A farmer has hit out at careless walkers having picnics and sunbathing in her fields during lockdown amid fears her vulnerable family could contract coronavirus.
Amanda Woolley, who runs Plumbley Lane Farm in Mosborough, Sheffield, says people are ignoring signs telling walkers not to dawdle on their land.
The Woolleys, who have owned the farm for decades, spotted sunbathers and picnic lovers enjoying the recent sunny weather, much to their anger and frustration.
The 47-year-old lives on the farm with her daughter Livy, diabetic husband John and his elderly parents, and said people are treating the farm like ‘a national park’.
Amanda Woolley fears for her diabetic husband and elderly parents-in-law as people flout coronavirus lockdown guidance and sunbathe on her farm in Sheffield
She said: ‘We get a lot of people that are out for their daily walks but some of the people coming here are not from this area.
‘They’re walking around with maps asking us where to go because they’ve got no sense of direction and we’ve got people that are in our field having picnics.
‘It’s almost like we’re being treated as a national park.’
The family installed signs urging people to ‘pass through the farm quickly, not touch gates, walls or stiles and to not touch any animals’.
Their rules are being flouted and Mrs Woolley contacted South Yorkshire Police to try and put a stop to the trespassers.
The family installed signs urging people to ‘pass through the farm quickly, not touch gates, walls or stiles and to not touch any animals’
‘It happens every single day and it’s a nightmare,’ she said. ‘People shouldn’t be going out and these people are not taking any notice whatsoever.
‘We all want to get through this and we are all in the same boat. We’ve always had walkers and it is a lovely walk.
‘Living here you get to know who the regular walkers are but these are people that are just turning up and they’re going out for hours on end with backpacks on.
‘It goes against everything that has been said and it’s wrong.’
Mrs Woolley is particularly concerned for her husband who is diabetic and his parents who are elderly and therefore more vulnerable to coronavirus.
‘You have got to listen to what the Government is saying and the advice that has been given,’ Mrs Woolley said.
‘They are telling us to go out for a brisk walk and then go back inside and when you do don’t be touching our gates and stiles – just do what you’ve got to do.
‘It’s a free for all at the moment and when this lockdown is done these people will probably go back inside because they’re not normally out.
‘They need to listen to the guidelines and think about other people because we all want to get through this.’
The number of coronavirus deaths reduced to 596 yesterday, the lowest the country has seen since April 6. However, the number of infections continues to rise
The College of Policing released updated guidance on how officers should enforce the lockdown last week.
Officers explained what are considered ‘reasonable’ excuses to leave home, such as buying several days’ worth of food including luxury items.
The list issued by the National Police Chief’s Council and College of Policing also says people should be allowed to collect surplus basic food items from a friend.
It also permits providing support to vulnerable people or moving to a friend’s address for several days to allow a ‘cooling-off’ following arguments at home.
Other permitted acts include buying a small amount of a staple item or necessity, and purchasing tools to repair a fence panel damaged in recent bad weather.
The College of Policing released updated guidance on how officers should enforce the lockdown last week
They can also stop to rest or to eat lunch while on a long walk, or drive to the countryside and walking – where far more time is spent walking than driving.
Employees are allowed to travel to work whether or not they are key or essential staff, as long as it is not reasonably possible to work from home.
However, police say it is not reasonable for people to go out to buy paint and brushes, simply to redecorate a kitchen.
Driving for a prolonged period with only brief exercise is also banned, as is a short walk to a park bench, when the person remains seated for a much longer period.
In addition, police say a person should not work in a local park if they can work from home, and no one should be knocking on doors offering cash-in-hand work.
They also say that visiting a vet’s surgery in person to renew a prescription where this could be done over the phone is also banned.