Overploughed Paths in East Sussex
The following schedule records parish by parish the paths in East Sussex (outside of the South Downs AONB) which have been reported to us up to December 2007 as having been overploughed and/or overcropped without proper restoration.
By law, farmers are allowed to overplough paths, but must within 14 days
make good the surface and indicate clearly the line of the path,
so as to make it reasonably convenient for the public to use the right of way.
The restoration of the surface must extend over a minimum width of:
- 1 metre for a cross-field path
- 1.5 metres for a headland path (though it should not be necessary for these to be ploughed at all)
- 2 metres for a cross-field bridleway
- 3 metres for a field-edge bridleway
- 3 metres for any carriageway
The map references given are generally for the whole path, though usually it is only part of the path that is affected. The next column gives that detail if it has been reported to us.
What you can do:
Please put on your big boots and go and walk these paths. Take small steps so as to make your track as clear as possible. Your footsteps will then encourage others to follow. Use the direction of ESCC 's finger-posts, the OS map, and if necessary a compass, to determine the correct line of the path. Do not worry if the crop has already started to grow: you are legally entitled to trample it down as it has been sown there illegally by the farmer. Pls drop me a line at Malcolm@doriscat.waitrose.com to say that you have walked a particular path from the list below.
Whilst you should take reasonable care to keep to the line of the path, do not worry if you stray slightly: I am advised that as it is the farmer's fault for not restoring the line of the path, he must accept the reasonably foreseeable consequences. In the unlikely event of being challenged by a farmer, explain to him politely that you are only trying to find the right of way - could he please help you by identifying the correct line? If the farmer insists there is no path, or that it has been diverted, then do not insist on your rights but back off, but note the exact place & time of the incident, & a description of the person, and report it to me.
| Parish | Path No. | Map References (for whole path) |
Details of problem (if recorded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | 13b | 544084-545087 | Wealdway. Plough and not reinstated but not yet overcropped. |
| 14 | 554089-553087 | ||
| 14a | 555087-553086 | Ploughed and not reinstated but not yet overcropped. | |
| 15a | 554086-555083 | Ploughed and not reinstated but not yet overcropped, a particular problem, because of the lack of sinage. | |
| 24 | 535086-538082 | Overcropped with cereal. | |
| 25 | 541087-539088 | Mostly just about clear but heavily ploughed or dug up and NW end. | |
| 25 | 542086-541087 | Overcropped with cereal, ploughed right to field edge. | |
| 25 | 544083-542086 | Ploughed right to field edge and not reinstated but not yet overcropped. | |
| 28 | 539082-544082 | Overcropped with cereal. | |
| 37 | 544073-556073 | ||
| 38 | 544074-542072 | ||
| 39 | 547074-549074 | ||
| 53 | 545074-549074 | ||
| Hellingly | 1 | 573119-577130 | Overcropped by cereal. |
| 22c | ??? | Overcropped by cereal north of 567130 | |
| 40 | 577130-576128 | Overcropped by cereal. | |
| 47a, b | 575125-574126 | Overcropped by cereal, walked out. | |
| 47b, c | 574126-566130 | Overplanted by oilseed rape (and cereal at west end), an even bigger prarie! No way of finding route over such a large field. | |
| 48c | 569128-568132 | Overplanted by same crop of oilseed rape as above, impossible to follow route. | |
| 49 | 575125-569126 | Overcropped by a prarie of cereal, impossible to follow as no signpost at either end. | |
| 50 | 565126-567126 | Ploughed up lightly, so currently you could walk it, but path not reinstated. Not yet cropped (maize due?). | |
| 52 | 131129-552128 | Ploughed up lightly, so currently you could walk it, but path not reinstated. Not yet cropped (maize due?). | |
| Icklesham | 4 | 903179-906181 | |
| Mountfield | 13 | 741210-744210 | |
| Selmeston | 10 | footpath through Selmeston Churchyard - not signed but well used | |
| 11 | (not checked) - along farm access drive, part of Vanguard Way - no likely problems | ||
| 12 | Ploughed out and unsigned - crosses same field as 13A - probably only one path needed | ||
| 13a | Ploughed out and autumn-sown without re-instatement | ||
| 13b | headland path -no problems | ||
| 14a | first field from lane at western end ploughed out and autumn sown without reinstatement | ||
| 14b | ploughed out and autumn sown without re-instatement | ||
| 14c | ploughed out and autumn-sown without reinstatement | ||
| 15a | is well signed across rough pasture. No problems. Duplicates the unsigned and less uded 18A | ||
| 15b | part headland, part enclosed path. No problems | ||
| 16 | unsigned at either end , although neighbouring paths newly signed. First field SE from Mays Farm showing signs of cultivation in 2007 | ||
| 17b | 523076-522079 | stubble field - obviously ploughed out last year - no sign of path | |
| 17d | ploughed out and autumn-sown without any sign of reinstatement | ||
| 18a | a good headland path with no problems; is unsigned and little used but is unobstructed. It duplicates the well-signed and trodden 15a | ||
| 1a | Unfenced path across field ; no problems | ||
| 1b | Appears to be short dead end path heading south from 1A/2 junction - of no value | ||
| 3 | Well stiled cross field path - no problems | ||
| 4a | short path between houses. No problems | ||
| 4b | 509081 | stile collapsed and in need of replacement at southern side of wooded strip | |
| 4b | 509086 | obstructed on line shown on Explorer map but usable via gate a few yards to the north | |
| 4b | 509086-509081 | ploughed out and autumn sown in field south from this point | |
| 5 | footpath through Selmeston Churchyard - not signed but well used | ||
| 6 | although showing signs of use, is unsigned at junction with road | ||
| 7a | Clear fenced path - no problems but tends to get overgrown in summer, partl Vanguard Way | ||
| 7b | Clear fenced path - no problems but tends to get overgrown in summer, partl Vanguard Way | ||
| 7c | Clear fenced path - no problems but tends to get overgrown in summer, partl Vanguard Way | ||
| 7d | Clear fenced path - no problems but tends to get overgrown in summer, partl Vanguard Way | ||
| 7e | Clear fenced path - no problems but tends to get overgrown in summer, partl Vanguard Way | ||
| 7f | Clear fenced path - no problems but tends to get overgrown in summer, partl Vanguard Way | ||
| 8a | Path ploughed out but re-instated by tractor wheels | ||
| 8b | 522079-525080 | Recently ploughed out without re-instatement | |
| 8c | Headland path - no problems | ||
| 8d | Headland path - no problems | ||
| 8e | Headland path - no problems | ||
| 8f | Headland path - no problems | ||
| 8g | Headland path - no problems | ||
| 8h | has been ploughed out and autumn-sown without reinstatement in field at north-eastern end | ||
| 8j | is well signed and stiled but appears to be have been transposed on to a route, marked as a dotted line on the Explorer map, parallel to the SE of the ROW as marked on this map. Clarification needed | ||
| 8k | 530084-529083 | several problems: (1) stile at north-eastern end overgrown, (2) stiles and simple single sleeper bridges needed at both intermediate field boundaries, one of which is mildly obstructed by a low sheep-wire fence | |
| 9 | Recently ploughed out without reinstatement | ||
| Udimore | 9 | 894185-900184 |
