A declaration of War?

The war between farmers and walkers is a fierce and brutal rivalry that has been fought since the dawn of time. Though current legislation making sure that the owner of the land is responsible for maintaining stiles and gates has meant the walkers can take a slight victory, they cannot allow themselves to be complacent as the farmers continue to show defiance by not maintaining stiles appropriately.

Is some farmer surreptitiously making a point of exactly what they think about public footpaths? It is a very dangerous statement to make!