The Country Code
| Published: 14th June 2008 21:04 |
Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work
Guard against all risk of fire
Especially in forest areas. Do not light any fires and please ensure
that all matches are well extinguished before dropping them. Great
damage is done every year to crops, plantations, woodlands and
heaths. A match or cigarette thrown away or a pipe carelessly
knocked out, picnic fires not properly extinguished, or lighted near
dry crops can quickly start a blaze
.
Fasten all gates
They are there to control stock movements. Escaped animals can
damage crops or come into danger on roads - or they can become
mixed with other animals and difficult to separate again. If animals
get out of a field they stray. As a result they may do serious damage
to crops, suffer injury on the roads, or eat food that is harmful.
Keep your dogs under close control
Especially near stock. Worried animals can become sick or go into
shock. Pregnant animals can miscarry. Young animals can be attacked
and even killed. Animals are easily frightened, even by
small, playful dogs. Stillbirths may be the result.
Keep to public paths across farmland
Please never trample on crops. Remember they are someone's
livelihood. If you leave a path, it can be difficult to find the next gate
or stile and - especially on the hills - it can be quite easy to get lost
in a very short space of time. Crops are damaged by treading; flattened
crops are difficult to harvest. Grass is a valuable crop.
Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges, and walls
Please do not attempt to climb over fences or walls. They are easy
to damage and costly and time consuming to repair. If these are
damaged, gaps will be caused. Where a person goes, an animal
may follow.
Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone
Both animals and farm machinery can be very dangerous to touch.
Never touch farm chemicals or animal foodstuffs. Many of the machines
and much of the business stock on which the farmer depends
for his livelihood have to be kept in the open. Take care not
to damage them.
Take your litter home
It is dangerous for animals (who may attempt to eat food remains
or bags, or cut themselves on glass or hard plastic) and unsightly
for local people and other walkers. Litter is not just unsightly, but
often a danger as well.
Help to keep all water clean
Do not empty any liquids into rivers, water courses or troughs.
Countrymen often depend on wells and streams for water for themselves
and their animals.
Protect wildlife, plants and trees
Do not pick wildflowers and never, ever remove a whole plant or
bulb. Be careful near young trees whose trunks may be quite delicate.
Wild animals should not be disturbed, plants uprooted nor
trees treated roughly.
Take special care on country roads
Farm vehicles can be very large and can travel very slowly. Animal
herds may also be moving along roads and can be difficult to see
until the last moment. If there is no footpath, walkers are generally
safer on the right, facing on-coming traffic. Care and patience are
needed by motorists when passing farm animals or horses being
ridden or otherwise.
Make no unnecessary noise
Radios and cassette decks are not welcome anywhere in the open
countryside.
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