JUMPING IN WITH BOTH FEET
A PLEA FROM THE HEART
The Foot and Mouth epidemic has never been far from the news these past weeks. Many of us, particularly those of us who are lucky enough to make our livings from our hills and glens, have been frustrated at the pleas to avoid our beloved hills. We obviously feel for those unfortunate farmers who's livelihood has been cruelly taken from them. Having said that, with current restrictions under review and being lifted in some locations, I would like to take this opportunity to praise the large numbers of hill goers who have all complied with local estates requests that we avoid the hills. Without complaint, everyone has taken it upon themselves to do their own little bit towards preventing the spread of this disease. I would ask that those who are now beginning to nervously edge towards the hills again don't loose sight of the fact that this epidemic has not yet peaked and maximum vigilance is still required. Those of us in the commercial sector have carried out our Risk Assessments and are taking every precaution to protect our clients and the environment in which we operate.
As recommended by our local estates and other sources, if you are heading to the hills over the next few weeks and months, please consider the following recommendations:
- If travelling from one region to another, please ensure use of traffic disinfecting stations.
- Please walk only on designated paths and tracks.
- Please avoid walking in areas of farmed land where livestock may be present.
- Please avoid walking you dog in the hills (a further frustration which we will have to put up with meantime)
- Please take all rubbish home, particularly sandwiches and meat products, banana skins and orange peel (which are certainly not biodegradable despite what a number of the general public believe).
- Disinfecting is stated as not necessarily required but I am still asking all clients to step through a disinfecting trough before stepping out of their vehicles prior to heading up the hills. Jeyes fluid is apparently suitable for this purpose.
Thanks in consideration for your compliance and lets keep our fingers crossed for a speedy solution to this tragic event.
Alan Crichton, Director, Alan Crichton Mountain Skills Limited, April 2001
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