Footpaths.

They used to have footpath officers. Probably can't afford them any more with the council cuts.
Report it om www.fixmystreet.com
You can upload your photo there, too. It will get passed on to your council.

We had a similar problem today - we took a route we don't usually use and lost the path altogether at one point it was so overgrown. My big bugbear is stiles. I always understood that landowners are responsible for maintaining stiles, but some of them clearly don't bother, as there are many in a parlous state, rotting away and dangerous.

HildajenniJ if you go to your County Council website you should be able to find the Rights of way section which will have a "report of problem" section. You'll need to know the footpath number which you can find on the definitive map

Or try your local Ramblers group as they may help monitor path conditions

At least you can wade through it, round this way they're mostly nettles and brambles. Or crops. East Anglia is a poor place for walking in general, there's no coherent network of paths that enable you to get anywhere without road walking. The best place for walking any distance uninterrupted is the sea wall.

Parish and Town Councils should keep footpaths clear. If your village doesn't have a Parish Council, your District Council has this responsibility. There's probably a local web site where you can find information or failing this, try your local library - if you still have one.

Thanks everyone I will look at the parish council website tomorrow and report it. It might just be that they haven't got around to having it cleared yet. Last year they strimmed it but I'm sure it was before the cow parsley grew so tall, it was taller than me.

Hilda, you can report it now on fixmystreet. They will then send it to whichever council is responsible in your area. That is what they do.
On the other hand, you can just ignore me.

Our village has volunteer footpath walkers who report in problems - I don't actually know what happens after that.

I and, I have discovered, several others in my village always keep a pair of secateurs in our walking jacket pockets and cut back any greenery that is threatening walkers as we walk.

We have overgrown paths here too (France) until just before the hunting season, around October. Then the farmers come out with their tractors to clear the paths so that they can hunt.
But an extra problem this year is that the new growth is much higher and denser than before, definitely climate change (imo).
We stick to the tarmac lanes at the moment, or along the rivers.
Even those are in a bad wayditches blocked etc. because councils are cutting back, reduced subsidies from the govt.

Our local footpaths are great - but do turn into a nightmare in the autumn due to the hunters- on our side it is all VERY well regulated- but on the French side it is a free for all, mixed with hard liquor from dawn. And of course when we go walking here, we never know which country we are in- there is not line on the ground (and NO water either)! Give me weeds and brambles any day, at least they don't kill you.

When I go mushroom foraying, I always wear my fluorescent high vis vest.

What are they hunting? Foxes?

Sometimes foxes, usually wild boar and deer.
We found a baby boar in our chicken run once. Evidently some idiot had shot the mother and the little ones scattered. A neighbour took it in, it was quite gentle and timid but they become aggressive as they get older.