Category: Advice

Libby explains how to stay safe on a walk

Libby is a farmer’s daughter and was brought up amongst livestock. She wasn’t scared of cows… not until she was trampled and nearly lost her life.

“I was one of those walkers who felt that people who worried about cows were just townies who didn’t understand them,” she explains. “I know differently now.”

Following her experience, Libby is much more cautious.

“Now, I have a set of personal rules when I embark on a walk, to try to keep me, and anyone I walk with, safe.”

Libby’s quick checklist

Before entering a field of cattle, Libby makes the following checks:

  1. Can I see calves – don’t enter!
  2. Cattle around stile – don’t enter!
  3. Cattle look interested and stop chewing to focus on us and move nearer  – retreat!
  4. I can’t see the way out or don’t know where the way out is – don’t enter!
  5. The herd are spread around the field and I cannot circle around them – don’t enter!
  6. There isn’t an escape route – fence/wall/river that I can easily jump over/into should need arise – don’t enter!

For an extended version of Libby’s rules, and to read more of her advice, go here: Libby’s tips for staying safe around cattle.

 

 

Should I sue after a cattle attack?

Should you sue? If you were injured by cattle, the answer is YES. But the process is not always straightforward.

David was seriously injured after he was attacked by cows while crossing a field on a public footpath. But the farmer wasn’t insured, and that meant David had difficulty finding a firm of solicitors willing to take his case. After he did manage to start legal proceedings, there were delays, and then came a pitiful offer…

Read more about David’s experiences here: Thinking of suing? Pitfalls and delays.

Killer cows and farmers

Nearly 50% of farmers report having been attacked by cows during calving.

In this article, Libby considers the risk to farmers from their cattle, and summarises the existing guidance.

Cattle: Farmers need to be aware of the dangers

In fact, it seems that they are more at risk than walkers.

From 2000 – 2015 there were 74 fatalities involving cattle recorded by HSE.

  • Eighteen of these fatal accidents have involved members of the public,
  • The remaining 56 have been fatal accidents involving farm workers.

Continue reading “Killer cows and farmers”

Myth: There are 3 billion visits…

The 3 billion figure is used again and again. It is wrong. Just. Plain. Wrong.

Myth-busting: People make 3 billion visits to the English countryside every year

Err. No. They don’t.

This figure is used again and again, by official bodies, by journalists, and by other groups, but it is wrong. Just. Plain. Wrong.

Where does the 3 billion figure come from? It comes from the annual MENE surveys, which consistently show a figure of around 3 billion visits a year to outdoor spaces across England. Continue reading “Myth: There are 3 billion visits…”

Myth: Bulls chase the colour red.

Bulls don’t really care what colour you are wearing. Neither do cows.

“I’d advise not wearing red near bulls.”

Oh dear. You’ve been watching too many cartoons. This definitely is a myth.

Bulls don’t really care what colour you are wearing. Neither do cows. Cattle are virtually colour blind.

To be fair, there is some evidence cattle have limited colour receptors in their eyes, and might be able to distinguish red, although to them the colour red will look like a slightly different shade of grey.

It certainly isn’t true that bulls chase red objects and ignore the rest.

Then, why do they use red capes in a bull ring?

Bull holding a red cape and proving he is colour blindThe reason a bull will appear to chase a matador’s red cape in a bull ring, is because the animal is being threatened. He charges the thing he sees moving around. The cape.

The colour of the cape is irrelevant, as was demonstrated by using different colours in a Discovery Channel myth-busting experiment.

So bull’s don’t chase the colour red. There is really no need to keep repeating this myth. It’s just not true.

Neither will avoiding wearing the colour red keep you safe from bulls. That’s not true either.

Thank you to Pixabay for the images used on this page.
Header by OpenClipart-Vectors and cartoon by Clker-free-Vector-Images

5 ways for walkers to report a problem with cattle

Walkers, don’t shrug off nasty incidents with cattle. Report them.

If you’ve ever been hiking in the British countryside, you’ve probably had a brush with cattle at some time in your life. You might have had to abandon a walk because there was a bull in the field. You might have had to run to escape a group of cows. You might even have been injured.

When the danger is over, it’s tempting to shrug off the event. “These things happen.” We strongly urge you not to dismiss these incidents, even the minor ones. By telling your stories, and raising awareness of the problem, we can bring about change.

Here are 5 ways you can make a report. Continue reading “5 ways for walkers to report a problem with cattle”