Out and about in (and around) Hailsham – do you know where these were taken?

East Sussex County Council bosses are urging walkers to take care this summer when encountering cattle after a man was killed by cows in a field in Guestling last month. Walkers are reminded, particularly those with dogs, that the normally docile animals can become aggressive, especially when calves are present. ESCC would like people to enjoy the countryside but take care around animals and keep as safe as possible. Be sure to carry a mobile phone to call for help if necessary. Follow the advice given by the National Farmers Union and The Ramblers Association. Both say that cows can feel threatened by dogs and are therefore, more likely to attack.

Their advice to walkers is: Try to avoid getting between cows and their calves. Be prepared for cattle to react to your presence, especially if you have a dog with you, move quickly and quietly, and if possible walk around the herd. Keep your dog close, on a short lead, and under effective control. Remember to close gates behind you when walking through fields containing livestock. Don’t hang onto your dog if you are threatened by cattle – let it go as the cattle will chase the dog and not you. Don’t put yourself at risk by walking close to cattle. Find another way round the cattle and re-join the footpath as soon as possible. Don’t panic or run – most cattle will stop before they reach you. If they follow just walk on quietly. The beautiful East Sussex countryside is working farmland which helps form its character and makes it such a pleasure to walk in, but with any working environment there are certain risks. It is important to anticipate contact with animals. The countryside is where farmers earn their living and produce food for us all, so there is no escaping the fact that cattle and sheep will be grazed there. It is often these activities that make landscapes like the South Downs and the Sussex Weald so attractive. Farmers understand their duty of care and that the best way to prevent accidents is to identify and minimise risk. They are also encouraged to display signs explaining to walkers how to avoid cattle-related incidents and especially how to manage dogs in the presence of livestock. [Sussex Ramblers]

[First printed August 2017]

Neighbourhood Alert, Sussex Police and Rural Crime Teams

As we move into harvest season, it is an extremely busy time in the countryside.  Farmers across Sussex are working long hours and there will be an increase of tractors and other farm vehicles on the roads.  Respect for and awareness of other road users is all the more important at this time. 
We always ask motorists to take care on country lanes, especially when approaching bends. 
Be patient when following farm vehicles on main roads. That sudden impulse to overtake could result in a serious collision. 
That slow moving tractor briefly delaying our journey is a critical part of the process in putting food in our supermarkets and restaurants. We also ask tractor drivers to stay mindful of the risks too and pull over periodically when safe to do so, allowing other motorists to pass.
Rural Crime Team officers have been speaking with many landowners over this last month and the topic of dog fouling on farmland raises much more than an unpleasant odour.  If it isn’t bagged and binned then the waste can end up in a hay bale destined to feed dairy cattle. 
That could mean ruined livestock feed and potentially harmful bacteria making cattle ill.
The National Farmers Union have produced some excellent weatherproof signs available to farmers across Sussex, highlighting the importance of proper dog control and clearing up waste.

[First printed October 2018