4 March 2008
Take Responsibility - care for your dog and the countryside
Many people exercise their dogs when enjoying Dartmoor. Although a dog may not be actively chasing livestock, its presence can still cause disturbance. During the lambing and calving season, expecting ewes or cows are particularly vulnerable. A frightened animal may abort or abandon its young – a tragedy for the animal and a financial loss to the farmer.
By law dogs must be under control so that they do not scare, worry or disturb farm animals or wildlife. Farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals. Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council ask that you help keep your pet safe, protect the environment, and show you are a responsible owner by keeping your dog on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July on Dartmoor’s open country and common land – and all year round near farm animals.
Cherry Seage, Secretary, Dartmoor Commoners’ Council said:
'It is appreciated that most dog walkers are responsible and value and enjoy the open space Dartmoor has to offer. However farmers are becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of control demonstrated by some dog walkers and the recurrent savage attacks on their livestock. In some areas one and sometimes two sheep a week have been brutally savaged by dogs and they are left to die a painful death; it may be several days before they are discovered in the undergrowth.
Please help stop this needless cruelty and assist by providing the police with information about witnessed dog attacks.'
Further information on responsible dog walking and the Countryside Code can be found on the Kennel Club web site www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/248 (external link, opens new window) and at www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk (external link, opens new window). You can also find out more by phoning the Open Access Contact Centre on 0845 100 3298.
When using Dartmoor's moorland roads it is also important to remember that lambs may be on, or at, the roadside. The ewe may be grazing on the opposite side of the road and, if startled, a lamb could run in front of an oncoming vehicle to rejoin its mother. Keep a particular look out for lambs and young foals. Remember, the 40 mph speed limit is there for your safety and the safety of other road users, and livestock and wildlife.
The lambing season on Dartmoor also coincides with the breeding season for moorland birds and, with spring approaching, the moorland will be full of new life.
Many factors play a part in influencing the success of breeding birds including climate change and human disturbance. Even short term disturbance can be fatal. When a bird is forced to leave its nest, the eggs or newly fledged young can chill and die very quickly, or predators can move in and take eggs or nestlings.
During the bird breeding season, incorporating the months of March, April, May, June and July, you can minimise disturbance to breeding birds on Dartmoor by:
- keeping to tracks and paths as much as possible, particularly in areas of dense heather, rocky areas and wetlands;
- keeping your dog on a lead
- avoiding young birds on the ground or distressed parent birds, by walking around the area and moving away quickly,allowing the parents to return;
- spreading the word by telling others how they can help too.
A full colour leaflet, entitled Dartmoor - a special place for moorland birds provides information on Dartmoor's breeding birds and why it is so important to help protect them. The leaflet is available from Dartmoor National Park Authority Information Centres and can also be viewed on the Dartmoor National Park Authority web site www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
It is important that all users of Dartmoor help to protect the area’s special qualities. Access land is shared with grazing animals and indigenous moorland wildlife while moorland roads are not just used by vehicles. Please take extra care at this time of year.
Ends
For Further Information from Dartmoor National Park Authority
Rob Steemson, Head of Natural Environment Service
Alison Kohler, Head of Recreation, Tourism and Ranger Service
Norman Baldock, Principal Ecologist
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority.
Tel: (01626) 832093
For Further Information from the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council
Cherry Seage, Secretary, Dartmoor Commoners’ Council
Tel: (01822) 618892
Email: caseage@dartmoorcommoners.fsnet.co.uk
Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are available on the Authority's web site .
You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority .
News Releases from all UK National Parks (external link, opens new window)
Notes for Editors
The periods when birds breed varies between species, and from year to year. This can depend upon the weather on Dartmoor and, for migrants, on weather conditions abroad. However, past records of breeding behaviour on Dartmoor indicate that most activity connected with setting up territories, nesting and fledging young takes place between the beginning of March and the middle of July.
Dartmoor is the largest upland area in southern England, offering many different habitats for a wide variety of breeding birds. For example, gorse and thorn scrub supports linnets, stonechats, whinchats and the rare Dartford warbler. Higher up, you may see the golden plover and the dunlin. These and other birds contribute to the richness of the area and our enjoyment of this special place.
Bird species particularly vulnerable to disturbance are curlew, lapwing, dunlin, golden plover, red grouse, meadow pipit, skylark, wheatear and ring ouzel.
As part of Action for Wildlife: the Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan, specific Action Plans have been prepared to help conserve Dartmoor's birds and their habitats. The success of these Plans depends very much on the co-operation of many organisations and individuals, including land managers and the public. Action for Wildlife: the Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan can be viewed on the Dartmoor National Park Authority web site www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
Public access to open country on Dartmoor extends for some 47,000 ha (50% of the National Park). Of this total, 32,500 ha comprises common land. Arising from the Dartmoor Commons Act, 1985 PDF 
(123 Kb - PDF Help), the public has a legal right of access on foot and horseback to the Dartmoor commons. In addition, public access has been secured by access agreement to approximately 5,200 ha. Legal access on foot to areas of open country mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (external link, opens new window)offers further opportunities to explore Dartmoor's special qualities, its wildlife and cultural heritage and its landscape diversity. There is also a network of public rights of way totalling 412 miles (663km).
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,400 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
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This page last updated 4 March 2008
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Page updated 3 March 2008
