Holkham National Nature Reserve Dog Consultation – Please Complete The Survey!

https://www.holkham.co.uk/nature-reserve-beach/dogs

The following is taken from above link:

"The beaches at Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham form part of a unique landscape, rich in wildlife and one which we need your help to protect. The area is popular with dog walkers throughout the year and we would like to remind all owners that it is your responsibility to keep your dog under close supervision and control and that you MUST clean up after your dog and use the dog waste bins provided.

TAKE THE LEAD
Dog Zoning Proposal

Holkham National Nature Reserve is an internationally important site for its wildlife and valuable habitats. It is popular with many different visitors including dog walkers, day trippers, wildlife enthusiasts, horse riders and locals. In order to protect this precious environment for future generations to enjoy, we need to work together to ensure all our visitors and wildlife can coexist.

We are therefore proposing a zoning approach to the beach and foreshore for dogs, in order to protect internationally rare shore-nesting birds such as Little Terns. These birds are extremely sensitive to disturbance from humans and dogs. and also often nest in the start of embryo dunes or along the upper shoreline where they are very vulnerable.

A simple traffic light system will show the zones as ‘No dogs’, ‘Dogs on leads all year round’, ‘Dogs on leads April to July’, and ‘Dogs off leads’ where dogs will be able to run off the lead under control by the owner.

We would like to hear your views on our proposals by completing our survey. Our consultation period will run until 28th February 2021 with a view to implementing zoning from April onwards ready for the 2021 bird nesting season."

"Over a million visitors and 300,000 dogs visit Holkham and Wells beaches each year, and numbers are continuing to increase.  As part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, the beaches and areas around them are home to an incredible amount of wildlife. The increase in visitors and, in particular, dogs has started to have a noticeable, detrimental effect on some of the fragile, precious plants, birds and animals which should thrive here. We know just how much our visitors and their dogs enjoy this special place and therefore we are proposing a zoning of areas to ensure that dogs and their owners can have an enjoyable visit, the internationally rare wildlife is protected, and our beaches are spaces which everyone can enjoy."

 

https://www.holkham.co.uk/nature-reserve-beach/dogs

 

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XYFKP69