Calls for new laws after walker killed by bull

17 November 2010 | By William Surman

THE Ramblers Association has called for a review of the legislation allowing certain bulls in fields with public footpaths after a couple were attacked while walking in the countryside last week.

The couple, 63-year-old Roger Freeman and his 67-year-old wife Lucy Glenis, were walking through a field on a public footpath in Nottinghamshire when the bull turned on them.

Mr Freeman died from his injuries and his wife remains in a ‘critical but stable’ condition in the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, although her condition was said to be improving.

The bull has now been destroyed but the episode raises more questions about the safety of walkers after a number injuries and deaths in recent years.

Rachel Alcock, Ramblers Campaigns Officer, said solitary bulls and bulls of certain breeds were already banned from being contained in fields with public footpaths. But with new breeds of bull being introduced and notable changes in the temperament of livestock, she suggested now may be the time for legislation to be reviewed.

“We have worked closely with the National Farmers Union over cattle management issues and hope to continue to do so but we remain concerned that bulls are allowed in fields with public footpaths when there seems to be no guarantee that supposedly ‘safe’ breeds are actually safe.

“With new breeds of bull being introduced, and changing livestock temperaments being observed, it seems that now is the time to review legislation to ensure the safety and best interests of the public,” she said.

The farmer who owned the bull, Paul Waterfall from Underhill Farm in Stanton-on-Soar, said he was ‘devastated’ by the incident.

“We are in shock and trying to come to terms with what I can only describe as a devastating and tragic incident,” he said in a press statement.

Mr Waterfall is now being questioned by police to piece together the scenes that unfolded on Friday night. The Health and Safety Executive are also investigating the incident.

Ramblers Advice:

Walk carefully and quietly near livestock and close gates when walking through fields containing livestock.
Dogs must be kept under control and only released if the livestock becomes threatening and the owner fears for their own safety.

The rules

Section 59 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 bans the keeping of bulls in fields crossed by a right of way, except if they are:

- under the age of 10 months; or
- not of a recognised dairy breed, provided that they are accompanied by cows or heifers.

‘Recognised dairy breeds’ are defined as the following: Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry

Readers' comments (7)

Mrs Mitchell | 17 November 2010 1:23 pm
Do the rules mean that a bull from a recognised dairy breed can be kept in a field crossed by a right of way or do the rules mean that a bull from a recognised dairy breed can NOT be kept in a field crossed by a right of way? Do the rules forbid keeping dairy bulls in fields crossed by a right of way? Do the rules say it is all right to keep a beef bull in fields crossed by a right of way? And how can a walker know the difference between a dairy and a beef bull?
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Anonymous | 17 November 2010 3:53 pm
Mrs M, it clearly it states where there is a footpath or right of way none of the dairy breeds listed my put a bull in that fields. As for the diffrence between beef and dairy I suggest you buy a FG poster as beef and dairy are very diffrent. If you want to walk in the countryside you should learn something about it before you enter. I have known of a case where a Holstein bull was with heifers in a field with no right of way, they were chased so badly by dogs that they trashed the fences and ended up on the footpath. I think farmers should be allowed to temporarily close or divert a footpath so that livestock can be grazed safely. Footpaths were orginally put in place to get to work or church. farmers like people appreciating their hard work and the countryside but are trying to run a business. We want our cows to have the freedom of grazing outside which is what most of the public wants too,. Nobody wants this to happen to anyone walking in the countryside but unfortunately we will never know what happended to that herd of cows before Mr Freeman entered the field. I suspect someone previously upset them or wound them up and he was caught in the consequences of someone elses actions.
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Robert Rose | 19 November 2010 6:31 pm
Every field on my farm has a PRoW in it. When I offered to fence the footpath off the council told me not to because it would 'spoil publics' experience of the countryside'. Would such a ban mean we could close the footpath or just put me out of business?
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Charlie Gilmour | 2 December 2010 11:21 pm
Some times it makes sense to divert a so-called right of way. I love walking, my wife is frightened of cows, sometimes they worry me. But we have to remember we are walking across someones work place and surely their right to use the land has to have priority over my right to walk it for pleasure. I'd happily divert round the field and often have done, leaving the RoW to do so, but with respect for the farmer and livestock. Often the "Ramblers" cut off their noses to spite their face.
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dinglefoot | 7 December 2010 12:02 pm
Yes divert around .......THEN they complain about TRESSPASS ! I would be happy if they fenced the paths off giving safe passage across a PUBLIC footpath. The paths are our heritage and been there 100s of years and the rules are there to be obeyed IF farmers don't like it get a farm WITHOUT any ROW on them otherwise put up and shut up.
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DARREN | 13 December 2010 7:50 pm
Charlie Gilmour someone with sense, you are the walker that every farmer wants, you sound like the sort that would tell a farmer if he see's a problem with a animal. pitty not all the people on this site are like you
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Anonymous | 7 March 2012 4:07 pm
Are dairy bulls allowed on fields that have no right of way on them just normal fenced fields ?
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