BTCV
Fencing
a practical handbook
by Elizabeth Agate

(BTCV Enterprises Ltd, Conservation Centre, Balby Rd, Doncaster, DN4 0RH 01302-572200)

A BADFA review by Chris Beney, January 2002

What do path users want with fencing? Isn't fencing something we just don't want?
Well sometimes it can be useful in keeping stock from trampling paths and allowing paths not to have gates or other stock retaining structures, but even where it is not something we would wish to see we do need to know about it in order to influence landholders to put up fencing that doesn't spoil the enjoyment of paths, whether that spoiling is by being dangerous (barbed wire) by blocking views (high and solid) or by just looking ugly. Yes, for path groups like ourselves (BADFA) fencing is sometimes bad news, but we can reduce the impact through knowledge.

In addition fencing includes structures that are of particular interest to us: Gaps Gates and Stiles.

This book of some 130 pages covers all these things from the point of view of work either by volunteers or with volunteer involvement. Elizabeth Agate succeeds in providing clear text and clear illustrations, with her usual consummate skill. The line drawings in the two-column text give the feeling at times that you are hearing a person talking and showing rather than reading a book.

Here is a sample of the book's typeface and Elizabeth Agate's drawings:

Elizabeth Agate covers a wide variety of fencing types, giving typical dimensions and clear illustrations, she covers many aspects of what to do before deciding on a fence, she covers safety, materials, techniques, and crossings (gates etc.).

Did the book address the fact that for path users fencing and gates and stiles are normally something to be avoided unless absolutely necessary?  Not quite well enough I fear. For example on page 29 she refers to the fact that with fencing projects with volunteers there is a need to have some other work nearby for times when not all volunteers are occupied. She then mentions 'stile building' as one of these possibilities. I hope this was a slip of the pen, but fear it wasn't. New stiles should not be encouraged anywhere. The new British Standard for Gaps Gates and Stiles is well mentioned (eg p 119) but the fact that new stiles, except in exceptional circumstances, cannot be to B.S. was not made clear.

Another omission was the opportunities for refurbishment of stiles and the one-step stile. Stile-to-gate conversions are the ideal but stile refurbishments a more achievable target. The British Standard does include the repair and refurbishment of stiles and if all existing stiles were converted to the Standard there would be an absolutely enormous improvement in access to the countryside for all, especially the infirm or elderly. There is a wonderful opportunity now of using the B.S. to move forward. Any of the B.S. stile categories: wide post and rail, narrow post and rail, stone wall, dog, point the way to improvement of access. The one-step narrow stile is particularly valuable, as it is the easiest of all to use where stock security allows it (the cross rail is only 600mm above the ground). I mention it especially as the Ramblers' Association has told its footpath workers that it doesn't comply with B.S. and at the time of this review has not yet corrected that error.

The high quality of the book is shown by the fact that I only noticed one error in it, and that was on the peripheral issue of Planning Law. I will detail it though because it is a very widespread misapprehension, even amongst planners. Elizabeth Agate says fences can be erected up to two metres high without planning permission except where abutting upon a road used by vehicles when they can only be up to 1 metre high without planning permission. But the law does not say 'road' it says 'highway' which includes footpaths and bridleways. So the one metre maximum rule applies to all paths and farm tracks where there is significant vehicular use and not just 'roads'.

Throughout most of the book both imperial and metric measurements are given. Why we still need both, I do not know. I was personally pleased that metric was mostly millimetres and metres, avoiding the dreaded centimetre.

Overall a most valuable addition to the libraries of all user groups, and definitely recommended.

Chris Beney January 2002

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