‘Mindless’ Bucks joyriders flatten 3ha of winter wheat
© Richard Heady A Buckinghamshire farmer has blasted “mindless joyriders” who tore through 3ha of his winter wheat, calling it the latest in a string of rural crimes blighting the countryside.
Richard Heady, whose family farms land near the village of Hollingdon – just minutes from Milton Keynes – said the damage “adds further insult to injury” during an already difficult harvest season.
“It’s one of a number of senseless things that goes on in the countryside,” he said.
“It fits into the same category as people leaving gates open, fly-tipping, hare coursing – not understanding the consequences of their actions.”
© Richard Heady
See also: Farmer’s trail camera helps to fend off fly-tippers
Around a quarter of a field, about 3ha, was churned up by vehicles believed to have entered from a nearby single-track road.
The area, Mr Heady said, has long been a hotspot for antisocial behaviour including off-road driving, fly-tipping and even dogging.
“What makes it pretty and gives it its character is also what leaves it open to criminality and invasiveness,” he said.
“If we put a bollard in the way, they would just go slightly further up the road and gain access another way.”
It’s incredibly disappointing to find a crop you have been tending to all year, trashed just before harvest! How can people be so selfish 🌾🚙💨! #harvest25 pic.twitter.com/OmeNEeAYgl
— Headys farm (@HeadysFarm) August 3, 2025
While the farm may recover some of the grain using crop lifters, most of the wheat has been flattened and the yield will be reduced.
“Crops are not really worth much money this year, which is a right pain,” Mr Heady added. “So this is a further kick in the teeth.”
Despite the frustration, the incident has not yet been reported to police, as Mr Heady has been extremely busy with harvest. However, he plans to fill in a 101 online form when time allows.
“The more you report incidents like this, it helps build up a picture for the police, despite the remote chances of people who do this being caught.”
For now, the fields will remain open, but Mr Heady says that unless things change, they may be forced to fence them off, permanently altering the landscape.