The NFU and Rambler Association have collaborated to produce a short list of guidelines to ensure walkers’ safety around livestock this Easter. Around 3.6 billion tourists make trips to the countryside each year; walkers make up 18 per cent of all visitors to rural areas and their numbers are rising each year.

The two groups have reminded walkers that fields containing livestock are working environments and, as such, they should be mindful of their surroundings, especially as many animals will have young with them at this time of year.

Walkers have been asked to keep dogs on leads and under control, as they can provoke larger animals or pose a risk to sheep, lambs and nesting wild birds.

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe added, “To minimise risks to animals and walkers, simple things like not walking between a cow and its calf, keeping dogs on a lead and being aware of your surroundings are essential best practice. These simple precautions all go a long way to ensuring people can continue enjoying the countryside in safety.”

Benedict Southworth, Ramblers Chief Executive said: “We’re encouraging as many people as possible to get out into the countryside and enjoy the best that Spring has to offer by going out walking this Easter. However, it is important to remember when doing so that the British countryside is working land where animals roam in close proximity to walkers, one of the reasons it is such a pleasure to walk in.”

The organisations’ advice is as follows:

Do

• 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 and under effective control on a lead around cows and sheep

Don’t

• Don’t hang onto your dog. If you are threatened by cattle - let it go as the cattle will chase the dog.
• Don’t put yourself at risk. Find another way round the cattle and rejoin 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.

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