Legal position: standing in a farmers field taking pictures??

[TG V1P3R]

Hi all,

Quite a simple question really......there's loads of nice looking ploughed/not ploughed fields on my drive to/from work that I plan on taking advantage of later on my way home (the light is better around 7pm)....my query is, am I trespassing if I'm stood in a field with my tripod and 400d snapping away?? Am I better/safer to take the pictures from the edge of the field??

Seen some cracking field shots by allymac/stevegreen over the last few days, and fancied trying my hand....

Thanks for the advice guys and gals

[Gizmo 76]

Originally Posted by AFC Lee

Hi all,

Quite a simple question really......there's loads of nice looking ploughed/not ploughed fields on my drive to/from work that I plan on taking advantage of later on my way home (the light is better around 7pm)....my query is, am I trespassing if I'm stood in a field with my tripod and 400d snapping away?? Am I better/safer to take the pictures from the edge of the field??

Seen some cracking field shots by allymac/stevegreen over the last few days, and fancied trying my hand....

Thanks for the advice guys and gals

I've ventured into fields before, I imagine you'd be fine unless there was a load of signs around saying "Trepass at your own risk, I have a rifle", then it depends how much you want the shot i guess

If someone comes over, just be polite, explain what you were doing, and if they ask you to leave, apologise and move on.

[playthefilm]

you could always offer them a copy of the photos on cd or something as a polite gesture.

[Steve N]

You would be trespassing - BUT - and I may be wrong here and am happy to be corrected if I am.
It used to be the case that trespassing is not a criminal offence unless it is with intent to commit a crime.

So I think you are on pretty safe ground (no pun intended) unless you cause damage etc.

That doesn't mean that you won't annoy the owner though.

I climbed over a fence and traipsed through a field on monday to get some shots of a very young foal with its mother.

[pjclark1]

You can pretty much go wherever you like (outside) and nobody can do a thing about it (apart from winge).
(unless it is MOD land or you are a gypsy ... different laws for them)

[pixelpixel]

Get some camo gear and go stealth

[Tobers]

Dont go into any fields near cows at the moment!

[Gizmo 76]

Originally Posted by Tobers

Dont go into any fields near cows at the moment!

You want all the shots don't you!!

[jonnypb]

unless there is a right of way or public footpath you would be trespassing but i guess it will entirely depend on the farmer, if they spot you and you've trodding all over their crops then they won't be too happy otherwise i wouldn't have thought it would be a problem unless you're down south near the f&m

[geoff m]

Mmmm, interesting one this. As previously stated, unless there is a right of way around or across the field, you would be trespassing. Unless aggravated by other aspects such as damage to crops for example, it is a civil offence and not prosecutable.

I'm not sure about just going for it as there is nothing anybody can do is a great idea to be honest. In principal, it's no different from someone deciding to come into my back garden and have a look round and take some photos. Let’s face it none of are going to be happy with that! Sure, you would probably get away with it but that doesn’t mean it’s ok.

Maybe get yourself an OS map and find a footpath. You might be lucky and find just what you want AND be within the law.

[allymac123]

I think the 'tresspass' laws might be slightly different in Scotland but even when I've been in England I've been in farmers fields without a problem.

Obviously you should have some respect and stick to the edges if possible. I certainly wouldn't go traipsing accross crops as farmers won't take knidly to that.

As long as you aren't doing any harm to the field/crops I shouldn't imagine the farmer will be very bothered.

[TG V1P3R]

Thanks for all the comments guys (some amusing ones in there as well)....think I'm just gonna go for it.....there's a very convenient lay-by near this field I have in mind, so will get the tripod and camera ready to go there, take a subtle looking wander to said field, and shoot pretty quickly, and move on......IIRC the farm that 'owns' the field isn't in view from the side I'll be shooting from, so I reckon I'll be alright :fingerscrossed:

Thanks again guys, and I'll post results tomorrow sometime

[gibbsy]

I think the main thing farmers rightly worry about is any damage that may be caused to fences by people climbing over them. If there is a gate and it can be opened best do that and close it behind you when entering and leaving the field. However, when I have wanted to go into a field or across some land I have always asked at the nearest farmhouse. Usually I get the right farm straight away or am easily sent in the right direction.

[Sophistasista]

Farmers are just like anybody else. You can have some nice helpful ones, or those with bunches of curses. As already said they mostly worry about their crops, and livestock. They especially get antsy around lambing season. I had a farmer come chasing across a field with a machete because my Duke of Edinburgh group were following footpaths which were going across fields of new borns .. so if even if you do use footpaths you can still get people mad!