Your countryside

HAVE YOUR SAY ON RURAL ISSUES

Share your views and opinions by writing to us at: Have your say, BBC Countryfile Magazine, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN; or email editor@countryfile.com Tweet us @CountryfileMag or via Facebook www.facebook.com/countryfilemagazine *We reserve the right to edit correspondence.

MOUNTAIN BIKING RULES In his article on bike-packing (September issue), Matt Orton thoughtfully included a section on riding rules for mountain bikers. Unfortunately, he omitted the two most important rules. Firstly, cyclists and mountain bikers are only permitted to ride on byways, bridleways and designated cycle ways. They must not use footpaths.

Secondly, it is the law that mountain bikers and other cyclists using designated paths give way to walkers and not the other way round. As a regular walker, it is my experience that the majority of mountain bikers do not know or adhere to these two basic rules.

My wife and I have reluctantly stopped walking in the Surrey Hills during the weekends due to the large number of mountain bikers using the many footpaths in this area. Mark Beaumont, Walton-on-Thames Author Matt Orton responds: All mountain bikers should act responsibly and have consideration for all other users. While uncommon, it isn’t unheard of for landowners to grant permission to cycle on footpaths that are on their land thus avoiding any question of trespass (which is the civil offence caused when riding on a footpath) . It is always worth planning your route meticulously and seek any permissions that allow you to take the best route. UK laws regarding access can be confusing and outdated and are in need an overhaul to meet modern requirements of multiple users. TRUSTED GUARDIANS My recent retirement from teaching means I now have more time to spend reading my favourite magazine and walking in the British countryside.

Coming face-to-face with nature, however, would be nothing like as satisfying if it were not for the work of the wonderful Wildlife Trusts. Their vision, of managing the land for wildlife, people and the wider economy, means that we all benefit.

I have another, more personal reason, for which to thank this marvellous organisation. Last September, my stepdaughter embarked on an apprenticeship scheme with Cumbria Wildlife

Trust, which has given her a seemingly endless array of amazing experiences. This has included attending conferences, drone training, species identification and gaining proficiency in social media.

I want to say a huge thank you to the Wildlife Trusts for inspiring her and other young environmentalists. As a result, the landscape we all love so much will be in safe hands for years to come. David Brown Kendal, Cumbria SKEIN OF KNOWLEDGE First of all I’d like to congratulate you and your team on a brilliant magazine, a very useful mix of informative and factual articles. I’ve been a subscriber for some time now and eagerly await the new edition dropping through my letterbox.

The first thing I look at is the Country Puzzles. In the September issue, question 7 asked what name is given to a group of geese. Obviously, and quite correctly, the answer was b) gaggle. However, as I’m sure you know, this is not the full story. Once geese are in flight the group is known as a skein (pictured left). Phil Sears, via email LITTER LAMENT I found John Craven’s article on rural littering (September issue) very disturbing. When I was growing up, my parents instilled in us to always take our rubbish home when we went on a picnic. Families don’t seem to have this ethos anymore. Walking in town, I’ve seen people throw bottles away when they are only yards from a bin. Lots of people complain about the litter in the Forest of Dean, and I am one of them.

I walk my dog most days, and I usually carry at least one empty plastic bag with me. With a little effort, I’m trying to make an improvement in my area of the Forest. If I see something that can go in my recycling bin, I pick it up – plastic or glass bottles, canned drinks, etc and put it into the plastic bag – and this comes home with me. Jennifer Lang, Cinderford, Gloucestershire Editor Fergus Collins responds: Sometimes this is the only solution – for those of us who love the countryside. I fill a carrier bag with rubbish on almost every walk through my local woods – mostly empty energy drink cans and sweet wrappers.