Police are urging parents to warn children about the dangers of playing on haylage and silage bales after reports of people entering private farmland in the Easingwold area.
North Yorkshire Police has issued a community safety message reminding residents that the large wrapped bales, which can weigh several hundred kilograms, can shift, roll or collapse without warning, creating a serious risk of injury or death.
Officers also stressed that farmland is private property and should not be entered without the landowner’s permission.
As well as posing a danger to those climbing on them, police said damage to the plastic wrapping around haylage and silage bales can spoil the animal feed, leading to significant financial losses for farmers.
Spoiled forage also reduces the amount of food available for livestock during the winter months, potentially affecting animal welfare and farming operations.
In the appeal, officers encouraged parents and guardians to speak to young people about staying safe in the countryside and respecting working farms.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “Whilst these bales may appear fun to climb on, they can weigh several hundred kilograms and can easily shift, roll or collapse without warning, posing a very real risk of serious injury or worse.
“Haylage and silage bales are agricultural equipment and animal feed, not play areas.”
The force added that farmers work hard throughout the year to produce and store feed for their animals, and that even minor damage to bale wrapping can have costly consequences.
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