Responsible dog walking at Sherwood and Budby
Through the spring and summer, Sherwood and Budby South Forest become ever more popular locations for visitors to walk dogs.
Residents who walk their dogs daily on the reserve will already be familiar with the fact that there are cattle grazing on both reserves. This is an essential part of the management of the habitats for wildlife, including Sherwood’s ancient oak trees.
While the English Longhorn are a docile breed, it is still vital to ensure that dogs are kept under control and within sight and recall at all times, or ideally on a lead, when taking dogs through the cattle enclosures within Sherwood.
Owners who take their dogs to Budby South Forest in particular will have seen signs stating that it is a legal requirement to keep dogs on leads in the fenced enclosures there.
This is not simply a request from the RSPB; it is the law and it is in place to protect vulnerable species, such as ground-nesting birds like the Nightjar.
While we know many owners are responsible and dogs are largely well-behaved, to the birds the dog is a potential predator and the presence of a curious canine can cause birds to abandon nests leaving chicks and eggs to die.
More than that, instead of spending time feeding to re-stock energy by sleeping or feeding, the birds waste it by flying away in distress.
We know from studies across the UK that this can have real detrimental effects on populations of some of our rarest birds.
When our staff and volunteers ask owners to follow the laws and control their dogs or put it on a lead they are doing this to protect the vulnerable species here.
Ticks are also present in the summer, so keeping dogs on paths and trails will reduce the chances of picking them up in their fur.
Dog owners should also please clean up after their pets on the reserves and either use the dog waste bins provided at Sherwood and Budby, or take waste home to dispose of it.
That simple act helps to keep the site an enjoyable place for all to visit, as well as to protect wildlife.
