Okay, not all city dwellers are bad but...

[Stonehead]

...some need to be taken out and quietly put down.

I was out working in the potato patch the other day, when I heard my pigs sounding excited followed by a yelp as someone obviously touched the mains-powered electric fence (9.6kv).

I went to have a look and found two middle-aged couples, dressed in new and trendy walking gear, feeding sandwiches to our pigs over the fence.

I shouted to them to stop and then went over to have a quiet word - assuming in the first instance that a bit of polite education would help inform their obvious ignorance of bio-security and animal welfare.

However, they said it was their right to roam where they choose, that they could feed the animals if they wanted, that it was their countryside as much as it was mine, that I shouldn't have electric fences and in any case the "poor pigs were clearly hungry".

I managed to stay polite for a few minutes, trying to point out that it is not only illegal to feed things like tuna, egg and ham sandwiches to pigs, but it can also lead to disease outbreaks. I tried to point out that while there are various "rights" allowing people to walk the countryside, that there is also the right for farmers to have their livestock left alone. I also observed that pigs will eat almost anything at any time - but it doesn't mean they're neglected or not being fed.

However, the two couples weren't having any of it and said they had come out to enjoy the countryside, feed the animals and as one of the men put it "exercise our rights".

I'm afraid that's when I turned into stereotypical grumpy farmer and told them to **** off back to the city before I took a trip into town and exercised my rights to trample through their back gardens and feed pig muck to their cats!

The two men and one of the women obviously wanted to argue further, but the second woman started saying something about "he's a farmer and they have guns", at which point they all left rather hurriedly. I wish!

Anyway, I just had to sound off about it. I know most, if not all, of the urban dwellers here would never be so bloody minded, self-righteous and lacking in respect, but this group are not the first (and won't be the last) to really get up my nose in this way.

Now, can I get back to being a mellow dude?

Stonehead

PS And if you know city people who are planning to spend some time in the country, please educate them about not feeding rubbish to livestock before they get here. It might save a bit of bother.

[glenniedragon]

Do you have a right of way or something going through your land? We've got friends who have a mill with a path running up the side and people think nothing of wandering off the path and nosing around their home and garden- what they have done is clearly mark the walk and had some council bod agree the route of the path so if they veer off the path they can be informed they are tresspassing and have a council letter to prove it if they get the ignorant crowd you had. If there isn't a right of way what are these folks up to? I bet if you went to their houses the gardens would all be rigidly demarkated and the idea of you allowing your pigs to nose through their petunias would bring them out in a rash. These days I would have thoughts the warning would be - "These are urbanites, be careful they have guns" rather than the other way round!

kind thoughts
Deb

[Hillbilly]

I commend your patience and ability not to laugh in the face of obnoxious morons from the city

[Stonehead]

We don't have a right of way going through the place, but we are bordered by two roads (one mainly a farm access, the other moderately busy by rural standards). Both roads are used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, plus we're opposite some standing stones.

People just walk off the road, climb over the remains of the stone dyke (dry stone wall) and then either pat/feed the animals throught the fence or even climb over it. We also get people parking in the side road so they can visit the stones, parking in the drive to the house or parking in the two gateways into the fields.

We don't mind people visiting or having a chat (nor does the bloke who owns the field with the standing stones), but people who show no respect or courtesy are a real nuisance.

As well as the so-called ramblers with their "rights", the other group that causes problems are the new age celtic revivalist druids and geomancers. Now, most of these people are great (and I'm sure many of our friends would say the description fits them to varying degrees) but there are a few who are so attuned to alternate realities that they are a positive menace.

By all means investigate the ley lines and embrace the power of the stones, but remember that logging trucks and tractors also share the road that you're drifting across; remember that a stallion is protective of his mares; that a randy bull doesn't have much time for the underworld; that you can't just brush past a beehive; and that electric fences aren't just there to disrupt the "power of mother earth".

Oh, and there is a funny side to the pagan visitors - just ask my neighbours about the naked women dancing around the stones at the solstice!

Anyway, I'm diverging from the subject of livestock. If you're out in the country, please remember that we're not a tourist attraction, animal park or leisure facility. Our animals are there for a purpose - and its not tourism! They are looked after, they are fed well and properly, and we spend a lot of time keeping them healthy and happy. Treating them as indulged pets and feeding them rubbish food is not an option.

Anyway, time to finish my coffee, get off my soapbox and get back to work.

Stonehead

[Lucy Robyn]

Well what can I say? I'm a city dweller who likes walking in the countryside and visiting standing stones. I also know that I don't know anything about farming or livestock, country people do, so I leave it to them. Your experience just makes me cringe, it gives us responsible folk a very bad reputation. I wouldn't like people coming into my work place and telling me how to do my job!

But I do get annoyed with farmers who block footpaths or don't keep them clearly marked. If a path is nice and clear then it's easy to stay on and not do any harm elsewhere. I feel a bit uncomfortable walking down peoples drives etc.

Why can't we all treat others as we would like to be treated?

By the way I'm not "new age", just interested in history and prehistory.

[Tigerhair]

I would suggest upping the voltage on your electric fence!

