FIVE years' work to turn eight acres of land into a flower-rich organic pasture has been trampled to pieces in a weekend orienteering 'invasion'.
Bill and Sue Osborne, who have a small herd of pedigree Dexter cattle on fields let to them by Lydney Park Estate, are livid over the damage – not to mention litter which could have killed or injured stock.
The pair said they were amazed by the sheer size of the event which they had believed would be a small affair.
Instead there were well over a thousand participants, some from abroad as well as all over the UK.
"We were told there would be 100 or so cars. There were actually 872 cars, 37 mini-buses and four coaches," said Mr Osborne, looking at deep ruts left by departing vehicles.
"We were told by the organisers there would be no damage to the field. They said they would put boards down to protect it. There was not a single board laid."
Sue Osborne, who collected open safety pins, meat sausages from unknown sources, pieces of plastic and even euro coins after the event, said it made Tony Blair's campaign to encourage more countryside recreation seem daunting.
"I've never actually been as frightened as I was then. I said more bad things to people than I've ever said in my life – my mother certainly would not approve," she said.
Mr Osborne said some time ago he nearly lost a cow which had swallowed a small coin which worked its way towards the animal's heart. Vet bills for
this were enormous. Because of the loss of hay he will have to buy in food this winter.
"We have worked hard to make this field organic – we don't even use a tractor because of the polluting effect," he said, adding they had spent £1,500 out of their own pockets to provide disinfectant and other precautionary measures.
The pair, who camped with their herd through the foot and mouth epidemic rather than risk contamination, say the event also risked bringing disease to their valuable stock.