The Rural Voice, 1978-08, Page 5Farm land
for recreation?
By Alice Gibb
The Niagara Escarpment, that spine of rock that originates in
Nev. York State. crosses the border at Niagara Falls and then
travels north to the Bruce Penninsila. goes under Lake Huron
and finally ends in Michigan. has become the centre of an
increasingly. heated hattic.
The battle is hetwecn recrcationalists. members of
organizations from the Bruce Trail Clubs. and the Ontario
Federation of Snowmobile Clubs to the Rusty Gaits Saddle Club
and farmers and other property row ncrs on or near the
escarpment.
The recrealronalists feel the Bruce• frail and other chunks of
the escarpment. one of Ontario's most distinctive landforms and
an arca of great nitura' beauty. should he open for public access.
Private landowners, many of them farmers, have often
co-operated in the past. allow mg hikers to cross their property on
the Bruce Trail without charge. asking only that the hik era
Icayc the land as they found it
The 410 mile footpath knoyyn as the Bruce Trail crosses
privately owned land for oyer two-thirds of its length.
But in the last year. more and more farmers and landowners.
particularly in Bruce ind Grey Counties, have hcen asking the
Bruce 1ratl Authority to remove trail signs from their land.
No Trespassing
The srgris have been replaced with no trespassing or private
property yy.rrnings
The frustr.ttuons of the property ow Hers stem from a number of
gree\.trice's
When the Bruce ir.ril ss as oftiyt.ills opened in 19h'. it started
\kith .t handshake agreement heryoeen individual Landow ncrs and
the frail \uthormy
The Landow ne•r, agreed to let hikers cross their Lind on the
trail footpath. an agreement based s Ibis on the goodwill of the
property osyners. stn. e• they reyeoet! nu compensation for any
damage to their property
The trails .\uthor(y did and still does request hikers to "treat
the propert\ ssith respect' to their brochure•, and the recording
which ts played when callers phone the Toronto branch of the
Bruyc• Ira!' Club
t ntortunatcl\. many hikers h.isen't followed this good adsrce.
As agric ultural sy nte•r Bob trotter said 111 a recent column on the
suhie.1 too mains hik .•r are lees mg too much crap along the
trail
In 1 the pros government announced the organi-
zation of a chicon, group. called the Ontario •trails Council.
tornied to assist in the deselopnicnt of a policy to govern a trails
program across Ole pro\ ince.
The 1' members of the council Ira\ elled across the province
and listened to a number ot briefs troni trails organizations.
Lamers and other landossner,. Conservation Authorities, rural
and urban municipalities and the 1-ederation of .Agriculture.
!disuse
it soon became ohs sous that the tarn population was very
concerned with the misuse ot their Lind.
The Huron County Federation of :Agriculture. in its brief to the
Trails Council last July said. "We hrl:e\e that public trails on
private lands in southwestern Ontario are incompatible with
intensive agriculture."
Farmers protest abuses
Some of the reasons used to support this belief were the
danger of damage to the property from garbage and refuse.
danger of careless fires started by hikers. fences being cut. and
damaged crops.
"This spring one of our members spotted a bottle in his field
but was unable to turn his large tractor quickly enough to avoid
driving over it. The tire was vulcanized twice. both times it
failed. It cost 5600 to replace the tire, plus the two useless
repairs and valuable "lost seeding time". the brief said
The federation concluded its submission b\ saying. "We
believe that the concept of a trail developed by a trails
organization, which would allow urban families to enjoy nature is
a lovely idea but quite unrealistic. In our opinion. Joe Public in
North America is not yet educated enough. nor has he acquired
the self-discipline necessary to respect nature, private :and or
public land. let alone farm animals and crops
The Grey County Federation of Agriculture. which includes a
number of members whose farms are cut by the Bruce Trail. also
submitted a brief to the Trails Council last summer
Prime land
The brief said while the trail isn't located on prime agricultural
land. "We must keep in mind though, that this is the farmers
place of business. work or recreation. depending on how you
classify farming -some feel that it is only costly recreation In the
area near the trail it is especially difficult for a farmer to derive a
suitable living without any outside intrusions "
A particular concern of federation members was the possibh'
motorized trail vehicles would be allowed on the Bruce trai.
This could mean "a loss of milk production in a dairy her,
stampeding of cattle which could result in weight loss and quer
probably a broken fence. This could then lead to cattle on a road
which would be dangerous to drivers and possible death of
valuable animal. The vehicle noise could cause some livestock •
abort their young as well. "the brief stated.
Other concerns included litter along the trail. which might t'
eaten by farm animals, resulting in the animal choking. anyt
broken bottles which might cut either an animal's leg or
tractor tires.
"Why should a farmer. who is also a land owner hs nature
his profession, feel that he should not only supply cheap food but
also an area for people's recreation?" asked the brief
Use pools
Columnist Trotter. able to be a bit more outspoker.
recently suggested a reciprocal agreement where farm families
would be allowed to use the shady lawns. patios and swimming
pools of Ontario cities for their recreation.
He said. "When the shoe is on the other foot. can you see how
many city people would co-operate and allow farmers to fill thetr
backyards on the weekends? Not vert many Yet. this is exactly
what mann farmers have allowed city people to do in developing
the Bruce Trail and a good many other scenic resources across
this province.''
Mr. Trotter concluded his column w ith the suggestion farmers
could leave behind some of thetr garbage lust to he fair • ..How
about a few sacks of pig manure strewn around the lawn' Or
some cow dung in the swimming pool?"
THE RURAL VOICE/ AUGUST 1978 PG. 5