Farmer sprayed cars with slurry because he was ‘sick of tourists’
Farmer sprayed cars with slurry because he was ‘sick of tourists’
Tom McArdleFri, May 29, 2026 at 3:52 PM UTC
1
Credit: SWNS
A farmer has said he sprayed dozens of cars parked in his field with cow slurry because he is sick of tourists flouting countryside rules.
Hogg Hodgson, a sheep farmer, reportedly said he was “fed up” with Lake District day-trippers not respecting local conventions when he took matters into his own hands on bank holiday Monday.
The tenant farmer, whose family has run Rydal Farm, near Ambleside, Cumbria, for generations, sprayed the Mercedes, Jaguars and BMWs of motorists who had apparently ignored a no-parking sign.
Drivers had been warned by a large yellow sign on a gate which said: “Polite notice. DO NOT PARK IN THE FIELD.”
An accompanying poster also showed that sheep lived in the field, with a warning to keep all dogs on leads.
Despite a largely supportive response to his slurry-spraying reprisal, Mr Hodgson said he was “no hero” and was looking to protect his livestock and land.
He told the Daily Mail: “I’m not proud of what I did. I didn’t do it for any particular reason other than the way tourists behave. I just get fed up with the way they treat the Lake District.
“I am sick of being abused by people when I ask them not to park on our land.”
Advertisement
Farmer Hogg Hodgson claims tourists leave farm gates open, break fences and litter his fields - Barininthefells
Mr Hodgson claimed tourists would leave farm gates open, break fences and litter his fields, which border Rydal Water.
The farmer said the action he had taken was within the law. He added: “Everything I did was on the field, I didn’t spray anything on the road.”
Residents have expressed support for the farmer after it was claimed tourists moved rocks blocking access to the field so they could park.
When approached by The Telegraph, Mr Hodgson’s wife said the couple were grateful for the support but did not want to comment further.
A woman working in the area, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “You can’t blame the farmer for doing what he did. That field is obviously not a car park.
“The sheep were scared and huddling in a corner. It’s just the same as parking in his garden.”
She added: “I usually move people on and stop them from parking there.
“Normally I manage it, but it was a really busy day and I was being ignored. Motorists moved the stones so they could drive into the field to park.”
The field is close to Pelter Bridge car park, which was full by 9am on Friday. It costs £5.70 to park there for two hours or £9.20 to park for 24 hours.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
