Enjoying and protecting nature with your dog

In all Wildlife Trust BCN-owned or managed nature reserves, we ask that dogs are kept on a lead, out of the water and that everyone sticks to the paths all year round. Whilst the Countryside Code for ‘open access land’ requires dogs on leads only between 1 March and 31 July and around livestock, there are many great reasons to keep your dog close outside of these restrictions too.

For the animals:
In winter, animals are trying to conserve energy to make it through to spring, or in the case of mammals, may already be carrying young. With warmer winters, birds may start nesting earlier and some, like skylarks, blackbirds and dunnocks, nest on or close to the ground. When dogs roam through undergrowth, chase across fields or through reedbeds, we can’t always see the impact they’re having.

Farmed animals such as sheep are already in lamb or giving birth this time of year. Even if your dog doesn’t catch them, the stress can cause pregnant ewes to miscarry, or they can be seriously injured in their attempts to escape. 

For the plants:
It can seem unimportant when dogs use wild spaces as their toilet. The ‘stick and flick’ technique is enough, right? But dog faeces and urine are high in nitrogen and phosphorous and over-fertilise the soils in nature reserves. Preferring nutrient-poor soils, some perennial wildflowers, and therefore the insects that rely on them, then suffer. Join team ‘bag it and bin it’ instead!

Trampling delicate plants like bluebells can also mean they fail to flower and take many years to recover. Keeping to the paths ensures they’ll be safe for years to come. That applies to humans too!

For the water:
Because you care so much for your dog’s health, you’re likely applying a preventative flea/tick treatment. Unfortunately, many of these contain pesticides that could poison our much-wanted aquatic wildlife like fish, insects, and amphibians. Increased turbidity from regular disturbance of the water also prevents light reaching aquatic plants and can damage their growth. Plants that could be important as egg-laying or nursery sites for other species. Staying on land is safest for all.

For the people:
Especially at our education centres, young children and vulnerable groups are often attending events. Your kind and friendly dog may mean well, but we can’t be certain other visitors will feel safe when a dog approaches off-lead or that their reaction wouldn’t alarm your pet. Let’s keep our nature reserves a safe space for all.

We hope this helps to explain the benefits of keeping dogs close and on leads in our wild spaces and why our staff may approach with the request. The Wildlife Trust's latest press release has more information too. To continue enjoying beautiful places and wildlife on our walks, we all need to play our part in protecting them. Thank you.

Dogs in the Great Fen

The Ramsey Heights nature reserve, The Dragonfly Trail and the Last of the Meres Trails at New Decoy Information Point are all open to dog walkers who keep dogs on their lead. 

Natural England welcomes dogs at Holme Fen NNR, but you must keep your dog on a lead no longer than 2 metres between 1^st March and 31^st July, and we hope this blog has shown why it's worth keeping them on lead all year.

No dogs are permitted at Woodwalton Fen NNR at any time.