[shearling]

I caught two people in my sheep filed last night helping themsleves to 'cob nuts' off the trees. They had climbed over my five bar gate (its padlocked). I need a new gate, as its got rather worn out/old and a local supplier said 'they have a legal right to collect the nuts, the smae is true for mushrooms'. I live in England and the land is private and with no 'rights of way' on it. surly this cannot be true and if it is then it is not right! Re mushrooms what about truffles - should I be lucky enough?

[plumseverywhere]

That can't be right, surely?! I think if you have overhanging tree's that go onto public land they can pick off them but not to enter your land?

[benkt]

http://www.wildmanwildfood.com/pages/foraging%20and%20the%20law.htm
Has some interesting stuff. It seems to suggest that if the land is open under 'right to roam' laws then there is a specific prohibition on picking plants or produce from a plant, whereas on 'normal farmland' it appears produce 'growing wild' may be picked by anyone (but they are still tresspassing, just not stealing). Weird.

[bloomer]

and trespass is a civil offence only they can only be held liable for any damage they do!!!

[HappyHippy]

In Scotland there is the 'Open Access Code' which gives people the right to go pretty much anywhere   Obviously not gardens or buildings and outbuildings but I can't stop anyone from going onto our land, into our fields or forrests or even into the paddocks with the pigs   unless I can prove that doing so would be either dangerous to them or detrimental to land or stock - it's mental !  
We do have a public right of way which runs up our track, which makes it even more of a nightmare tbh as we have people who walk or ride up and just go wherever the mood takes them   Despite signs saying there is machinery operating, shooting in progress, the rearing of game birds etc etc we still find rubbish, glass bottles, the remains of fires and picnics all over the place  

Hope you get it sorted ! And good luck truffle hunting   I think it's Beech trees and a certain type of oak that you find them under  

[shearling]

God this is mad, you poor things, I always wanted to live in Scotland -mind now changed. Why not gardens? then we could all be the same 

In Scotland there is the 'Open Access Code' which gives people the right to go pretty much anywhere   Obviously not gardens or buildings and outbuildings but I can't stop anyone from going onto our land, into our fields or forrests or even into the paddocks with the pigs  >:

[sabrina]

We used to get a man jog over our land, caught him using the outside loo in our boiler house. My 18 hand horse Rembrandt decided to chase him for fun one day, he kept out of the fields after that.

[faith0504]

My big mare is like Rembrandt, anyone fancies a walk in there field would get a really good game of tig,

I hope you get it sorted, let us know how you get on 

[Fowgill Farm]

We have a public footpath thro our front field which means people can look straight thro our sitting room window but since we put Angus the Aberdeen and 20 odd of his girlfriends in there we've had no walkers/ramblers etc, funny that innit??
Mandy 
Ps we do have an NFU warning sign on the stile into the field.

[shearling]

We rented a house with a bridal path that went right next to the kitchen and bathroom (only one and downstairs) windows. We had many a pleaent chat with folk passing by and no issues (although had to remind guests    ). The fields were hay and no animals around. We only have 6 sheep in the field as it is only a couple of acres. I would like to get a couple of shetland ponies at some stage, for carrage work, but for now have not got the dosh to buy them and worried about security given their size and temperment. Have sent son off to the filed to remove the tempation of nuts, although a bit young still, they will rippen up in the sun - by window and in hands reach    . THey missed the damons, though I expect they will be back for the blackberries, which are just turning red. Looking st buying a 10ft by 6ft deer gate thats on sale locally and sow they pole volt that one    .

Also, looking at making the hedge more secure - anyone any thoughts? have bought a berberis but its not that prickly, 'crown of thorns'?
 [/b]

We have a public footpath thro our front field which means people can look straight thro our sitting room window but since we put Angus the Aberdeen and 20 odd of his girlfriends in there we've had no walkers/ramblers etc, funny that innit??
Mandy 
Ps we do have an NFU warning sign on the stile into the field.

[Fleecewife]

Rosa Rugosa is great for making an impenetrable and very spikey hedge quite quickly, with the advantage that it also has flowers.  It also has rose hips aplenty which they could pick.  You can get them cheaply as whips or whatever from Buckingham nurseries - they soon form a dense thicket and grow to about 7 or 8 feet high, ie over 2 metres.

[HappyHippy]

Hawthorn - it's hellish for prickles 
Or if you want to go down the cullinary/alchoholic route - what about Blackthorn, then you'll get sloes  But then, also maybe sloe pickers 

[shearling]

Brilliant, Thanks FW

[shearling]

Thanks too HH

[Anke]

From the other side of the story...

I pick blackberries, elderflowers, elderberries, hips etc and collect mushrooms (good atm for puffballs!), why not - no-one else is! They would just rot!

I wouldn't go into a field with cattle though, and probably stay clear of sheep fields too (don't really need to bring any nasties like scab or so with me...), but hedgerows next to arable fields and on pathways are free for everyone to pick - however not for commercial gain as far as I am aware.

I think the country access code for Scotland is a really good idea, we used to do some wild camping in the Highlands, some of the best times I ever had. The majority of people are considerate and know how to behave, and the small number who doesn't - well there are always some....