What is really behind the Fence?
I have never been a fan of fences but then I suppose this is only because I have always been on the wrong side of them to really enjoy their purpose (the side that means I don’t own anything and need to find somewhere else to walk).
I have lived in Urban areas for the majority of my life, so the subject of private property and ownership of land is not exactly new to me. Everything in the city is owned by someone or some organisation. There are places you can go and there are places you can’t and generally, most law-abiding citizens accept this. The city and urban areas have large concentrations of people so it would be insane if everyone just did whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted to and whenever they fancied...
In the backs of our minds, we justify these huge restrictions on our movements by the existence of the countryside. If you want to stretch your legs and wander about without upsetting anyone, you are welcome to go into the countryside... OR can you?
Over the last 18 months I have been doing a lot walking. This is largely due to my decision to adopt an 8 week old Chocolate Labrador called Winston who, incidentally, generates more energy and enthusiasm in one day than the entire London 2012 Olympic Games.
What I have noticed in my short time as a part-time rambler, is that the countryside is not as free as we may think it is. Apart from some of the wonderful national parks and a few pockets of woodland scattered about everything else is owned by someone. Just like the city. The so called rural areas are covered in Farms which are fenced off and subjected to intense agricultural practices. As a rambler with a dog looking for a place to walk, these fenced off farms may as well be industrial estates (and they generally smell worse if they are used to graze cattle).
Now, I am told by more informed and reliable sources that this is largely due to the infamous Inclosure Acts passed over a period of time beginning in the early 1800’s. Being a curious chap, I did some reading and this is what I found out.
I am amazed I never learnt about this kind of stuff at school (probably too busy learning about the Roman Empire and The Egyptians I suppose) but it certainly makes bumping into a fence a much more emotional experience than it used to be.
On a more positive note, once I got over the whole fence thing, I can honestly say that this country offers some absolutely stunning places to go walking, running and cycling - it just means you have to get in your car and ignore the fences on your way there!
Thus far I have managed a couple of big walks (10+ miles) on Dartmoor, a couple in the New Forest and more than a few at the nearby South Downs. I am planning to visit the Brecon Beacons at the end of the month, as my wonderful wife has booked a weekend in a cottage out that way with friends and family for my upcoming birthday! Can’t wait.
I usually wear a Garmin Forerunner 610 (highly recommend) on most of my walks as the GPS conveniently tracks all of my walks and tells me where to go if I get lost. I upload most of my walks (and other exercises to my Garmin Connect profile - feel free to take a look - I plan to fill it up with a lot more!
Take Care, Thanks for Reading and Enjoy Walking!
Chancey
I have lived in Urban areas for the majority of my life, so the subject of private property and ownership of land is not exactly new to me. Everything in the city is owned by someone or some organisation. There are places you can go and there are places you can’t and generally, most law-abiding citizens accept this. The city and urban areas have large concentrations of people so it would be insane if everyone just did whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted to and whenever they fancied...
In the backs of our minds, we justify these huge restrictions on our movements by the existence of the countryside. If you want to stretch your legs and wander about without upsetting anyone, you are welcome to go into the countryside... OR can you?
Over the last 18 months I have been doing a lot walking. This is largely due to my decision to adopt an 8 week old Chocolate Labrador called Winston who, incidentally, generates more energy and enthusiasm in one day than the entire London 2012 Olympic Games.
What I have noticed in my short time as a part-time rambler, is that the countryside is not as free as we may think it is. Apart from some of the wonderful national parks and a few pockets of woodland scattered about everything else is owned by someone. Just like the city. The so called rural areas are covered in Farms which are fenced off and subjected to intense agricultural practices. As a rambler with a dog looking for a place to walk, these fenced off farms may as well be industrial estates (and they generally smell worse if they are used to graze cattle).
Now, I am told by more informed and reliable sources that this is largely due to the infamous Inclosure Acts passed over a period of time beginning in the early 1800’s. Being a curious chap, I did some reading and this is what I found out.
- Previously, Britain used to have a lot of what is called Common land. Common people (proletariats) would be allowed to use this land to make their livelihoods through small scale farming and grazing of animals - it was a community.
- Then the rich people (land-owning Aristocrats) decided, they could improve the overall production of agricultural goods by using more intensive agricultural methods on larger patches of land - Britain was an Empire after all and the crown was engaged in a lot of wars with hungry soldiers all over the world. The crown supported what was good for the Economy - and the common people paid the price (sound familiar?)
- Acts were passed in parliament that enabled the Rich people to use their private armies to stake a claim on common land - drive the proletariat off and erect fences.
- With no land to farm and Aristocrats moving to mechanised agricultural methods, the common people were driven out of the countryside and into what we now know as cities. Concentrated population centres where the industrial revolution (and factories) offered hope of a job and a purpose.
- Not much has changed - to quote the Land Magazine: “Currently, in our "property-owning democracy", nearly half the country is owned by 40,000 land millionaires or 0.06 per cent of the population”
I am amazed I never learnt about this kind of stuff at school (probably too busy learning about the Roman Empire and The Egyptians I suppose) but it certainly makes bumping into a fence a much more emotional experience than it used to be.
On a more positive note, once I got over the whole fence thing, I can honestly say that this country offers some absolutely stunning places to go walking, running and cycling - it just means you have to get in your car and ignore the fences on your way there!
Thus far I have managed a couple of big walks (10+ miles) on Dartmoor, a couple in the New Forest and more than a few at the nearby South Downs. I am planning to visit the Brecon Beacons at the end of the month, as my wonderful wife has booked a weekend in a cottage out that way with friends and family for my upcoming birthday! Can’t wait.
I usually wear a Garmin Forerunner 610 (highly recommend) on most of my walks as the GPS conveniently tracks all of my walks and tells me where to go if I get lost. I upload most of my walks (and other exercises to my Garmin Connect profile - feel free to take a look - I plan to fill it up with a lot more!
Take Care, Thanks for Reading and Enjoy Walking!
Chancey
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