'Dog ambassadors' to be deployed at beauty spot

Volunteer dog ambassadors will patrol a Cotswolds beauty spot to encourage owners to keep their pets on leads.

The proposal, designed to help native wildlife on the popular Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons, will be discussed at a Stroud District Council meeting later.

The ambassadors are just one of the suggestions, which also include new route signage, brought forward by the advisory committee that oversees the National Trust-owned open space.

Max Middlestone, a visitor experience manager in the National Trust's Cotswolds property group, said that while dogs are "welcome" on the commons, the ambassadors will guide people on using leads and disposing of waste.

The commons are known for the grazing cattle that are allowed to roam freely on the land, and as sites of scientific interest, are also home to nesting birds such as skylarks and rare wildflowers.

Dogs are permitted across the area, but owners are asked to keep them on a short lead around grazing sheep.

"What we're trying to do now, through a new scheme of dog ambassadors [...] is get volunteers on the commons speaking to dog owners, seeing as they're having a great time, and just checking if they need anything," Middlestone explained.

The volunteers will have spare leads and dog waste bags to hand, and will approach dog walkers to talk about the landscape and how it can be protected.

"This is all about positivity and just engaging with the community," said Middlestone.

"People are meeting out there with their family and their friends, and they are out walking with their dogs [...] We want to keep encouraging that, and we just want to make sure that they get to continue experiencing places special to them for as long as possible."

Councillor Katie Hoffman said a recent audit carried out by the commons advisory group found there should be improved messaging for dog walkers.

"That's particularly important during the ground nesting period - we want to try and encourage more skylarks back to the Common," she said.

"And at the moment, the messaging isn't clear and consistent enough for dog walkers."

She told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that while the changes "won't be instant", they should be in place "quite quickly".

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