Partners including Cornwall Council, Health and Safety Executive, National Farmers Union, British Horse Society, Ramblers Association and the Country Landowners Association came together earlier this month at Fraddon Village Hall, to launch a pilot project which aims to minimise the risk to walkers from livestock in fields crossed by a public right of way. The event also included sessions on Animal Behavioural Psychology and Public Access and Dogs in the Countryside.

With some high profile cases in recent years where walkers have been injured or even killed by livestock, this new project aims to provide an alternative route for users as well as support and help livestock owners whose land is crossed by a Public Right of Way (PROW) decide whether their animals are suitable to be kept in these fields if other fields are not available. The project also aims to assist livestock owners with the process they need to follow when they have animals grazing fields to which the public have access.

This new scheme encourages farmers in that situation to provide and signpost a temporary bypass only during the period of time when livestock are in the field to which the public have access, so that walkers and horse riders who prefer to avoid livestock have an alternative route. Use of these temporary bypasses is entirely optional and the PROW would remain open so the walker or horse rider can choose which route to use.

The pilot scheme will run for three months after which farmers, walkers and horse riders will be asked to report back on how it is working and what improvements, if any, might be made.

Those livestock owners who are participating in the scheme must make sure that the definitive Public Right of Way remains open and usable and that the alternative route is safe and suitable for users of the path.

Linda Holloway, Senior Enforcement Officer at Cornwall Council said: “In excess of 70 people attended the event to launch the pilot scheme; including representatives from the Health and Safety Executive, the National Trust, Cornwall Council, Councils throughout the Southwest, Parish Councils, Devon and Cornwall Police (dog section) Dartmoor National Park, together with walkers, horse riders and livestock owners. We are hoping that the pilot project will provide useful feedback about the most effective way to ensure that path users can enjoy safe access over fields containing livestock.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and housing Joyce Duffin said: “It is great to see such positive partnership working to address an issue which can cause alarm to users of our Public Rights of Way network. I look forward to hearing the results of this multi-agency pilot project.”