[shearling]

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 agree with picking wild things going to waste on general pathways and byways, my issue is that the only way into my field is by the gate. The side fencing is not penetrable or jumpable (yes even for a goat    ). The gate is old and the weight of grown people pushing down on it (its padlocked) has not helped its lifespan and I am now having to buy a replacement, that I cannot really afford but need to in order to ensure the sheep are secure. The 'wild' crops to us as just that crops to supplement our food supply. I do not think it fair that other people can come into my land (that I look after and pay for) and treat it as their own. I see it more as an extension to our garden - I would not dream of going into their garden and eating from the hedges in it. Some of the hedges may seem wild but we planted the cob trees and keep the elder, etc for our use.

[nails]

Shearling have just PM'd you, but geese are fine in with sheep, my geese run all year with the ewes and in the spring the lambs, never had any bother and boy do they make a noise if anyone goes near them that they don't know!!!!!!

[northfifeduckling]

you could put a sign on your gate "Private Property - Keep out" or "Dangerous Dog" or "Mind the Bull" 

[shearling]

We have put some apples, cob nuts and damsons outside the gate with a notice saying helpyourslef but please do not enter the field - we shall see. New big gate coming at the end of the week - weekend joy to install it 

[tizaala]

Wild crops are free to anyone , unfortunately,  But trespass on it's own can't be done , it must be Trespass and Damage, technically just bending a blade of grass can be logged as Damage,
Just another case of too many laws and not enough justice.

[northfifeduckling]

We have put some apples, cob nuts and damsons outside the gate with a notice saying helpyourslef  

well that's generous! you could put an honesty box next to the produce and ask for a contribution, that might deter the thieves (or they steal the box and the moeny, of course...)

[waterhouse]

"Beware Adders" is a good start assuming that "Live firing range" isn't credible.

[SallyintNorth]

My favourite was,

Entering this field is free. 
The bull will charge you later.

[Fleecewife]

My favourite was,

Entering this field is free. 
The bull will charge you later.

Love it 

[Roxy]

I am afraid I do have an issue with people coming on private land uninvited.  I would not dream of going in someones orchard, walking round and helping myself to their apples, so why should they come on my field and pick my blackberries etc??

Since the right to roam came in, we have had quite a few people think that includes our fields (it does not!).  If I catch them, I tell them politely they are on private land, direct them to the footpath and most apologise at this stage, and leave.  Some start to argue they can walk where they want ......one more polite asking them to leave, and then I tell em proper!!!!

[waterhouse]

The access to our land is across a privately owned common.  People have the most extraordinarily bonkers ideas of what a common is.  A common problem is that people park on our access road (it's common so I can) or challenge my right to drive on it (I can have you prosecuted and that concrete track ripped up).  One old codger started going on about the Law of Property Act 1925 which he clearly hadn't read.   As it happens the LPA is now irrelevant to rights of way but before the CROW Act (for England) it would have rendered his parking illegal.

When I ask if I can park in their front driveway people don't see the connection.

[robert waddell]

as i see it there is the have nots and the haves        the have nots want everything and dont want to pay for it     unfortunately these bar stewards are the majority      the haves are the ones that own the land and preserve it and are a minority (there is a similarity with the riots and the have nots)
parked cars blocking an access      if you have something that can move it then move it forklift/tractor/jcb or anyother means
i also detest these forkers that spout the right to roam act worst piece of legislation ever concocted

[SallyintNorth]

i also detest these forkers that spout the right to roam act worst piece of legislation ever concocted

There's no doubt that it is a very badly constructed and ill thought through piece of legislation.  (Can anyone name a well-constructed and well thought through piece of legislation from the last twenty years??)  For the accolade of the worst piece ever, I'm not sure I give it equal billing with the hunting act...

[northfifeduckling]

well...I grew up abroad with unlimited right to roam and we went for mushrooms and brambles in the autumn in the forest. It would never have occurred to us and anyone I know to climb over a gate and take fruit off a tree or even take cobs from a maize field! That would have been stealing, simple as that. Common sense? Some folks are just chancers - and thieves

[doganjo]

I was brought up that way, too, Kerstin.  If there is a gate you don't go in unless you have permission.