Trust seeks 'ambassadogs' to lead by example

A wildlife trust is recruiting volunteers to support the extension of a campaign encouraging dog owners to keep their pets on leads when visiting nature reserves.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust introduced a blanket ban on dogs being off leads across its sites in 2022, and started its Lead by Example campaign last year to promote responsible behaviour and protect wild birds.

As part of this, it enlisted the help of six dog owners - accompanied by their "ambassadogs" - to spread the word at a handful of sites, including Attenborough and Skylarks nature reserves.

It is now recruiting to extend the campaign to Idle Valley Nature Reserve, near Retford, the trust's largest site.

The wildlife trust renewed its plea for dog owners to keep their pets on leads when visiting its sites after new laws to better protect farm animals from dog attacks in England and Wales came into effect on 18 March.

Katherine Wilson signed up Mondo, an 18-month-old blue whippet, as an "ambassadog" at Skylarks, near Holme Pierrepont, and underwent training about how to handle conversations with other dog owners.

On their walks, Mondo wears a branded bandana which Wilson said helped to start conversations, adding it was about modelling good behaviour rather than being confrontational.

The 56-year-old added: "If I see someone with a dog not on a lead, I'll just introduce ourselves and give them some of the reasons why the wildlife trust asks them to keep their dog on a lead.

"I explain that a nature reserve is a special place and is for nature recovery.

"Without meaning to, dogs can disturb wildlife, and it is important we try and stop that happening as much as possible."

Wilson said her approach "usually goes down really well".

She added: "Sometimes people just don't know or they haven't seen the signage if they've been coming here for a long time.

"I've had a couple of people politely ignore my request and that is ok.

"What they do with the information is up to them - but I have never had anyone be angry or confrontational."

The wildlife trust said the update to its policy on dogs visiting nature reserves in 2022 was partly in response to an increase in ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Erin McDaid, head of communications, said the sheer number of dogs being walked on the trust's sites had increased dog mess and attacks on wildlife, which meant something more needed to be done.

He said the Lead by Example campaign was developed to "do something more proactive than just putting up signs, which people seem to ignore anyway".

McDaid added the trust also wanted to "try and reward the positive behaviour".

It incentivises responsible behaviour by giving out free dog-friendly treats and celebrating the "dog of the week".

McDaid said: "I find speaking to dog owners is much better received when I have my dog with me.

"Asking somebody else to put their dog on a lead is infinitely easier and less confrontational when you've got a dog on a lead."

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