Does anyone know anything about the CROW Act and also the National Dog Restrictions? I was approached by a rather doddery farmer with a shot gun over one arm who took the opportunity to inform me of the implications of the free access to the countryside. Not that I was doing anything wrong, I might add. Just walking my dog along a perfectly legitimate footpath which ran alongside one of his fields. I'd be very interested if anyone knows anything.  Thanks. Karen

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000037.htm  this may answer your questions

Was your dog on a lead?

Not at the time - although I believe I can quite legitimately let her off at this time. It is only when ground nesting game birds are breeding that you can't - during the summer months; although I'd need the exact months clarifying. He did tell me but I must admit, I was more focussed on the fact that he had Parkinsons and was holding a shot gun. It certainly wasn't December!

Surannon - many thanks for that web site reference. I've had a quick look, but I shall have to put some proper time aside to digest it. It's quite a monster of a document! I do think this is an important point to clarify though as it affects all us dog owners. Any further comments much appreciated.

This point has been raised on here before and it seems that most agree that dogs should be on leads if on private land even on public footpaths.  I must admit that I let my dog off and she runs in and out of the hedgerows but stays off the crops (one of our training successes :D), however I am aware that the farmer is in his right to demand that the dog is put on lead or risks being shot if troubling livestock or game.

Thing is on one of the walks that I take my dog on there are many dog owners and some let their dogs run riot over everything and I could quite understand a farmer get peed off and putting his foot down regarding his rights.  Perhaps this has happened to the farmer you have met.

Not as far as I am aware - dogs should be kept under control. If your dog was straying on his land he has every right to be miffed! :)

No ..... now I don't want this thread to mutate into an issue about a dog being out of control. My dog wasn't. His issue was the implications of the new access rights and the ground nesting birds during the summer. I just feel that with all the experience on this forum it is important that we take the opportunity to clarify this important point.

Having previously done a search on the CROW Act here I can find nothing. To quote my friend of yesterday he said, "I don't have a problem with your dog on my field ....", he was just preoccupied with telling me of the CROW Act, of which I know next to nothing. Just thought someone here might already be familiar with it.  Many thanks though to all of you who have replied. I appreciate any responses, I just feel I must stand my corner.

No nothing on CROW but there was a thread on electric fences and it was clear from other responses that dogs should be on leads when on private land.

What was the farmer's problem then if he didn't mind your dog on the land?  Maybe he was just asserting his authority as many people don't realise what they can and can't do and after skimming that CROW document is it any wonder? :D

I think you might be right. It was a bit of an odd conversation really. I think he saw me as an opportunity to express his concerns about dog walkers generally, but I was at such a loss as to what the CROW Act was all about and what it meant for dog walkers I thought I'd sound you all out. I did an internet search on it, but again it's a really meaty document which requires proper time to go through. Thought someone here might be able to clarify it. I think I've got some bedtime reading to do! When I get to the bones of it though, I'll let you all know.  Thanks again! Karen

It might be that this farmer was generally have a moan about the misinterpretation of "right to roam" - not that you were "roaming" anywhere you shouldn't have been. However, the CROW Act wasn't enabled in order to permit random wandering around over managed farmland and unfortunately, there are those who DO interpret it in this way and we have particular problems round here where the South Downs Way attracts lots of ramblers and people generally enjoying the countryside. Which is as you'd want it to be, I hasten to add, provided the environmental effects are managed.  Sadly, there are a significant number of people who do assume that ALL land is theirs for the wandering around on and this is where conflict arises. None of this helped by the minutae of definitional terms in the legislation which leaves people unsure of what "common land" is anyway.

You might be interested to have a read of some of the info on www.newforestdog.org.uk - dog owners in the New Forest were going to be restricted to keeping dogs on leads and were singled out because of alleged disturbance of ground nesting birds (not game birds in this case though) - it's not quite the same thing, but may be of interest.

There's some info part way down the first page re. CROW relating to this area.

I believe the Kennel Club set up similar organisations countrywide, although am not sure.

I personally dont think it's quite fair for everyone to roam everywhere, but the New Forest was a bit of a special case regarding dogs on leads, control etc etc...

Hth a bit

Lindsay
x

Lindsay - thanks very much for the info ...... I'll be having a look at that later.  Kind regards, Karen

Thanks all for giving me a starting point from which to find out definitively where we stand. This has taken me a little while, but here goes. The following extract is taken from a document issued by the Countryside Agency, called Countryside Access and the New Right. I downloaded it from http://www.countryside-alliance.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=665. It states:

"The new right requires you to keep your dog on a lead of no more than 2m long between 1st March and 31st July (the main breeding period for ground nesting birds) or at any time of year when you are near livestock. Leads are specified as even the best trained dog may occasionally become unresponsive.

Specific local restrictions may also be in place, such as excluding dogs from grouse moors. Please check the open access maps and restrictions information on the webside www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk and look out for local signs. Dog restrictions and exclusions do not affect the right of a person reliant on a guide dog or hearing dog to enjoy the new right of access but these dogs must also be kept under close control.

None of this affects existing rights for dog walkers, but remember that a dog attacking or threatening livestock may be shot."

So, now we know.