Follow the Countryside Code (to keep all creatures safe)
If out walking alone or with dogs, always follow the Countryside Code, to keep you, dogs and barnyard friends safe.
- Follow local signs, and keep to marked paths
- Leave gates & property as you find them and do not block access.
- Follow farmer advice if animals are being moved.
- Do not touch or feed livestock (or horses).
- Do not touch farm machinery.
- Keep dogs under control and in sight, and pick up the poop. Put dogs on leads on Open Access land (a legal requirement between 1 March and 31 July). This is for your dog’s safety too, as farmers can legally shoot dogs that worry sheep.
Keep dogs away from steep banks, conkers, mushrooms, toxic flowers and trees. Oak trees are toxic to horses, livestock and other animals. At the coast, read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
Keeping sheep safe near dogs
- Read up on humane dog training, to keep dogs under control near sheep (if in doubt, don’t walk nearby).
- Put dogs on leads on Open Access land (a legal requirement between 1 March and 31 July). This is for your dog’s safety too, as farmers can legally shoot dogs that worry sheep.
- Learn how to upright an overturned sheep (either due to pregnancy or rain-soaked wool). This will save its life (have someone look after your dog while you do this).
- Keep dogs away from high peaks (Nearly Uphill has safety tips). At the coast, keep dogs away from nesting birds and sand dunes.
- Report farm animal concerns first to farmers with a friendly word. If no joy, call RSPCA (or Crimestoppers (anonymous).
- Don’t judge farmers, many have financial needs (Farming Community Help can help with free food for livestock and other goods).
Never leave litter in the countryside
- Even fruit peels or nut shells as they take a long time to break down. Don’t light fires or barbecues and if you smoke, use a personal ashtray to immediately extinguishe cigarettes.
- Choose biodegradable non-scented beauty/cleaning/laundry products (use at least 70 adult steps away from streams, lakes and rivers). Same for going to the loo!
Leave animals alone in the countryside
The popularity of ‘selfies’ is not good for wildlife (a few years back, a foal fell to its death from a cliff, after it was spooked when people took selfies).
In another case, a pony died from eating raw potato peels (never feed animals anything without a farmer’s permission – even apples can cause colic in some horses).
If given permission to feed one as an occasional treat from the horse’s guardian, then cut it up (remove the core) and feed from a flat palm.
Another farmer in the Highlands said that people were trying to ‘boop’ her cows in order to launch a video for social media, which spooked the cows so much (they have sensitive nerve endings on their noses) that she was wary of anyone approaching her for months later.
A new code for countryside roads
There are plans to introduce a new Code for Countryside Roads alongside the Highway Code, as around 70% of road deaths are on rural roads, despite having far less collisions. This is thought to be due to a combination of low winter sun, fallen leaves and more ice.
And accidents with wild deer. Read more on making roads safer for wildlife (including wildlife-friendly driving tips).
The USA’s 7 Leave No Trace Principles
The Countryside Code is good advice, but quite lengthy to remember. It would be better to do what the USA does, and have 7 key principles for visiting the countryside, so everyone knows what to to:
- Plan ahead and prepare (know regulations, check the weather, visit in small groups and use a map).
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces (use maintained trails, camp at least 200ft from lakes and streams).
- Dispose of waste properly (take litter with you, use biodegradable soap).
- Leave what you find (do not touch or disturb anything)
- Minimise campfire impacts (to prevent wildfires)
- Respect wildlife (need feed animals or disturb them, keep pets away)
- Be considerate of other visitors (don’t make noise).
