HEDGES
I'm not sure if this applies across the land but here in Cornwall the regularity which which hedges and trees by the road are trimmed leaves something to be desired, particularly with regard to protruding branches around 2 metres high and above. It's as if those responsible (not usually the local authority these days) think that every vehicle on the road is a sleek sports car which can pass underneath. In a motorhome this means scraping along to keep to one's side of the road, or crossing the centre line. It often means that up to a metre of road width can be lost on each side. Grrr!
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Yes, it happens but only this afternoon I passed a farmer near St Stephen trimming back the hedges with his tractor and cutter. He was cutting as high as his trimmer permitted which was certainly more than 3m. I think they are liable to prosecution if they don’t keep the hedges cut but, in the farmers' shoes, I’m not sure I’d go out of my way to hire specialised equipment to cut higher than the event I witnessed today.
I'm afraid scratches to our caravans and MHs are a fact of life. As with commercial vehicles and PSVs, we just have to get on with it.
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Also gone are the days that the bus companies had their own withdrawn "converted" double deck buses, that were used for tree loping to keep their routes clear of over hanging branches ,it now seems to be that the volume of high vehicles is the thing that keeps roads clear as noted by the shape of tree lined roads
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I've been considering this a bit, and I think that it's mainly not the farmers, who, as you say, have the kit to do it. Ones which have annoyed me recently have been high domestic garden hedges overhanging walls (no pavement) - a few instances within 4 miles of me; and a campsite screened a little by trees - a recurrent problem there and surely an annoyance to their customers.
I can't agree that it's acceptable, and it always surprises me that the PSV operators do accept the constant whacking of their vehicles - I notice that double-deckers often have a protective corner bar nowadays. Since they didn't used to have them, one can only assume the problem is worse than it used to be.
There is also the matter that a commercial operator spends the business's money on effecting any repairs, not their own.
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Certainly on unclassified roads & b roads when towing you need the front passenger to keep one eye open for branches & obstructions on the near side as well as the driver & I never forget a tip from the brother in law to keep the off side caravan wheel on or very near the white line .
Having seen a caravan lose part of his front roof section on branches in the New Forest a couple of years back , it pays to be extremely cautious on narrow roads its something I'll never forget seeing , no one was hurt but the caravan was a mess .
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It is the landowners responsibilty to ensure that any of their boundary hedges/trees are not obstructing footpaths or public highways and if any that cause damage/injury because they do obstruct, are liable,
A case a few years ago concerning the hedge on the boundary of our local Catholic church cost them a substantial amount of money because it obstructed the public footpath and a blind man walked into the hedge,his dog could not notice as the overhang was at his owners head height,
A lot of other hedges including council owned ones are now always cut back at least twice a year in our area
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I didn’t say that it's acceptable, Pard, but when there's zilch you can do about it, you have no choice but to get on with it.
As for commercial vehicle owners, there are many small businesses around where company money and operator's money is much the same thing and they aren’t going to be happy either.
Out of interest, have you approached the campsite owner or the householders and pointed out the problem? They might not be aware of the hazard they are causing.
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It would be nice if they trimmed back around road signs as well.
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The other problem with Hedge Cutting is the debris left on the roads afterwards. Some of the thorns, sharp ends etc are quite capable of causing slow punctures if not instant deflation. My motor has fairly chunky tyres but in the case of caravans .. .. .. ..
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Slightly off topic, we had to go down a lane caked in cow muck ( our nice newly cleaned car and 'van covered in it,) I advised the site owner it could cost them return visits if people have to pass this. On leaving the site we again passed this cow crossing it was obvious no attempt was being made to clean up of a daily basis and this time the farmer I'm sure was laughing at us as we passed. I'm of the opinion if we all complain to site owners, wardens and clubs something could be done. The root cause is that these people that allow hedges to overgrow and not clean up after themselves may have a gripe against a site operating nearby.
Happy caravanning.
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It seems to be an increasing problem especially on roads with HGV bans. There is a stretch of road near me which I regularly have to use which runs alongside woodland which I think is county council owned. It has become a real hazard avoiding the roadside branches. Last year in a storm it blew a dead tree slightly over. Not a hazard for a car but just low enough to clout my motorhome damaging my awning at one end. After another years growth, I have recently complained to the council about the increasing hazard requesting the woodland to be cut back. I am waiting to see what happens, if anything.
peedee
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Anyone who has stayed at Dornafield Affiliated site will know about the narrow lanes and hedges.... and the stone walls immediately behind them....En route to Totnes one day we had to pull in to allow a tractor, pulling a trailer, to get by. He thanked us and I took the opportunity to ask why the hedges were not trimmed back.. He replied by informing me it was an EU legislation that at certain time of year he was not allowed to cut hedges back in order to protect nesting birds...
