Covid: Crops 'damaged nationwide' by lockdown walkers avoiding mud

Crops are 'being damaged nationwide' by lockdown walkers avoiding mud, a rural business organisation has said. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said an influx of people walking over planted crops was affecting farmers' businesses. One farmer said there had been a tenfold increase in walkers during lockdown, while another had seen a 5ft (1.5m) path widen to 36ft (11m) across. Walking charity Ramblers said people must 'stick to marked paths'. CLA president Mark Bridgeman said while he did not want to discourage people from using the countryside, 'crops are being damaged nationwide' by those avoiding quagmires.