In a bold display of defiance, millionaire farmer Alun Brunt has refused to back down amidst the nationwide uproar surrounding his decision to build a 300ft metal fence in the heart of an ancient meadow.
Landowner Brunt was adamant that the famous Iron Wall in Somerset would not be pulled down any time soon, claiming it does its job well at Rodden Meadow, Frome.
The fence likened to a barrier in East Germany, features sharp metal ends to deter anyone attempting to cross.
When he closed the field to the general public over ten years ago, environmental groups attacked him as being self-serving, but last week Mr. Brunt insisted he had made the correct decision.
The farmer argues that he purchased the land and must have control over it, limiting public access to designated footpaths.
His transformation of a "beautiful park into something resembling East Germany" drew criticism from them.
Mr Brunt told MailOnline: "They make it bad for themselves. They think they can do what they can on your land."
"People were using [the meadow] as a 30-acre footpath - riding motorbikes, dogs, everything was out there. I thought I've got to restrict the people to the footpath.''
"They wouldn't want me to walk on their gardens and lawns, would they?
"I bought the field and if I wanted to put cattle out there, I couldn't because there were so many dogs out there.
"It had to be under control," he concluded.
Mr. Brunt stated that since the fence was raised, he has used the field for cattle and horse hay production, stating that a footpath is not a green space.
When people poured outside during COVID, he claimed that other walkways grew to be meters wide, often damaging farmers' fields while they were walking during the pandemic because they had nowhere else to go.
If the landowner permits it and under strict government regulations, people can access certain land in England without using paths as part of their freedom to roam.
Right To Roam campaign group is pushing for expanded access rights to woodlands, downland, green belt land, rivers, and river banks. They also advocate for access to include activities like kayaking, swimming, and wild camping.
They criticized Mr. Brunt, claiming he turned a beautiful park into an East Germany-like space.
Jon Moses said: "People in Frome were using the field beyond the footpath for many years. It's his property but that's not the same as exclusivity
"Land isn't the same as owning a yacht. Land has to be a sociable asset.
"Nature has transformed my life. It's where we go for things that are higher than ourselves.
"Since the pandemic, we are seeing lots of these enclosures. All of a sudden the fences go up and that's it."
