Home / Environment / Dog Chaos Forces Closure of Rare Cambridgeshire Wood
Dog Chaos Forces Closure of Rare Cambridgeshire Wood
9 Mar
Summary
- Ancient woodland shut for a month due to dog incidents.
- Staff faced abuse over dogs disturbing wildlife and habitats.
- New rules to restrict dogs upon reopening, including leads.
- Previous incidents involved dog bites and livestock deaths.
An ancient woodland in Cambridgeshire, Hayley Wood, has been temporarily closed for about a month following numerous issues with dogs being off their leads and subsequent abuse of staff and volunteers. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire made the decision to protect the site's sensitive ecosystem.
This closure aims to address a pattern of concerning behaviour, including dogs disturbing rare wildflowers and birds. Staff have reported instances of verbal abuse when enforcing leash rules. The trust emphasized that Hayley Wood is a vital habitat for various species and not intended as a dog exercise area.
Upon reopening, new regulations will be implemented. Dogs will be prohibited from a fenced area and must be leashed elsewhere, with exceptions for small, marked zones. This decision follows other incidents, such as a sheep being killed by a dog at Pegsdon Hills reserve and a jogger being bitten at Nene Wetlands.
