Farmer warns trespass runners risk serious injury

A livestock farmer has warned runners are risking their lives by trespassing on farmland and has called on running app operators to take action.

Nicola Naylor said she had spotted persistent offenders jogging through Blackshaw Farm near Glossop, Derbyshire, where cows are calving and are therefore very territorial.

"It's very, very difficult to expect cows to behave in a reasonable and predictable way around people who are behaving in an unpredictable way," said Naylor.

Strava, one of the most popular running apps in the UK, said it "cannot independently verify land ownership or property boundaries" and expected its users to "obey all laws and rules".

Naylor's farm is surrounded by open access land, highlighted by public footpaths and designated entry points.

However, she said she has regularly seen runners "taking shortcuts" by jogging through privately-owned areas of her farm, which are clearly gated and fenced off to the public.

"They've got thousands and thousands of acres to run on, it's just about their preference to find where they've set a personal best and want to beat it," she said.

Michael White, from the Association of Running Clubs, said runners should stay on the right of way and seek landowner permission before running through a farmer's field.

"If the field contains cows with calves, the farmer should move the cows or refuse permission to use the field," he added.

Naylor said some persistent offenders have been abusive when she and her husband, David, have reminded them they are running on private land.

"We've both been assaulted. I've had my car keys stolen out of my vehicle. The stories go on and on and on."

"This area was issued with a public nuisance order three years ago, like an ASBO for the countryside," she added.

She highlighted the dangers of the terrain and farming machinery, but was most concerned about the threat posed by her hundreds of cows.

In total, 26 people in Great Britain were killed by animals in incidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive between 2020 and 2025.

While the HSE's statistics do not specify the type of animal, the organisation states it was "likely" a significant number involved cattle.

"In those statistics, half of those people that are killed every year or seriously injured are farmers - professionals," she said.

In November 2024, the Health and Safety Executive said several studies suggested 24% of livestock producers were injured by livestock every year.

"When a stranger comes through, not only are they a stranger, they're usually doing strange things," said Naylor.

"They're moving at a different pace, they're dressed in fluorescent colours, they've got a bike with them - cows can't process that."

Naylor said the majority of trespassers she had spotted were jogging while consulting a smartwatch, suggesting they are setting or following a route on a running app.

"We'll have one do it, set a time, share it and then more of them come, so I think there needs to be more responsibility from running apps because some of their customers are going to get hurt," she said.

Routes through the farm are highlighted on the running app Strava, yet these are not designated public footpaths and are clearly gated and signposted.

A spokesperson for Strava said: "As stated in our Community Standards, we expect users to 'obey all laws and rules related to their activities' and to never 'trespass on private property'."

"We encourage property owners to work with local law enforcement to address any unauthorised access or trespass concerns on their land," they added.

The BBC also approached the operators of MapMyRun, Runkeeper, Runna and Komoot for comment.

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