I can neither confirm or contradict his statement
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He replied by informing me it was an EU legislation that at certain time of year he was not allowed to cut hedges back in order to protect nesting birds...
As far as I know it has nothing to do with EU legislation (which is blamed for anything and everything we don't like), but comes under the 'The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981'
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When I asked the farmer (where we keep the van) if/when he was cutting back an offending, damage causing hedge he told us he was only allowed to cut back the hedgerows at a certain time of year due to regulations. I tow slowly up/down the access lane.
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Cows & their muck bring in a livelihood to Farmers, the CL part is mainly a hobby I’d venture. Indoors-mud & muck is country life much as gridlocked traffic & pollution is City life. The choice is ours👍🏻
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I am of the opinion that certain folks should never venture out of urban areas. They either cannot cope with nature and anything that requires slowing down, taking care, having due regard for anyone, anything or tradition, or wanting it changing to suit them. If we choose to stay in rural areas, we go there because we love it as it is, and don't seek to change things. Bring on the cows crossing roads, cockerels crowing, hedgerows full of wildlife, sheep filling the roads, tractors getting in the harvest, moving livestock etc....
Cornish and Devon hedgerows are the most unforgiving in the country, you just don't mess with them. Granite at the core, full of wild plants, totally wonderful.
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The trouble is, TDA, that farms are located down country lanes rather than on dual carriageways. Hence, the cows and tractors cause much inconvenience to those not used to the narrow lanes.
It shouldn’t be allowed really.
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Liability
We can take action against landowners or occupiers who create a danger either on or next to the road. Be aware that if you don’t take adequate precautions, or fail to comply with highway legislation, then in the event of an accident you may be liable for a substantial compensation claim which might not be covered by your insurance policy.Mud on roads
Landowners and occupiers have a duty not to obstruct the public highway, or do anything which could inconvenience or endanger the public. It is an offence under the Highways Act to allow soil or refuse from land next to a public highway to fall, be washed, or carried on to the road. If we consider mud on the road to be hazardous we will contact you and ask for it to be removed. If it isn’t removed in a reasonable time we will arrange for the work to be done and you will be charged for this. In serious cases the police can take action to ensure mud is removed.You can get advice about reducing soil erosion from The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and ADAS.
Animals
Clean any mess from animals using the highway as soon as possible. If animals walk on the verge take care to prevent damage to grips and ditches and areas of special wildlife value. Whenever cattle or sheep are moved along or across a road, the person moving the animals has responsibility for safety to the highway users. At regular crossing points where visibility is poor, permanent crossing signs may be permitted.Devon County Council.
I am a village lad that's been fortunate enough to have travelled the world, I don't need advising cows sh1te, cocks crow and hedges grow!
I also run a business that has certain rules and regulations to adhere to.
Happy caravanning.
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Indoors, it’s called humour.
Why for you assume anything was aimed at you?
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We have just travelled from West Norfolk to Cambridgshire on the A47 and in several places there was mud on the road across the Fens where Farm machinery had pulled out of fields, but it is expected in those sort of areas and wet weather
Even if it did mean another rinse for the front of the c/van
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We are all different, these are the kind we love.
Ok, care might be needed going in, but once on site they are usually lovely. Admittedly, we do drive 4x4s, but round where we live, at times you would struggle without one in the Winter, and they are just so good for towing, and we don't worry about using grass pitches. Admit, we are a tad more protective of our MH, but doesn't stop us using most places. Down in SW, it's the width of some of the lanes that defeats us with the MH, and we did have a very interesting drive to get off Dartmoor a couple of years ago, a tight squeeze in places with those granite walls! We have it covered though, hoping to do old van up this year, and use that down there on some seriously rural pitches! A good few of farmers down there have contracts for hedge cutting, but like most cut backs, they can only do public roads if the funds are there. Farmer who runs our favourite CL used to be out all day around county doing hedges, in between rest of farming duties. Not all CLs have basic farm tracks though, find more in good condition nowadays.
Watching some of the caravanning videos from early years, 50s and 60s is eye opening. No prattling about for those chaps and chappesses, straight over grassy fields, and at speed as well! Mind you, most of the vans are better built, but nowhere near as large as today
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Oh dear. I would have been prosecuted almost every day when our horse was still alive. Never did perfect the poo bag technique for him! We were always careful to go round with a bucket if he did something outside someone's gate in village, but most folks rushed out and had it for their gardens.
I did have to slap one or two windscreens with my schooling whip though if passing cars got too close! Sadly, one of the youngsters we used to ride with wasn't that lucky, both her and her horse were killed by some less than careful driver.
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