SIGNS urging people to behave responsibly on farmland and estates have been erected across East Lothian.

Reports of people walking through livestock fields during lambing season, leaving farm gates open and letting their dogs off lead have led to the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland issuing guidance posters.

The posters urge anyone enjoying their daily exercise in the countryside to keep to paths and follow the guidelines. Walkers are advisedto stay away from farm vehicles and buildings, avoid fields with young livestock and arable crops and keep dogs on a lead.

It also ask them to take litter and dog poo bags home and stay two metres away from farm workers as well as leaving gates “as you find them” and ensuring they use gloves or hand sanitiser if touching them.

NFU Scotland said it produced the poster for farmers and crofters to put up after receiving calls from all over Scotland logging concerns.

Among the incidents reported were cases of people throwing dog poo bags into fields of crops, people walking through fields of pregnant animals and young with dogs off lead and gates being left open.

In East Lothian, some farmers have taken to social media asking people to stay out of their fields. One frustrated farmer said on Facebook that “my farm is NOT the general public’s playground” after describing seeing more people on her farm during the lockdown than ever before.

She said: “You might think that it’s OK because you’re in the countryside and don’t cross paths with anyone, but how many other people have thought the same thing before you and have opened and closed that gate? Or climbed that fence/style?

I have a responsibility towards the people who work on my farm as well as my tenants. Not to mention my own family.”

Gemma Cooper, of NFU Scotland, said: “For many, accessing the countryside is a new experience and we want to help guide them on how to do that responsibly and safely, recognising the legitimate concerns of those who are farming and crofting in these unprecedented times.This is the busiest time of the year for farming – lambing, calving, ploughing, planting and more.

“To fulfil our pledge to keep Scotland’s plates and glasses full throughout this crisis, we need farmers, crofters, their families and staff to stay safe, healthy and able to get on with the job of producing food and drink.”

 

 

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