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18
Apr 2022
Nidderdale group offers dog leads to protect nesting birds
A dog lead 'honesty box' has been set up in Nidderdale for dog walkers to keep their pets under control.
During this time of year, the moors are used by ground-nesting birds, such as the lapwing and curlew, to lay their eggs.
But it can only take a dog sniffing about in the undergrowth for the birds to abandon their nests, sometimes for good.
To help protect the nests from dogs whose owners might have not brought a lead with them, Nidderdale Moorland Group has put a box on one of its estates. It contains several leads that visitors can borrow whilst they walk the footpaths.
The group hopes the move will mean fewer nests are disturbed and will also help keep dogs away from lambs that have recently been born.
Read more:
- Ring Ouzels return to Nidderdale moors from Africa to breed
- Mountain rescuers summoned after hiker injured in Nidderdale
With warm weather expected over the Easter bank holiday weekend, the moorland group has also asked visitors not to bring BBQs or start fires, due to the risk of the flames spreading.
Last month, firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough tackled a wildfire on moorland near Brimham Rocks.
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