Farming family appeals for walkers to stay away and help keep them safe

A Yorkshire farming family is appealing to walkers not to use the footpaths that cross their land for fear they may spread coronavirus through opening and closing gates.
George Scott Paul is asking walkers not use the footpaths around the family farm to keep his grandfather and mother safe. His grandfather is suffering from leukemia and his mum has had an organ transplant.George Scott Paul is asking walkers not use the footpaths around the family farm to keep his grandfather and mother safe. His grandfather is suffering from leukemia and his mum has had an organ transplant.
George Scott Paul is asking walkers not use the footpaths around the family farm to keep his grandfather and mother safe. His grandfather is suffering from leukemia and his mum has had an organ transplant.

Andrew Scott Paul, 75, has leukemia and his daughter-in-law Emma, who also lives on the farm, has had a kidney transplant which means they are both classed as vulnerable.

The family has been taking steps to stay self-isolated while running the 400-acre farm, just outside Masham, North Yorkshire, but they are concerned walkers, many of whom are travelling to walk on the footpaths, may be putting them at risk.

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“We understand people wanting to go for a walk on a lovely day,” Mr Scott Paul said. “But the infection can potentially stay on surfaces for around three days and the farm workers are using those gates all the time. It is putting us at extra risk,” he said.

Mr Scott’s two sons Luke and Adam work on the farm and are currently in the middle of lambing and crop sowing. While Adam lives there full time, Luke has moved in to self-isolate with his family.

Mr Scott Paul’s daughter Lucy said the whole family were worried about the situation.

“We are all being asked to protect the NHS and stop any possible spread of this disease and we are all trying our best to do this.

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“We have not seen our family for weeks as we want to keep them safe and we would ask people to please think twice before using those paths, we don’t want their lives put in danger.”

Emma Scott Paul said they usually loved meeting walkers around the farm but they needed to stay safe.

Her son George, along with his cousins Henry and Lois Cawood have made signs explaining why they are asking walkers not to use the paths.

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