Dogs on The Howe

Dog ownership in the UK is at an all-time high and dog walking is an increasingly popular pastime. Many of our trustees are dog owners and we very much welcome other responsible dog owners to visit The Howe. It’s a wonderful place to get some fresh air together and enjoy the views over the village.

We’re a nation of animal lovers, but it’s also important to remember that not everyone loves dogs and that in some circumstance dog walking may conflict with other people’s enjoyment of our community spaces.

The Howe is made up of a series of different zones, all of which have elements which require protection from even the most well-behaved pooches. That’s why we ask owners to act responsibly and respect our wishes to always keep dogs on a lead, when visiting The Howe.

There are signs up around The Howe and allotments to remind dog owners to do so, but we thought we’d share and explain our reasons for having these rules in place. We don’t want to deter dogs owners visiting our beautiful green space, we just want to protect it for everyone to enjoy.

1. Allotments – dogs are inquisitive and love to sniff and scent mark wherever they go. We therefore ask that you prevent your dog from doing this in the allotments by keeping them close, on a short lead. We want to stop them trampling on the allotments which have delicate crops, or worst still relieving themselves on the plants or soil there. Our allotment holders work hard all year round growing their fruit and vegetables for their families – which they then of course eat – so this is an important health concern for them all.
2. Paddocks containing sheep –all dogs must be kept close, and always on a short lead. It is part of the Countryside Code to do so, as no matter how well trained, dogs have a natural instinct to chase. Unfortunately, over the years our rare breed sheep have been chased and attacked by uncontrolled dogs on The Howe more than once resulting in very stressed sheep and several fatalities. The most recent incident in September 2024 left one sheep so badly mauled it had to be euthanised, and another needed significant veterinary care. A local couple were the first to come across this awful incident while walking on The Howe – and as you can imagine it was very traumatic for them.
3. Our largest paddock – known as Tombs Field – has no livestock in it but we do now have several large ponds. This means this area is particularly popular with local wildlife. Mammals and birds bathe and drink from the ponds – as well as it being a valuable new habitat for frogs, newts and aquatic invertebrates. We keep the grass long here to encourage insects such as grasshoppers and butterflies as well as ground nesting birds. In the summer months our visitors report particularly enjoying watching foxes sunbathing on the sunny bank as well as Roe deer and their young fauns hiding amongst the tall grasses.
   All dogs love to bound about, and many love to paddle and swim. We therefore ask that dogs are kept on a long lead here (extending or training leads of 5m or so are fine) in order to ensure owners can keep them under control and prevent them entering the ponds and disturbing the wildlife.
   It’s not that we want to ruin the fun for our dogs. It’s just that unfortunately flea and worming treatments are extremely toxic. When dogs enter ponds or streams, these chemicals shed from their coats and they then kill all of the aquatic life that lives there. Our local nursery and school age children enjoy pond-dipping here. By keeping your dog out of the ponds, you will help us keep our ponds healthy and full of life for our children and everyone else to enjoy.