Chorleyanalytics

A collision avoided by jumping over a hedge

Incident number: 968

Response ID: 306,988,458

Date of incident: 22.07.24

Location: I was in a field on a public way southwest of Chilcompton (near Midsomer Norton)

Status: Lone walker with no dog on PFP

RJB’s story

“Was crossing from stile to stile. Stiles were overgrown so was hard to find the exit stile. Got chased by 20-odd young but fully-grown cows and found the gap in the hedge to jump over just in time. I had to run across the field with an 18kg backpack on – if I’d been less fit or had less time to react then I’d have been at the very least in a collision with a charging herd.”

Is it unreasonable to expect electric fences on footpaths?

Incident number: 967

Response ID: 306,987,531

Date of incident: 13.07.24

Location: Nera Steyning Sussex (W3W: glossed.dumplings.odds)

Status: Loan walker on PFP with dog on lead

Neil’s story

“I entered the field via a stile on a signposted public footpath with my springer spaniel, who is 7 years old and has never had the remotest interest in livestock of any description her entire life, and this day was no different, and thus she was off the lead as usual, but close to me as usual, carrying a stick. I noticed the herd at the far end of the field (250-300 metres) clumped directly on the footpath route and essentially right in front of the next stile. I put Jem on the lead and began to walk gently in a very wide arc around the other edge of the field and we were about 100 metres from the first style when I noticed them moving towards us at what seemed a fairly regular walking pace. I became anxious about 10 or 15 seconds later when I noticed a couple at the head of the herd break into a slight canter and definitely in our direction, which then very quickly escalated into a run that the rest of the herd followed with. I quickly unclipped Jem and sprinted with her back to the stile we had come over. By the time we jumped back over it, the cows were almost upon us and running at what I would describe as stampede pace and they were snorting and mooing very aggressively. My heart was in my mouth and the dog was also quite scared. I am an experienced country walker and live nearby in the village of Henfield. I always respect cows and give them as much room as possible but have never been this aggressively pursued before by them. Really very frightening.”

Neil thinks

“Where there are a herd in a field with a public footpath running down one side of the field, but no easy escape (hedges on all 4 sides), I don’t think it is unreasonable for the farmer to have to place an electric fence along the line of the footpath. I know this wouldn’t stop them if they really wanted, but they would probably be wary of it having been zapped by it already a few times and would not come to near it. – Maybe? ! Also, if the herd are know to agitate easily – which the farmer should be aware of – then appropriate warning signs should be used on the stile access to the field.”

Hurdling a gate to avoid cows

Incident number: 962

Response ID: 306,985,898

Date: 05.05.24

Location: Near Brockhampton Herefordshire ( What 3 Words ///asleep.dated.pods on a footpath heading East towards Hollington Farm)

Status: Loan walker without dog on Public right of way

Rob’s story

“I was walking alone along a footpath from Lower Bolstone Wood towards Hollington Farm. As I entered a field I started walking alongside the hedge towards the other side. Then a group of cows came running towards me from the left hand side. The hedge was too high and overgrown to climb over or through so I ran to the other side of the field and hurdled the gate just before they reached me. There were approximately 20 of them and it was very frightening”

This happens every summer in this area of Derbyshire

Incident number: 960

Response ID: 306,985,266

Date: Repeated dangers over the past 15 years

Location: New Mills, Derbyshire, SK22 4QE SJ989866 w3w inert.cornfield.games

Simon F’s story

“I’ve not put a date in this report – it’s every summer! We avoid this particular farm from May to November each year because of the aggressive bullocks they keep in the fields. The initial incident occurred when we were walking along a popular local footpath to a bench called Peggy’s Pew. The path crosses the field diagonally and the bullocks approached us, cut off the path and began to charge at us. We half held our ground and half retreated until we were at the field wall, which we then climbed to escape. Since then we enter fields around this farm cautiously and if we see the groups of bullocks approaching we turn round, leave the field and go elsewhere. If we are just doing a local walk with no real itinerary then diverting is possible. But this is not always the case for everyone and not the case for us when we’re further afield. It is not just this farm. It seems cows and bullocks are becoming increasingly aggressive. We have been chased near Whaley Bridge and took refuge in a hawthorn hedge – not sure which farm. We diverted and climbed a fence after finding bullocks blocking the track out the field at Woodends Farm above Wood Lanes near Poynton. In the same area at Platt Wood Farm I’ve left a field where the cows packed it out with no spare space and walked through the field parallel. And I see it on Strava too – runners or walkers having incidents. Last week someone’s walk was cut short by cows (Rocks Farm off Whaley Moor) or last summer someone out with their young daughter in a pushchair had to leap a fence with pushchair to avoid cows. But when you read the sad stories on this website, and given the increasing frequency of incidents, I agree with your campaign’s argument that it should be the farmer that is responsible for stopping these incidents occurring and not blocking footpath access with aggressive cattle.”

