Rangers have reported this week that several livestock gates have been left open on the Hills.
Gates have been left open multiple times at Black Hill car park, behind Malvern Hills hotel - this is a cattle compartment and thankfully no cattle escaped but this is a very busy road on a sharp bend.
Gates were also left open on the east side of the Beacon, which resulted in sheep escaping and having to be recovered from gardens in town last night.
We also received a report that a gate on Hancocks road was left open, perhaps by a delivery driver.
We have reported this to local police who will be now aware for similar incidents occurring.
Whilst this can happen occasionally it is bizarre that we have had repeated incidents of this in a very short space of time. Of course it could be that people are not aware of the implications, but they can be serious - if livestock walk onto a road they can cause traffic accidents or come to harm in other ways (dog attacks, become separated from the herd and become stressed, exposure).
Fenced compartments are there for a reason, as are the gates and livestock themselves- please respect the Hills and Commons and help us keep everyone safe.
