Project Poo
Why are we doing
this?
Increasing numbers of people visit the countryside each year
and more and more people are enjoying the benefits of inviting a dog into their
family. We’re delighted so many people are enjoying the countryside whilst
being aware that increased numbers of people also means increased strain on
facilities, habitats and the potential for conflicts between visitors.
After an
increasing number of complaints and concerns about the amount of dog poo, including
from our own groups of young volunteers, unable to find a place to put down their
tools and picnics, we felt this problem merited some attention. It has always
been the Eastern Moors policy that dog walkers are welcome on site providing
their dogs are under effective control* at all times of the year, and that poo
is bagged and binned, or taken home.
Dogs are domestic visitors to the countryside, just like
people, and their waste can take up to two months to degrade. Dog poo can carry
a number of diseases which are potentially dangerous for wildlife, livestock,
people and other dogs. One such disease, Toxocariasis can remain in ground for
many years. The risk of Toxocariasis is elimated almost entirely if the poo is
cleared up immediately. For more information about Toxocariasis please visit
the NHS website. Another disease is Neosporosis, responsible for over 10% of
abortions in livestock and can also seriously affect dogs. Please see the
reference list for more information about this.
What about wildlife
and livestock?
Foxes are part of the Canis (dog) family and their waste
carries similar diseases including toxicaris. However a rural habitat like the
Eastern Moors, supports wild fox populations at a low density with each fox
roaming over a large territory. Dogs on
the other hand visit the moors in high numbers, with many of them concentrated
in popular spots. This means that an unsustainable volume of waste is left on
the moors if people do not clear up after their dogs. On the first “poo count”
70 poos were counted in the first 200 metres along Curbar Edge, directly either
side of the path. This is also likely to be an underestimation as degraded poo
was only counted if it was still unmistakably doggy.
Dog poo also has the potential to impact the character of
the SSSI habitat. Nutrient-poor habitats such as heathland are particularly
sensitive to the fertilising effect of inputs of phosphates, nitrogen and
potassium from dog faeces. Eutrophication, the increasing of nutrients, of
habitats, is recognised as a major threat to some of our best loved habitats
including low-nutrient heather moorlands. The majority of this is due to
atmospheric pollution deposits but the localised effects of dog poo are also
documented on habitats such as heathland and chalk grasslands. It might seem
like there is already a lot of other poo on the moors, however this is from
livestock and wildlife which roam free, and feed on the moor, therefore recycle nutrients consumed onsite. Whereas
dogs are not part of the ecosystem so their waste results in a net increase in the
amount of nutrients onsite, potentially changing the character of the moorland
habitat.
What next?
The Eastern Moors is a special place for both people and
wildlife so it is important that we protect the habitat and ensure that this
remains a place that everyone enjoys visiting. Our recent visitor survey
identified that half of people felt dog waste was an issue in some areas with
some people feeling very strongly that this was an unpleasant problem that
limited their enjoyment and the chance for their own pet or child to explore safely.
Our habitat research is ongoing, with soil samples and
vegetation surveys being undertaken to investigate if dog poo is having an
impact on the moorland. Biodegradable spray paint is being used to count and
track the amount of poo in areas close to the car parks.
Our policy remains unchanged, dog walkers will always be
welcome to enjoy this special area responsibly, keeping their dogs under close
control and bag and bin the poop*. Primarily this is an issue of volume, so if
we can take steps to reduce the amount of poo left on site we think this will
have a big impact on people’s enjoyment. Clear signs and a code of conduct as
well as bins available wherever possible could help ease the problem in hot
spots near to car parks. Any action taken will be in keeping with this wild and
open landscape to protect the spirit of place that makes this such a valued
area.
How can you help?
Dog walkers are important guardians of this special
landscape, often they are out on site earlier and later than staff and know the
area inside out. Everyone visiting the countryside has not just a right to
enjoy it, but a responsibility to protect it. We know that this is a
responsibility dog walkers take very seriously.
You can help us by bagging and binning your dog’s poo,
especially near to car parks and main routes where an accumulation of waste can
be unpleasant for other visitors. Do so also sets a precedence for other dog
walkers.
*”Stick and flick” is encouraged on some woodland sites,
however, due to the threat of disease to livestock which graze the Eastern
Moors, and people exploring the open access land off path, we would discourage
this.
*Effective Control means within sight at all times and
returning to the owner immediately when called or be kept on a lead.
Key References:
Soil phosphorus as an indicator of canine faecal
pollution in urban recreation areas Carol Bonner, A.D.Q. Agnew Environmental pollution Series B, Chemical and Physical Volume 6, Issue 2, 1983
Guildford Borough Council Draft
Local Plan: strategy and sites Habitats Regulations Assessment July 2014 URS
Job: 47063354 Prepared for: Guildford Borough Counci
Impacts of trampling and dog fouling on vegetation and soil
conditions on Headley Heath. SHAW, P.J.A., LANKEY, K., & HOLLINGHAM, S.A.
1995. The London Naturalist, 74, 77-82
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