu

— Ffion Hooson (@ffionhooson0) March 22, 2020

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"Stay off the fells !!" All 12 Lake District mountain rescue teams put out an appeal to walkers. They say they should stay away from the Lakes until the coronavirus outbreak is over because they are putting the @mountrescueuk volunteers at risk and could also spread the virus. pic.twitter.com/xFeQRAe3cU

— BBC North West (@BBCNW

"Stay off the fells !!" All 12 Lake District mountain rescue teams put out an appeal to walkers. They say they should stay away from the Lakes until the coronavirus outbreak is over because they are putting the @mountrescueuk volunteers at risk and could also spread the virus. pic.twitter.com/xFeQRAe3cU

— BBC North West (@BBCNWT) March 23, 2020

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Boris, don’t think your plan is working.
So many farmers, including ourselves, reporting that we’ve never seen so many people out and about.
I get it, social distancing feels crap, but it’s for the greater good. C’mon people! 💪🏻 #Covid19

— Cesca (@Cesca_Besw

Boris, don’t think your plan is working.
So many farmers, including ourselves, reporting that we’ve never seen so many people out and about.
I get it, social distancing feels crap, but it’s for the greater good. C’mon people! \uD83D\uDCAA\uD83C\uDFFB #Covid19

— Cesca (@Cesca_Beswick) March 22, 2020

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A few miles up the road from us and folks think it’s a bank holiday outing.#StayAtHome you stupid irresponsible, selfish shits t.co/E9IL1LLjuK

— James Robinson (@JRfromStrick

A few miles up the road from us and folks think it’s a bank holiday outing.#StayAtHome you stupid irresponsible, selfish shits https://t.co/E9IL1LLjuK

— James Robinson (@JRfromStrickley) March 22, 2020

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FAO everyone who is bolting out towards isolated areas of the UK (National Parks, small rural communities etc) to ride out this storm:

STAY HOME.

This i’n’t nimbyism - we have to live with under-resourced local healthcare etc all year round anyway. Stop coming here to get ill.

— Richard Prideaux (@RichPride

FAO everyone who is bolting out towards isolated areas of the UK (National Parks, small rural communities etc) to ride out this storm:

STAY HOME.

This isn't nimbyism - we have to live with under-resourced local healthcare etc all year round anyway. Stop coming here to get ill.

— Richard Prideaux (@RichPrideaux) March 21, 2020

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People are either not understanding, or completely ignoring, government advice. Our rural communities are being put at risk. Please do not see this outbreak as an opportunity to flock to rural areas for isolation. The @yorkshire_dales has been ridiculously busy today. t.co/n6jV1A4mqf

— WestmorlandShepherdess (@ruslandval

People are either not understanding, or completely ignoring, government advice. Our rural communities are being put at risk. Please do not see this outbreak as an opportunity to flock to rural areas for isolation. The @yorkshire_dales has been ridiculously busy today. https://t.co/n6jV1A4mqf

— WestmorlandShepherdess (@ruslandvalley) March 21, 2020

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Malham was full today!
Having taken NHS advice we, as a community, would like to discourage people from coming to Malham for the foreseeable future.
The more we move the more people die, including NHS staff.
So please help us all by staying at home.
Thank you.
Please share. pic.twitter.com/Lsyv8BLR3o

— Hill Top Farm (@hilltopfarmg

Malham was full today!
Having taken NHS advice we, as a community, would like to discourage people from coming to Malham for the foreseeable future.
The more we move the more people die, including NHS staff.
So please help us all by staying at home.
Thank you.
Please share. pic.twitter.com/Lsyv8BLR3o

— Hill Top Farm (@hilltopfarmgirl) March 21, 2020

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Social distancing does NOT mean every man and his dog travelling up to the Peak District for the weekend you absolute cretins

— al (@_AlM

Social distancing does NOT mean every man and his dog travelling up to the Peak District for the weekend you absolute cretins

— al (@_AlMars) March 22, 2020

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In light of the present #COVIDー19 crisis, and the irresponsible behaviour of a lot of folk visiting the countryside over this weekend....despite being warned to remain at home...should we now be looking at closing all public footpaths, like we did in 2001 during F&M outbreak?

— George Minish (@tgmin

In light of the present #COVIDー19 crisis, and the irresponsible behaviour of a lot of folk visiting the countryside over this weekend....despite being warned to remain at home...should we now be looking at closing all public footpaths, like we did in 2001 during F&M outbreak?

— George Minish (@tgminish) March 22, 2020

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The Department for Digital, Cultural, Media and Sport (DCMS) has since issued a statement on March 22, stating ‘essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holiday’.

 

DCMS has also urged people to remain at their ‘primary residence’ and said ‘not to do so puts additional pressures on communities and services already at risk’.

Responding to the situation, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual called for the public to socially distance and keep dogs under control to avoid ’disrupting’ farmers efforts to keep providing food supplies.

Rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, Rebecca Davidson, said: “Farm animals worth £1.2 million were savaged by dogs last year. The spring sunshine and social distancing is bringing people out to the countryside at a time when sheep and their new-born lambs are particularly vulnerable to attack.

“In farming areas experiencing very high influxes of walkers with dogs, farmers are having to spend additional time patrolling flocks to try and prevent attacks by dogs which is hindering them from getting on with the vital task of producing food for the nation.

“UK farmers are working under immense pressure at the moment to feed the nation through the Coronavirus outbreak and we are urging people to keep their dogs under control, to clear up their mess and to be responsible in the countryside.”