A farmer has lost the equivalent of 9,000 loaves of bread due to walkers trampling on his crops - prompting conservation groups to urge residents to respect the countryside. 

With the country in lockdown, there have been many more walkers heading into the fields and woods for some fresh air. 

But combined with wet weather making the ground muddy, it has meant that public footpaths are being widened - damaging farmers' crops. 

With people trying to social distance, or simply find some drier ground to walk on, some pats through fields have been extended to several metres across. 

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Daniel Hares, who farms at Buckmoorend Farm near Wendover, is one of the many Chilterns farmers affected.

Walkers widened a path through one of his wheatfields to 10 metres across - the equivalent to losing six tonnes of wheat, enough to make around 9,000 loaves of bread.

Meanwhile, farmer Ed Lacey, from Lacey's Farm in Bolter End, has had issues with dogs on the loose. 

He said: "We have on-going problems with people letting their dogs off the lead and out of control. We have had sheep killed and injured by dogs."

Now, conservation groups, landowners and farmers have come together to urge people to keep to paths and keep their dogs under control when walking in the countryside. 

The Chilterns Conservation Board’s Chief Executive, Dr Elaine King, said “It’s great that more people are getting out and enjoying the nature and the beauty of the Chilterns during lockdown, and we want that to continue.

"However, the Chilterns are also a place where people live and work, including the farmers that produce our food.

"We are working with a wide range of farmers, landowners and conservation partners to raise public awareness of this special landscape and ensure that everyone can enjoy the Chilterns safely."

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Tim Bamford from the CLA added: “It is perfectly natural, in times such as these, for people to want to enjoy the countryside. 

"They are genuinely welcome and we encourage people to enjoy the thousands of miles of footpaths available to them. 

"But we need to work together to ensure the public can have an enjoyable time while also protecting farmland, animals and wildlife”.

The Countryside Code sets out some simple guidance to ensure that people can enjoy their visit to the countryside while being safe and respectful of others. See https://bit.ly/2YfK3dE