Cows were different to normal – all black in colour!?!

Incident number: 958

Response ID: 306,985,033

Date: 30.06.24

Location: Near Stoke Gabriel Devon (What 3 words /// materials.double.survive)

Pete’s story

“The herd were not that far away when I entered the field, but I’m fairly used to walking through fields with cattle in this area. These were different than normal, all black in colour. I walked across the field, dog on lead, and they began to follow as a group. As we neared the gate on the far side, the lead animal started getting very close and aggressive, luckily the gate was near by now, so we just got through as the rest of the herd arrived. Very scary, though no injury.

I would like to see a national reporting site that can be followed up and acted on by HSE – eg warning livestock owners of incidents, dealing with rogue animals.”

Walking back to Combs Valley campsite – badly frightened

Incident number: 954

Response ID: 306,984,422

Date: 06.05.24

Location: Near Chapel en le Frith Derbyshire (What 3 words ///entry.meanders.cried)

KB’s story

“Two of us were walking back to combs valley campsite from the nearby golf course. We didn’t have a dog with us. Once in the same “fenced off area” as the cows, we noticed them dancing about but they were quite far off so we didn’t worry. There was a row of trees which we walked on the other side of from the cows. This meant we didn’t see them coming but suddenly they burst out from the main part of the field and we found ourselves stuck between the trees/bushes and a group of at least 5-7 angry looking cows. The leader of which seemed determined to hit us. My partner wanted to run but I stopped and started talking calmly to the cow, facing it. After an intense face off the lead cow decided to run away and the rest of them followed. We then quickly scrambled to the nearest fence and climbed over it with a tree, scraping ourselves mildly in the process. We weren’t injured but have been both since quite scared of any pasture with cows and now often avoid them and walk on roads. We met the farmer on our way out who said they were young cows and was friendly but also seemed to laugh it off, while we were just so happy to be out of there unharmed.”

Hadrian’s wall – diverted from national trail because of cattle

Incident number: 951

Response ID: 306,983,569

Date: 06.05.24

Location: Approx Grid ref 334592 – Hadrian’s Wall path near Beaumont

JRT’s Story

“Two of us were walking along Hadrian’s wall with our dog on a lead. A group of young cattle charged towards us as soon as we entered the field. They came thundering over and fortunately we were able to leave the field the way we came in. The path – a national trail – was blocked by these animals and we and other walkers had to track back along the road as there was no other option.”

I had to throw myself over a barbed wire fence to escape

Incident number: 947

Response ID: 306,981,823

Date: 23.08.24

Location: Near South Nutfield, Surrey (What 3 Words ///chairing.erase.straddled)

Matt’s Story

“I was walking on my own without a dog. I entered the field through the kissing gate. Group of about 5 cows and possibly calves nearby which ignored me. Went through the field on RoW to discover it was shut by Network Rail at the exit from the field. I returned along the path, one of the cows ran at me and butted me. I had to throw myself over a barbed wire and hawthorn field boundary damaging my clothing and causing numerous deep lacerations to my legs”

!Warning to walkers on Teeside Way Romaldkirk!

Incident number: 945

Response ID: 306,831,907

Date: 08.09.24

Location: On the Teeside Way going out of Romaldkirk (What 3 words ///faces.crusher.bleaching) OS Grid NY 99699 22533

RW’s story

“Two of us were walking on a public footpath with our dog on a lead. We approached the field and saw just a couple of cows immediately ahead of us. As we walked up the footpath one particular black cow got very excited and charged at us. More cows and calves (which would have stopped us coming into the field) appeared. The situation degenerated and we were forced up against a wall. My wife with one dog just got out in time over a fence into the adjacent field next to a cemetery. I was knocked to the ground and I managed to get up and help my dog over a 6. Ft stone wall. I then managed to scramble over the fence my wife had climbed over.

