Service Description: Public Rights of Way maintain, protect, sign and legally record the public rights of way network made up of public footpaths, bridleways, and byways. Public Rights of Way manages the most concentrated network of public rights of way in the UK. Within 147 square miles there are 520 miles of rights of way which include 326 miles of footpath, 165 miles of bridleways and 29 miles of byways. This equates to 3.5 miles of rights of way per square mile.
Also known as:- Bridleways, Byway, Country Walks, Footpaths (Grassy etc), Horse Riding, Public Access, Rights of Way, Rights of Way Orders, Walking
Answer: It is an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981(s 59) for an occupier of a field to cause or allow a bull to be at large in a field crossed by a public right of way. However there are exceptions to this:- Bulls not more than 10 months old. Bulls which are not of a recognised dairy breed and which are at large with cows or heifers. Recognised Dairy breeds are Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey, and Kerry. Any bull over 10 months old is prohibited on its own. And any bull which is of a recognised dairy breed is prohibited even if accompanied by cows or heifers. All employers and self employed persons are also obliged under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (s 3) to not put at risk the health and safety of persons not within their employment. Guidance notes published by the Health & Safety Executive (the enforcement authority for this legislation) recommend that a sign is placed at access points to a field in which there is a bull. They also stipulate that the sign should not indicate that the bull is aggressive, threatening or dangerous and that the sign should be removed or securely covered when there is no bull in the field.