Walking the dog is a pastime that not only gets many of us out of doors daily, but keeps us fit and allows us to indulge in a spot of 'bad birdwatching'and general nature-watching. Research has shown that this also helps to keep a lot of us mentally healthy - though I can't speak for myself on this one! However, unfortunately for those of us who keep to the rules and clean up after our pooch, there are a minority of our number who let us down and get us all a bad name!.This week I was lucky enough to attend an access countryside management course, aimed at helping landowners influence walkers behaviour, encouraging and helping them to 'do the right thing', but also giving us great ideas for the development of dog exercise areas and a fresh approach to this key audience for projects such as ours.
The Wallasea Island wild coast will eventually have 15km of new tracks along which to explore the island. However, dogs( apart from assistance dogs) will not be allowed on all of these paths, due to our conservation aims and duty of care to other visitors. However, as an office of dog-lovers, the staff are keen to welcome dogs and their walkers and want to develop an area that will be attractive,useful and cater for the needs of this important group of visitors ( and their chauffeurs!)The Wallasea Walkies area will be a large fenced area, beside the wild bird cover area as you enter the reserve, bounded by a mixed native hedge which will also be great for the local wildlife. Paths around the area will provide a choice of secure, sheltered walks and we hope to include some benches and other useful additions to the area to make it an attractive choice of exercise area. This space will also be large enough for dog-orientated events; perhaps a dog show or agility contest.
In the meantime, dogs and their companions are welcome to use the seawall footpath as long as the dogs are kept on a lead. This is as much for the dogs' safety as that of the wildlife and other vsiitors in the area. Soft mud in the area can be treacherous - birds can happily paddle around on it, but heaven help the dog or owner who try to copy them. Our overwintering birds have travelled here in huge numbers from distant northerly places to feed and rest - if they are regularly disturbed they will not only struggle to conserve enegry and survive the winter but move off the habitat we create for them. In Spring and Summer a different set of birds come here to nest and raise their young and disturbance makes that difficult and may lead to abandonment of the nest and young. Our island is also home to many mammals whose scents may be irresistable to active dogs, leading to a much longer than anticipated walk if dogs are off lead!
If you are a regular walker in the area and have suggestions or ideas that you'd like to contribute we'd love to hear from you or your dog. Just call by the office in Grapnell's Farm - Ellie the cairn terrier will be happy to chat to the canine visitors and humans may ask for Hilary. Woof!
I've gone wild on Wallasea!