MSP in "Respect the countryside" plea
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A LOCAL MSP is urging the public to "respect the countryside" during the Covid-19 pandemic.
With Easter weekend approaching, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston and Scottish Conservative colleagues have advised the public to stay at home and avoid non-essential trips into the countryside.
A spell of good weather and the upcoming bank holiday Easter weekend has prompted fears that members of the public will flout social distancing rules and the lockdown advice.
Lambing, calving, and other farming activity is taking place right across the Highlands and Islands and Moray, and farmers and crofters are asking the public to stay at home in order to avoid unnecessary contact and animal worrying incidents.
The plea from MSPs echoes calls from the National Farmers Union of Scotland and the Countryside Alliance, who have issued similar advice urging the public to think twice about unnecessarily roaming across farmland and through farms.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “Crofting and farming remain very important occupations across the Highlands and Islands and those working in this sector simply cannot stop because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Livestock still has to be looked after and crops still have to be planted.
“So, when taking the permitted outdoor exercise, please remember that the countryside is still a ‘working’ landscape for many local people and they deserve our support and understanding.
“Please take care, especially at this time of year - stick to footpaths, and avoid fields where calving and lambing is taking place.
“If we all work together and follow advice, we can also reduce the number of animal worrying incidents which, sadly, remains an issue across rural Scotland.
“Exercising regularly during the Covid-19 is important for maintaining good physical and mental health, but people should not be accessing areas of the countryside too far from their home, in line with government advice on non-essential travel.”
Ed Rowlandson, Countryside Alliance said that the guidelines governing accessing the countryside were crystal clear.
“We need people to stay at home to save lives.
“For those doing local travel for exercise, please respect the importance of sticking to footpaths and other walkways while maintaining a distance of two metres from others.
“If you cannot avoid opening a gate, please be sure to close it behind you and remember to use a sanitiser after doing so.
“If we stick to following these crucial guidelines, we can hopefully avoid having any further restrictions brought in.”
Gemma Cooper, NFU Scotland Head of Policy Team, noted that recent increased usage of the coutnryside as people seek to get out in the fresh air and escape the lockdown was bringing with it a host of problems.
She continued: "...increased access-taking in recent weeks has been immediate and acute for many Scottish farmers on the urban fringes and unfortunately, it is clear that many access-takers are not aware of their responsibilities when exercising or walking dogs on farm land.
“NFU Scotland members are reporting problems in substantial numbers, including littering, gates being left open, crop damage, uncontrolled dogs and access to fields of newly lambed ewes and freshly calved cows.
“In addition, there has been a huge increase in farmers reporting the public taking access through (or in) farm steadings and other buildings, with some reports of finding the public in farmhouse gardens.
“It is important for the public to understand that farming activities are food production and these must continue during Covid-19. This Easter, NFU Scotland is asking the public to remind themselves of the Outdoor Access Code and to ensure that their behaviour does not make farming activities any more difficult than it already is in these unprecedented circumstances.”
Fore more local news, click here.
