Beauty spot closed
1:47pm Thu Jul 29, 2010
A beauty spot has been closed because the amount of dog mess has led to health fears for visitors.
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust closed its nature reserve at Farndon Willow Holt on Friday.
The trust’s reserves officer, Mr Lee Schofield, said the scale of the problem became evident after the meadows were cut for hay. He said there was so much dog mess it was uncertain whether the hay could be used as animal feed.
He said it was clear that visitors, including children from Farndon Wildlife Watch Group, were being exposed to an unacceptable level of risk.
The trust closed the reserve while the hay was being dried and turned to prevent any further contamination. It is hoped the area can re-open next week.
Closure notices explain the problem and copies of an open letter, signed by children from the Wildlife Watch Group, urging people to clear up after their dogs, have been posted at entrances to the reserve.
Mr Schofield said: “The reserve is regularly used by children and schools. Contact with dog mess can lead to blindness in children.
“We appreciate that many dog walkers are responsible but sadly a few irresponsible owners can spoil things for everyone.”
He said the trust’s aim was to protect wildlife habitats and, wherever possible, open them to the public.
But, he said, they could not allow the problem of dog mess at Farndon to go unchecked and, if necessary, they would close the reserve again.
Last month a wooden hut used by the Wildlife Watch Group on the reserve was destroyed by fire.
Mr Schofield said the hut was the target of vandals over two years culminating in the fire.
The trust hopes to launch an appeal to replace the building.
Anyone with information about the fire should call Pc Lisa Mortimore at Farndon Police Contact Point or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