I think I have probably cracked some ribs. I’ve played 30+ years of rugby and I know what a severe rib injury is. This is probably up there with the worst of them.

We’re not naive walkers and we understand the dangers of cows with calves. (My wife was bought up on a dairy farm and knows livestock) As there was no sign we hold the farmer solely responsible for this. He should be prosecuted in the same way I’d be prosecuted if my dog attacked someone or his/her livestock. Changes should be made such that farmers include this information about calves by law. This path was the Teeside Way!!! Not some sleepy backwater. I’d like incidents like this to be recorded and published.”

Unprovoked near miss Torver Coniston

Incident number: 944

Response ID: 306,806,682

Date: 07.09.24

Location: Public bridleway heading to Torver Coniston.

Imogen’s story

“Me and my partner were walking to a pub, very short walk from where we were staying. The entire way was a public footpath /bridleway. Around halfway into the walk my dog decided to eat something off the ground and get seeds stuck to his face, my partner was only a few feet in front of me so I called him back to help me. After this I looked up to see a cow around 100 meters away from us up a hill and it just came charging at us with no warning, I was panicking but couldn’t get my words out and trying to get to the gate in front of us with my dog and partner. We managed to get to the gate in time and my partner pushed it through it and shut the gate. The cow mooed loudly and walked off. The field clearly had a wall that had fallen down but the cow could have easily got to us. My dog did not bark or make any movements towards the cow and was on a lead the whole time. This was very scary and I am shook up.”

Tony will think twice about entering a field of cows again

Incident number: 943

Response ID: 306,653,816

Date: 30.08.24

Location: Near Whitton, Shropshire. (What 3 words besotted.dividing.curving)

I was walking with my dog who was off the lead but walking at my side close enough that you would not have noticed it was not on a lead. We were following the public footpath along the field edge and had seen the cows (about 15 or 20) on entering the field, but as they were 150 or so meters into the field and 30 or so meters in from the footpath and laying down I did not consider them a risk. As we drew level with them several of them stood up and started to gesture that they were not happy about our presence. We moved on quickly and the ones that had stood began to move towards us at a pace that was gaining on us. We picked up speed and so did they until we were running, and thankfully they gave up their pursuit. The dog didn’t seem bothered just surprised to see me move at such a pace; I however was quite shaken and will think more than twice before ever entering a field of cows again.

Tony says “I would like to see all cattle fenced off from public footpaths and bridleways etc. It is insufficient for farmers to consider liability insurance sufficient and there need to be more prosecutions when incidents occur. Many of these public rights of way existed long before the field configurations they now cross and almost certainly the cattle have come after the right of way. It is unacceptable that the public have to face these risks while enjoying these rights of way and must be protected!”

Scared near to Llanidloes Wales

Incident number: 942

Response ID: 306,604,784

Date: 31.05.24

Location: llandiloes Gwestyn Map reference SN887861 approx.

Two incidents in the same place. In both incidents I was walking on my own without a dog.

1. Walked from a public footpath north east of Gwestyn onto the bridleway leading west from Gwestyn. Cattle in the field with the bridleway came running at speed towards me and started to crowd round me. I ran at them and they ran away but came back again. After two or three further attempts to run at them I had to climb a barbed wire fence into another field to escape them. I cut my hand and ripped my trousers on the barbs.

2. A different day, walking east south east from Gwestyn on same bridleway. The cattle were further east from Gwestyn on this occasion. Same problem again. They came running at me, gathering round. I had to climb barbed wire again to get into the next field.

Our reporter says “It should not be legal to keep cattle in the same field as a public right of way. It’s no good specifying breeds etc. There have been too many accidents and near misses. It is too terrifying and lots of people I know will simply not enter a field where there are cattle, meaning they are prevented from using their legal right to walk on any right of way they choose. Farmers should be forced to fence off sections of path or put electronic collars on cattle that control where they can go. Or could hand held cattle scaring devices be developed just like the anti dog devices you used to be able to buy that are (sadly) not seen any more?”