Warning on conduct to park dog walkers

Dog walkers at Chasewater are being urged to stick to a new code of conduct designed to protect rare birds nesting at the park.

Nesting season is well under way and Chasewater Country Park has become a twitcher's dream, with rare creatures including the ringed plover and the nightjar nesting on the shoreline and lowland heathland. Lichfield District Council has urged dog walkers to be extra vigilant and to keep their distance from the vulnerable birds.

If a dog were to get too close to a nest the parent bird could easily scare and take flight – leaving fledgelings vulnerable to attack from predators like foxes and sparrowhawks.

Visitors themselves are also being asked to keep their distance from potential nest sites during the summer months, to avoid disturbing wildlife.

The council has drawn up a voluntary code of conduct which dog-owners will be asked to follow during the nesting period, which runs from March to September.

Councillor Val Richards, cabinet member for leisure services, said: "Dog walkers are always welcome at Chasewater Country Park.

"However, we would ask that they follow our code of conduct to make sure our rare and wonderful bird life can thrive."

The code of conduct includes keeping dogs on a short lead in restricted areas, keeping out of no-go areas, sticking to tracks and paths wherever possible – particularly in areas of dense heather, and keeping off parts of the shoreline.

Councillor Richards explained that notices would be displayed in the park setting out the code in more detail.

"We hope that dog walkers will follow it this summer," she said.

Chasewater Country Park is home to an array of wildlife, with rabbits, foxes, and even red deer resident in the beauty spot.

The reservoir is home to mute swans, Canada geese and mallard, and less common birds like the great crested grebe and the wagtail can be spotted around the water.