Guardians of the Countryside?

[PeterJL]

Originally Posted by overgrownbramble

It's the m*eaters who live shorter unhealthier lives, making the planet worse while they do it.

Sounds like veggy defensive propaganda - perhaps you have a peer reviewed publication you could link to?

Actually if you were really concerned about the planet you wouldn't be giving advice pointing to human longevity. The planet humans to die off quicker not to live longer.

Save the planet - eat more meat.

[overgrownbramble]

PeterJL I could say your posts sound like aggressive pro-meat propaganda.

[stripee]

I said in my post "less meat", I don't bother converting people into vegans or vegetarians. It works for me, nearly 60, low cholesterol fit as a fiddle not thin not pale can see in the dark! my diet is not a problem it is easy. My R Times this week had a supplement in it about saving the planet, one of the ways was "eat less meat". It's in the mainstream. Longevity is not the problem it is over consumption.
Living in the countryside for many years, I have concluded that animal farming contains elements that are unacceptable to me ethically. That's my personal conclusion

[matt_xyz]

it would be helpful if this thread avoided gross generalisations of farmers, vegetarians and meat-eaters. By all means discuss the rights and wrongs of current farming practices, but please stop trying to wind others up (the guilty know who they are). It might also be an idea to not bother replying to posts which are clearly little more than a wind-up.

Matt

[richardkm]

I have lived and worked within the hill farming community in the Peak District. Most of the farmers there are many years behind the times with their attitudes to wildlife, but the fact is that most are farming marginal land and literally scraping a living. They have neither time or resources to bother with anything other than trying to make a living.

Someone has mentioned about footpaths through farmyards being difficult, but on two occasions I was involved in, it has been those representing the ramblers that have objected to alternative routes for footpaths which would avoid the centre of the farm yard. On one, the ramblers won and the rerouting of the public right of way was refused, on the other, I was making an alternative route, which could be used if people did not want to walk through the yard and was asked by the ramblers' representative why I should do such a thing. I had to point out to him that the farm yard was often full of animals and it was more sense for walkers to use the other route under such circumstances. He simply didn't understand what went on in a working farm!

However, saying all that, the attitudes to wildlife need changing. Myth and old wives tales still abound among farmers and gamekeepers and until modern thinking catches up with them, our wild animals will be persecuted to an unnecessary degree.

[PeterJL]

Originally Posted by overgrownbramble

PeterJL I could say your posts sound like aggressive pro-meat propaganda.

Not really. My daughter is a strict vegetarian but then she doesn't attempt to preach to others about her decision. If you post on a public board with a particular view which is a minority one you really should expect at least one post in opposition.

It' not the vegetarianism I object to it's the attempt, however veiled, to tell others that your way is right and theirs is wrong. As with most things it's a bit more complicated and less certain than you would wish it to be.

[PeterJL]

Originally Posted by richardkm

They have neither time or resources to bother with anything other than trying to make a living.

Couldn't agree more. Our local small farmers hardly ever have time off, get up early often go to bed late and don't make the millions which the large landowners do. It's also true that scraping a living like this doesn't help the countryside one bit. If you're hard up you'll understandably take short cuts and the countryside may well suffer.

[stripee]

Farmers are subsided by taxpayers. Therefore, they are open to criticism and expectation. One thing I notice about Britain seen from the air is how green it is, but how few fields have wildflowers in them, and how many fields lack hedgerows.

[ChrisJB]

Hi Folks,

I like to walk through farmyards on my strolls, if they are not knee-deep in scrap metal, slurry, mud and manure, or mad dogs aren't roaming about. It gives me a chance to admire some of the architecturally interesting farmhouses to be found in Britain.

I firmly believe that there are some farmers out there who make their yards distinctly walker-unfriendly so that they will select an alternative route.

Regards, Chris

[Gill Catton]

personally, I don't like to walk through a farmyard, it feels like somebody's home to me - which it is really! If I can go round I prefer to.