Campaign for owners to leash dogs in Northumberland National Park

As part of its annual campaign Take the Lead, Northumberland National Park Authority is asking the public to keep pets under control when visiting the countryside.

Spring is a time of ecological change, with many pregnant and young farm animals living within the National Park, plus the arrival of species of ground-nesting birds including curlew, oystercatchers and lapwing.

Previous incidents occurring from dogs running loose and off paths have caused disruption in the National Park, harming pregnant ewes and young lambs, and upsetting ground-nesting birds resulting in lost broods.

Dog walker at Brough Law, in the National Park (Image: Northumberland National Park/Ryan Edy)

Signage will be placed along walking routes supported by a social media campaign asking owners to keep dogs on leads, and encourage visitors to stick to designated paths ensuring livestock and wildlife remain undisturbed.

READ MORE: Rider says her life was 'put at risk' by man not leashing his dog

Gill Thompson, ecologist at Northumberland National Park said: “Dogs off the lead can disturb ground-nesting birds that are sitting on eggs or separate adults and chicks.

"Chicks can get cold and wet from damp vegetation when they are away from their parents or can be more likely to be caught by predators. Some of the species found in the National Park like curlew, lapwing and skylark have seen big declines in populations nationally and need to fledge as many chicks as they can to help reverse the decline.”

The campaign encourages dog owners to take responsibility for dog poo when visiting the Park.

Worms and diseases from dog waste can infect people, livestock and wildlife, and pollute local water sources. 

Margaret Anderson, senior ranger at Northumberland National Park said: “As we head into lambing season in the National Park, pregnant sheep are at their most vulnerable and being chased by a dog can cause them to miscarry. Once lambs are born, just like any newborn, they need to be close to their mum, but lambs and ewes can quickly lose each other if a dog is off lead in a field where sheep with lambs are grazing."

Farmers, landowners, and businesses in the National Park can request Take the Lead signs to display to the public.