Could you Lead by Example?

CARING for 1,300 hectares of nature reserve across 40 sites means Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is used to balancing the sometimescompeting needs of people and nature.

- By ERIN MCDAID

One issue that has become particularly challenging is dogs on nature reserves. Having previously permitted dogs 'under close control, we now ask that dogs are always kept on a lead on our nature reserves as a result of increasing dog ownership, some own ers not keeping their dogs under control or picking up after them.

At popular sites such as Attenborough and Skylarks, our policy shift had little impact despite news releases to highlight the issue and signage.

When dog management came out as a top issue highlighted by our Attenborough for All listening exercise last year, we decide to tackle it head-on while ensuring responsible dog owners, and their pets, remained welcome.