[Stonehead]

Why can't we all treat others as we would like to be treated?

By the way I'm not "new age", just interested in history and prehistory.

It doesn't matter whether people are new agers, trendy ramblers or just someone out for a walk - just so long as they show a bit of respect and think about what they're doing.

And if you do, and you stop for a bit of a chat and ask if there's somewhere you can have lunch, then livestock permitting you'll probably find yourself invited to have your picnic on top of the ridge that runs through our place. The views out to the Grampians are absolutely stunning.

As for finding the leylines, well, that's okay too if the field is clear and you ask first.

Stonehead

[ina]

If you get this problem on a regular basis, I would suggest you make a large print copy of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and stick a few of them on your fence - just to show these people what their rights really are - they obviously don't have a clue!

Try this:
http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/u ... Glance.pdf

Under 3. it says - Help landmanagers ... by never feeding animals...

We don't often have problems with tourists here - except for the ones who believe they own the road and stop in the middle of it (at a very dangerous junction) to discuss whether to go for a coffee at the place down the road, and the ones that walk through a field that's ready to be cut for silage (What? It's only grass, isn't it?), but that kind of behaviour makes me mad. Their rights - heck! Their duties, too!

[Shirley]

It's unbelievable really - you would think that if people wanted to get out into the countryside they would know something about it first.

Almost mistyped there as a low flying jet (the third in last 5 mins or so) hurtled over our house - thank god J is a good sleeper!!!

I can't believe that they thought that they had a right to feed YOUR animals. They would probably ask if it was your dog that was running around wouldn't they.

Lucy - looks like you would like a visit up to Scotland to look at the standing stones - do I sense a northern SSISH meet

Stoney - perhaps the 'did anyone see you arrive' tack might work in this situation too

[Stonehead]

If you get this problem on a regular basis...
...that kind of behaviour makes me mad. Their rights - heck! Their duties, too!

It happened again yesterday. I found three people feeding the pigs sandwiches and apples. They were just as unreasonable as the first lot.

I now have electric fence signs all along the fence and am looking for a biohazard signs as well.

I don't think putting up a of the relevant section of the access code would have much impact on these people, but I may put an A3 laminated copy on the end wall of the steading near the road and refer people to it so I'm covered.

Stonehead

PS The latest three, all English, told me I should be grateful people like them come to rural Scotland and support the local economy! That's the point at which I said, "well, here's a taste of the local produce then" and forked a load of pig manure straight at them. Funny how my hand slipped as I was speaking...

[diver]

not all city dwellers are bad or unreasonable. Some people are silly, bad tempered, unreasonable, and /or just plain stupid. Where they live is irrelevant to these traits...they can be city dwellers or country dwellers.

[Boots]

You need a good dog Stoney... then you don't need to say anything... you can just stand back and time their exit! The command Whassat has my girls teeth bared and bounding up on hind legs and she is heaps fast!!! They take off like scampering rabbits. I have to call Zara back before she gets too close though or they might realise she is just chasing them for a pat.

I have a mate up the road, who is the kindest gentlest soul, but I'm not supposed to say that. He had the same trouble as he has a creek on his property and during summer folks would just wander in for picnics and a swim, leave gates open, bring their dogs to spook his cattle and cause all sorts of hassles with their rubbish and vehicles.

He put up a big tin sign... handwritten... and I am so used to seeing it, I'm not certain of what it says now... something about Shooting first and asking questions later. Then he whacked a few bullet holes in the sign itself and started spreading rumours about himself (laughing as I type here, as I have just come from the Grumpy thread...) Anyway, he told everyone how he had started shooting at trespassers and how they run screaming from the place. It was only a few days before people started saying "He shot at me once!" and off the story went...

No-one goes near the place now.. If you want him you ring him on his mobile (which is also on the sign) and he rides down and opens the gate, or tells you to bugger off.

[Lucy Robyn]

I am still stunned that people feed other peoples animals! I just wouldn't expect strangers to walk into my garden and feed mine.

These types just make me angry (and I've not got to put up with them on my property).

On a happier note SCOTLAND: We've been intending to go north for several years. September 2001 we had two weeks planned but on the day before we were due to leave my husband fell off his push bike and cut open his hand resulting in stitches and two weeks off sick. We just haven't got around to planning another visit. The other year we had a very wet week in the peak district and R's asthema was very bad so we keep heading to southern europe. It's very bad going abroad before getting to know your own country. If the weather improves we want to go camping for weekends this summer ( Scotland's a bit far for a weekend but we will get there...)

[Stonehead]

If the weather improves we want to go camping for weekends this summer ( Scotland's a bit far for a weekend but we will get there...)

If you do make it this far, you can always camp in our field - you might even get a jug or two of homebrew to keep you warm at night. There's some good walking to be had around here, with the nearby hillfort, various standing stone sites, the forestry, Bennachie and more.

Stonehead

[Shirley]

HA Lucy

We have to go to Bristol - from Aberdeenshire - and it will probably only be for a weekend!! Hopefully you won't be up here at the time we are down there.... Perhaps we could meet up either up here or down there...

How old is R??