Foot and Mouth Disease Update from Scottish Canoe Association 020401

Where is the disease in Scotland?

The area north of the Forth Clyde line has been declared officially 'disease free', South of the line is considered 'at risk' and Dumfries and Galloway remain an 'infected area'.

Information on Specific Rivers

As from the end of this week (week beginning April 2nd) we are hoping to have gathered information about what rivers have been paddled in Scotland that don't contravene any advisory signs or have been paddled without conflict. This information will be held on the Highland Hostels website www.highland-hostels.co.uk. If you have paddled in Scotland over the last week we would ask you to send information to the site enquiries@highland-hostels.co.uk so it can be added for other paddlers' benefit. In this way we hope to be able to provide reasonably up to date info of where people can go. Please allow a few days for this information to be gathered.

The practical problems that you might face include:

• Lack of surety about which rivers are OK to run
• Blocked off parking spaces
• Discouraging signage
• Risk of crossing livestock land in emergency exit from river or while portaging

The Comeback Code

Scottish Natural Heritage, together with SERAD have launched a Comeback Code for visitors. The advice is as follows:

• Obey official signs
• Respect advisory signs and requests from farmers and other land managers
• Do not touch or feed farm animals
• Do not enter enclosed fields with farm animals
• Avoid farm steadings and yards
• Do not leave waste or scraps of food or litter
• Do not park your car in areas where farm animals gather
• Keep your dogs on a lead at all times
• Clean you boots and vehicles between visits to the countryside

The full Code can be viewed on www.visitscotland.com. This site also gives further information on areas open to the public (for general outdoor recreation - not paddling specific) in Scotland.

Most of the signs that have been put up are advisory, and confusion arises because of the tensions between the encouragement given by the Scottish Executive to bring recreational users back to the countryside, and the landowners and local authorities who have taken a very precautionary attitude to the disease. Risk Assessment guidelines have been issued by the Executive for land managers to use to assess their individual sites.

Although we are being encouraged to 'comeback to the countryside' and advised that the countryside is not closed, there is bound to be confrontation where folk try to take access where signs advise not to.

What is the SCA advising?

The SCA is asking people to adhere to the Comeback Code - see main points above. By adhering to the Code below and respecting the wishes of farmers and landowners, there is no reason why we should not be able to keep paddling. You may not be able to paddle everything on your tick list but there is still plenty to be done! Other sites to check out are www.walkingwild.com and www.scotexchange.com.

Fran Pothecary (Access Officer)

0131 317 7314