Letter: Who Would Maintain a Fence by the Hog’s Back ‘South Field’?

Published on: 20 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 20 Mar, 2026

A blocked entrance to the former permissive path.

From Dave Middleton

In response to: Blocked Hog’s Back Path – Hope for a Compromise Following Parish Council Debate

Lorimer Burn blithely comments that a fence could be erected alongside the unofficial path to protect crops and that “grants may be available” to fund this.

But who will be responsible for maintaining this fence when it is damaged by the inevitable, self-entitled, members of the public climbing over it, or the replacement of the fenceposts supporting it when they rot?

Who will be responsible for ensuring the path remains clear of overgrowth?

Will Mr Burn and the members of the St Catherine’s Village Association, along with all the others demanding the use of this path, be prepared to put their hands in their pockets and purses to fund this maintenance?

I rather suspect not, and the costs will fall to the tenant farmer concerned, along with the estimated £400 loss of income from crops (which is not far short of a weeks wages for a farm labourer).

Responses to Letter: Who Would Maintain a Fence by the Hog’s Back ‘South Field’?

Lorimer Burn Reply

March 20, 2026 at 8:57 pm

Dave Middleton is seizing on only half the story. The local residents have always been alarmed by the (very few) ignorant people who have no understanding or regard for the farmed landscape they’re walking in. But we value it greatly. And none of our suggestions have been “blithely” made.

It also appears that Mr Middleton is not aware that the population to the north and east of the Loseley Estate is keen to set up Crowdfunding to pay for a fence.

I don’t see why “self-entitled members of the public” should climb over a fence such as this, any more than the stock fence Loseley have just installed down to Conduit Farm. We are doing our best to come to a compromise with Loseley which respects a route long used by many people because of its special views and character, and at the same time, minimise the loss to the tenant farmer.

As for future maintenance, I don’t know the answer yet. But the local population would really love to have an opportunity to volunteer with Loseley; to work with the estate; to support it. There are no such openings at the moment. Loseley Estate does not engage with the local communities which saddens us all. We don’t seek confrontation but wish for a constructive relationship with the Loseley Estate.

Lorimer Burn is chair of the St Catherine’s Village Association