Help your dog help wildlife

Before 2012, The Diamond Wood (the land that Harmony Woods sits within) was a monotypic kale field with little biodiversity. Since then, it has been managed sensitively not only with the planting of thousands of British native trees but with the sowing of wildflowers and grasses. The wood now houses some of the UK’s rarest species such as the red-listed Skylark and the Small Blue butterfly, which is a species of Conservation Concern under the UK Biodiversity Plan.

Chalk grassland habitats can contain up to 40 different species of flowering plants in one square metre, and as a result support many rare insects. They also provide space for threatened ground-nesting birds and are a valuable basking ground for reptiles such as adders and slow worms. Quite different to a purpose-built dog park or sports field.

What people may not realise, is that animals such as skylarks often view dogs as predators, that means that when they are in close proximity to them they flee. This induces stresses onto the animal and may leave any vulnerable individuals such as their chicks exposed to predation. When we walk through natural spaces, even without our dogs, we must remember that we are entering the habitats of significant species, and our presence will always leave an impact on them. However, the good news is we can control the level of that impact we make.

We can help protect wildlife by keeping to the pathways and keeping our dogs on their leads. By doing so, we can ensure that no nesting skylarks flee their nests, that no rare wildflowers are trampled into the ground, and that the tireless conservation work of people in our local community and the lives of the creatures that live there are respected.

It’s also important to note that hundreds of volunteers have put endless amounts of time and love into creating a diverse natural space for nature to thrive, and now they need support from those who use the site to help them give these valuable plants and animals the space that they need.