New rules around walking your pooch in Milton Keynes’ ancient woodlands come into play on March 1 - and mean your four-legged best friend must be kept on a lead all year round.
Three woodlands are under the care of The Parks Trust in the new city; Howe Park Wood, Linford Wood and Shenley Wood.
The spaces are home to a variety of wildlife, all of which rely on the woodland floor for food and shelter.
"Research shows that dogs off lead are perceived by wildlife as predators. Even dogs wandering off paths can cause stress, forcing animals to alter their behaviour, becoming more vigilant, changing routines, or abandoning feeding areas. These disturbances also contribute to stress levels in woodland species, many of which are already in decline," a spokesperson for The Parks Trust said.
"Woodland wildflowers such as bluebells and wood anemones, which support pollinators, are extremely delicate and do not recover well from trampling. Dog urine also adds excess nutrients to the soil, encouraging dominant plants like hogweed and nettles to outcompete wildflowers. Keeping dogs on a lead helps protect these plants and prevents soil degradation caused by dog waste."
By combining strategic path closures with a year-round dogs-on-lead policy, The Parks Trust aims to create a positive impact on nature, allowing wildlife to thrive and display natural behaviours without additional stress. This approach also benefits woodland wildflowers, which provide vital nectar sources for pollinators.
Dogs will still welcome within the woodland but if you want to let your dog off the lead, you'll need to visit one of the many other open spaces in hte area, incluiding Tattenhoe Valley Park, Loughton Valley Linear Park, Furzton Lake, Caldecotte Lake and Great Linford Manor Park.
For more information visit http://www.theparkstrust.com/
