Dogs on Heathland

Dogs on Heathland

Lowland heath is a globally threatened habitat, and Surrey holds one of the most significant areas of lowland heath in the UK, including part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.

Chobham Common National Nature Reserve (NNR), a heathland site, is the largest NNR in South East England, and the impacts of dogs on the site have been studied extensively. While issues and studies raised below relate to heathland they are similar for other nature conservation sites.

Dog Walking on Chobham Common

Dog walkers make up 49% of visitors to Chobham Common (WSP Environmental visitor survey, 2004) and this activity creates a conflict of interests between access and conservation objectives. Unlike most walkers, dogs frequently enter Calluna (heather/ling) areas, bogs and other sensitive habitats. This gives rise to serious concerns with regard to disturbance to nesting birds. Nightjars are readily flushed from the nest (Woodfield & Langston) and there is a strong link between disturbance of nesting nightjars and the predation of their eggs and young by corvids (Taylor 2002, Murison 2002). There is also evidence that dogs predate the eggs and chicks of ground nesting birds (Nol & Brooks 1982, Pienkowski 1984). The nesting season on heaths runs from mid-February (woodlark) to mid September (nightjar. Other species nest at different times throughout the year.

Predation by dogs can account for up to 29% of water vole mortalities during the winter months, in areas where american mink Mustela vision is absent (Jordan & Netherton 1999), the impact of poorly controlled dogs on the water vole populations in Long Arm and Little Arm Bogs must therefore be a cause for concern. Dogs entering ponds can cause damage to banks and structure, disturb wildlife and may cause contamination if they have been treated for ecto-parasites (Bull 1998).

Dog fouling can have a significant fertilising effect (Shaw et al 1995). Dog fouling presents a real health risk to visitors, detracts from the amenity value of the site and is the cause of most visitor complaints about the Common. There is a need to reduce dog fouling particularly at Roundabout Car Park.

Poorly controlled dogs cause nuisance and there have been cases of them attacking other dogs and horses, and of them chasing deer and horses – including an incident where a horse was struck and killed by a car when it was chased into Chertsey Road by an uncontrolled dog.

The provision of alternative sites by local authorities for those who want their dogs to run off-lead should be encouraged.

Extracts from Chobham Common Management Plan (Wragg, 2007)

To find more information about Chobham Common and the management plan click here

Dogs and Nature Conservation Position Statement main page