Dogs at Gwent Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves.

Dogs at Gwent Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves.

Lowri Watkins

Please be aware that dogs must be on a lead and under control when at GWT nature reserves.

All dogs must now be kept on a lead and under control while at any GWT nature reserve, at which the charity currently allow dogs.  

Gwent Wildlife Trust has made this decision to implement a ‘dogs on leads policy,’ due to impacts on ground nesting birds, conservation grazing livestock, issues with dog mess and to protect the overall safety of wildlife and the general public and visitors to GWT reserves.

Please note dogs are not allowed at Magor Marsh, Brockwells Meadows and Bridewell Common.

Head of Nature Recovery, Gemma Bodé explained: “Walking in the countryside often means seeing and coming into contact with farm animals and wildlife, which are just two of the reasons why so many people love living in and visiting Gwent.

“Gwent Wildlife Trust manages its nature reserves using sheep, cattle and sometimes ponies for grazing, and all of our nature reserves are managed to maximise the abundance of wildlife. Many of GWT nature reserves allow visitors to walk their dogs with the current exception of Magor Marsh, Bridewell Common and Brockwells Meadows.

“Dogs on nature reserves can come into conflict with livestock, wildlife and other site users, often upsetting animals and people in the process.

“Dogs off leads can disrupt and harm livestock and wildlife, whilst dogs veterinary treatments can damage water quality, and their faeces can transmit disease to livestock and humans. In 2022, we have sadly had several cases of dogs off leads chasing livestock and worrying/killing pregnant sheep at Great Traston meadows.”

Gwent Wildlife Trust welcomes visitors to its nature reserves, however these sites are privately owned by the charity, and managed for the benefit of wildlife, populations of which have been declining for over a century and continue to do so today.

Gemma added: “To address issues relating to dog and livestock or wildlife conflict, and to ensure our livestock’s health and wellbeing and the continued presence and abundance of wildlife on our nature reserves, particularly ground nesting birds, Gwent Wildlife Trust will enforce a dogs on leads policy. In addition, at particularly sensitive times, including lambing, calving, or bird nesting close to pathways, we reserve the right to exclude dogs from our nature reserves entirely, with this information displayed via on site signage and/or on our website.

Gwent Wildlife Trust says dogs will not be deemed to be under control if they are off the lead and owners will be asked to put their dogs on leads if they are seen to be off the lead.

If visitors refuse to comply then they will be asked to leave the nature reserve. Beyond dogs on leads, visitors to our nature reserves where dogs are permitted are asked to follow the Code of Conduct outlined below:

Code of Conduct for Dog Walking

  • Please make sure you are allowed to walk a dog in the place you are visiting
  • Please keep your dog on a lead at the specified times of the year
  • Commercial dog walkers are not permitted on our nature reserves
  • Pick up after your dog and dispose of poo responsibly
  • Please do not let your dog access water bodies including lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, reens, ditches, etc.
  • Respect other visitors, especially those with children
  • Please do not allow your dog to jump up at other visitors
  • Please do not allow your dog or their lead to become entangled with other visitors
  • Please respect signs and requests from Gwent Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers

Further reading

Find details about the previous sheep attacks at Great Traston Meadows here:

https://www.gwentwildlife.org/news/our-concerns-about-dog-attacks

And more about our reasons for the dog ban at Bridewell, Magor Marsh and Brockwells Meadows nature reserves in this blog by GWT Nature Recovery Manager Rick Mundy: https://www.gwentwildlife.org/blog/rick-mundy/decision-ban-dogs-brockwells-meadows