Originally from: Paul Buxton
                        
Hello Coleen,

 Ah at last someone who does not have a split identity :-)

 you wrote:

CT> Hello Paul

CT> In answer to some of the questions you asked Francis here goes.

CT> People from non farming rural areas are buying ex farms and it is correct CT> when Francis writes – they do not want the land.
Then why buy it?

CT> Many farms in the lake
CT> district especially hills farms have gone this way and are continuing to do CT> so. Many of these people are also only weekend visitors thus these are CT> second homes to them. <snip>
Agree entirely and it has been the case for the last 30yrs in my experience

CT> I am a person who happens to think (that yes the land does belong to the CT> stock) just as much as a town or city person would say that their 'garden' CT> belongs to them.
We all need our privacy.
CT> Would they like a farmer turning his/her cattle out to
CT> graze on their lawn. I somehow think not. If people respected the land more CT> then perhaps farmers would object less.
Is this the same respect some "farmers" show it? Littered with black plastic, scrap, wire, empty mineral buckets, cattle wintered outside in areas resembling the Somme water courses polluted, and more.

CT> Some people come to the Countryside and think they have the right to roam CT> where they see fit.
Oh blimey, I fit in that category!
CT> Many people abide by the Countrycode. You should note
CT> that during fmd when KEEP OUT notices were posted everywhere people on CT> holiday were ignoring it. Just because they wanted to have their holiday CT> they were not bothered that A, they might be harming the animals in that CT> area and B, that they ran the risk of taking fmd back to their area.

Oh no that was me! The reason being they could not see the sense in
the majority of precautions. We chose our holiday in Shropshire that year simply because they did not have any footpath restrictions. The next year I was in the Thirsk area and unbelievably they still had restrictions which applied to me. I took a few of those down <guilty>
In 2001 I cycled through most of the F&M hotspots in SW Scotland, Cumbria and N Yorks avoiding ineffective disinfectant mats along the way.

CT> Should dogs be allowed to run free. Well as a owner of dogs – of course CT> they should be able to have freedom and enjoy it. But, not at the risk to CT> livestock or trespass which is what happens in many instances. We have our CT> own land, but we also walk our dogs through fields (never ever when it has CT> stock in them).
That is a restriction you place upon yourself and so be it. I have confidence in my dogs and my ability to judge the stock.

CT> I would be the first to say we were treated with suspicion
CT> when we first move in here. It is down to each person as to whether they CT> choose to want to fit into their villages way of life and respect the other CT> people who live and earn their living there. Like it or not the Countryside CT> is steeped in tradition. I love the Countryside, I am not a lover of all of CT> it's way – but is any City person 100% completely in tune with what happens CT> there.
I would doubt it, and not all traditions are healthy.
CT> We do not ask for much, just that what we do have, is not continually CT> eroded away. A Post Office, Local Schools, Village Pub Local Shop, Bus CT> Service, GP,
If you still have these thing you are very lucky, and I know of some
of these facilities which if it wasn't for the tourist would cease to exist.

CT> Are we selfish. Then if what I writes amounts to yes, then I have no CT> problem with that. All I can say is, when I go into a Town or a City I try CT> and respect that – just as much as I do my own back doorstep. I never drop CT> litter, I do not go trampling across people's gardens etc etc and never hurl CT> abuse at anyone and I always say 'thank you' when purchasing anything. I CT> can and do appreciate the History of any Town and City without wishing to CT> spoil it – or feeling I have a given right to explore were it says 'not open CT> to the public'.

CT> Do I want to protect where I live, yes I do. Is that so wrong Paul.

Not at all, it is only natural, did I say it was? I just felt like popping in to make you question a few of the beliefs you ( the forum) have.

CT> I am
CT> not sure where you live, but do you not have those same feelings about your CT> home and area.
Ah, now that is something I have been careful upto now not to give too much away. I would guess you are all thinking by now that I am some young city slicker who came trolling in.
Well if you do you couldn't be more wrong.

My brief profile is;
Lived in the countryside for over 50yrs
Earned my living from agriculture for 36yrs
Worked in SW Scotland for last 20yrs as shepherd/manager
Lurked here since December
Been a usenet user for 5+yrs so if there are any usenet users here I think they should now recognise me.

Best regards,
 Paul