Our Coast, Our Sea - Dogs on leads in the dunes please!

15 April 2011

The bird breeding season is in full-swing and conservation organisations with interests along the Northumberland Coast have launched a campaign asking dog owners to keep their pets on a lead as they pass through the sand dunes and coastal grassland this spring.

The Northumberland Coast has been designated as internationally important for breeding sea birds. The dunes and coastal grasslands backing onto Northumberland’s stunning beaches are equally important as they are home to many species of ground-nesting birds including skylark, meadow pipit, grey partridge, stonechat and reed bunting. Roaming dogs very often disturb these birds during their short breeding season resulting in distress and even them failing to produce any young.

The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership has recently published a leaflet to encourage people to act responsibly when bringing their dogs to the coast.

Iain Robson, from the AONB Partnership said: “The Northumberland Coast is a wonderful place to bring your dog. We are asking that, during the breeding season which is from now until July, people keep their dogs on a lead as they walk through the dunes.”

Supporting the campaign, Duncan Hutt, Head of Land Management at Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: “Druridge Bay is an excellent area for people to enjoy with their dogs, however, during the bird breeding and nesting season, we really would appeal to dog walkers to respect the wildlife in the and try and minimize any disturbance and distress.”

The National Trust looks after large areas of the Northumberland Coast, and its property manager John Walton supports the publication, he said: “The National Trust welcome dogs onto its coastal properties and dog owners can help us to protect the wonderful wildlife we have on the coast by abiding by these simple guidelines.”

The ‘Taking your dog to the Coast’ leaflet can be downloaded from www.northumberlandcoastaonb.org or picked up from any of the Tourist Information Centres along the coast.