Research and analysis

Managing dog walking in woodlands: survey results 2023

Published 16 January 2025

Applies to England

Executive summary 

In 2023, the Forestry Commission conducted a survey of woodland owners and managers in England to gain insights into their experiences of managing dog walking in woodlands, aiming to develop practical guidance and capture case studies.

The survey received 228 responses, with 194 participants having experience managing woodlands with dog walking. Of these 194 respondents, 71% manage woodlands that have public rights of access (e.g. public rights of way or Countryside Rights of Way Act access land).

Overall, 88% of woodland owners reported experiencing issues with dog fouling on paths and other areas within their woodlands, making this the most common issue.

The primary concern for woodland management was dogs disturbing or chasing wildlife, including ground-nesting birds.

More than half of the respondents (115 woodland owners and managers) also indicated that the presence of dog walkers in their woodlands contributed to effective and positive woodland and visitor management.  

You can find the survey questionnaire in the appendix. This includes the complete wording of questions and response options.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences with us and to those who distributed the survey across their networks. A special thank you also, to Stephen Jenkinson and Fiona Groves for their support in developing this survey and the accompanying guidance.  

Introduction 

Purpose of the survey 

We conducted this survey to gather information from woodland owners/managers regarding their experiences of managing dog walking activities in woodlands across England. The survey aimed to support the development of practical guidance and case studies for effective management.  

Background 

Many people choose to walk their dogs in woodland settings, benefiting the health and wellbeing of both dogs and their owners. While most dog walkers are responsible and have safe and enjoyable walks in woodlands, irresponsible dog walking can cause problems. It can discourage woodland owners from providing public access and detract from other visitors’ enjoyment.

Woodlands can also contain hazards such as forestry activities, water bodies with blue-green algae, and the presence of adders, which some dog walkers may be unaware of.

The survey results will contribute to guidance and information, aimed at reducing management challenges for both landowners and visitors.

Objectives 

The objectives of the survey were: 

• to gather information on the common issues related to dog walking in woodlands 
• to identify current management practices 
• to help shape guidance to better support woodland owners/managers  
• to gather best practice case studies for the development of future guidance 

Methodology 

The survey consisted of 19 questions (see appendix) including multiple-choice and open-ended or free text questions, distributed online via Microsoft Forms. 

It was sent to large and small woodland owners and managers across England, aiming to reach a broad range of organisations who manage public access. It was shared through email, eAlerts, social media posts and newsletters.  

The survey was open for just one month, closing on 30 November 2023 and we received 228 responses.

Findings 

Responses  

In total, the survey received 228 responses, with 194 participants reporting experience in managing woodlands with public access and dog walking. Those who reported having no experience (34 in total) were not asked to continue with the form.

About respondents  

Most respondents reported their experience of managing woodlands with dog walking as primarily involving woodland with public rights of way (PRoW). A significant number said that their organisation had responsibilities for woodland management and access management (Table 1). Respondents had the option to select more than one choice.  

Table 1: breakdown of respondents and their woodland management experience

Woodland management experience	Number	Share (%)
Managing woodlands that have public rights of access (e.g, PRoW or CRoW*)	138	71%
Organisation with responsibility for woodland management	129	66%
Organisation with responsibility for access management	110	57%
Private woodland owner or manager	83	43%
Managing woodlands in receipt of access grants/supplements (such as EWCO or CS WS4**)	54	28%
Managing woodlands that form part of local or regional land or nature recovery schemes	42	22%
Managing community woodlands	41	21%
Managing woodlands that are part of the Public Forest Estate	27	14%
Individual or organisation that hosts canine activities and events	18	9%
None	3	2%

*These refer to public rights of way (PRoW) and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act).

**These refer to England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) and the Countryside Stewardship WS4 (access for people) grant (CS WS4).

Organisations  

The majority of respondents were from a Wildlife Trust (12%), or from Forestry England. A wide range of other organisations were also represented including:

• private woodland owners
• local authorities
• estates
• conservation charities
• park authorities
• community forests

Experiences and issues

The most common issues identified, in relation to dog walking in respondents’ woodlands, were dog fouling of paths and other areas and wildlife disturbance (Table 2.). Respondents had the option to select more than one choice.

Table 2: issues experienced by respondents in woodlands they own/manage

Issue	Number	Share (%)
Fouling of paths and other areas	170	88%
Disturbing or chasing wildlife, including ground-nesting birds	158	81%
Problematic interactions with other visitors, land managers or landowners	134	69%
Pressure of use by commercial dog walkers	102	53%
Problematic interactions with livestock	100	52%
Car parking problems arising from visitors with dogs	90	46%
Difficulties in relation to forestry operations and safety	72	37%
Health and safety or liability concerns for people and / or dogs arising from natural or man-made features or structures	58	30%
Tree health/damage concerns arising from visitors with dogs	33	17%
None	1	1%
Other	1	1%

Respondents most frequently ranked ‘dogs disturbing or chasing wildlife (including ground-nesting birds)’ and ‘dog fouling on paths and other areas’ as the 2 most important issues to address (Table 3.).

Other issues highlighted, but ranked lower, included:

• interactions between dog walking and other visitors, land managers or landowners
• problems concerning interactions with livestock
• pressure of use by commercial dog walkers
• difficulties with managing safety during forestry options

Car parking problems, health, safety and liability concerns, and concerns about tree health or damage were ranked lowest. There were also several ‘other’ concerns highlighted, including issues of nutrient enrichment, impacts from dog flea and worming treatments and aggressive dogs.

Table 3. Rank of issues to address (those causing the most concern for woodland management)

Issue	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
Disturbing/chasing wildlife, including ground-nesting birds	45%	22%	12%	8%	5%	5%	2%	1%	0	0
Fouling of paths and other areas	24%	26%	23%	13%	8%	2%	3%	2%	1%	0
Problematic interactions with other visitors, land managers or land owners	12%	13%	21%	22%	15%	10%	2%	2%	2%	1%
Difficulties in relation to forestry operations and safety	5%	6%	4%	7%	21%	25%	19%	6%	6%	1%
Problematic interactions with livestock	4%	18%	19%	19%	10%	8%	5%	5%	9%	4%
Pressure of use by commercial dog walkers	3%	6%	9%	11%	22%	22%	11%	10%	7%	0
Car parking problems arising from visitors with dogs	2%	4%	4%	10%	9%	16%	32%	15%	5%	3%
Health and safety or liability concerns for people and/or dogs arising from natural or man-made features or structures	1%	4%	3%	3%	6%	7%	19%	44%	13%	2%
Tree health/damage concerns arising from visitors with dogs	1%	1%	1%	5%	3%	5%	8%	15%	57%	6%
Other	5%	2%	4%	2%	1%	1%	0	1%	1%	86%

Just over 44% said that these issues were very likely or somewhat likely to lead them to consider withdrawing some or all of the public access in their woodlands.

Over 62% said that the issues were very likely or somewhat likely to stop them granting more access.

Positive management

35% of respondents said they had found ways that visitors with dogs can help support positive woodland and visitor management. These included:

• extra eyes and ears on the ground to report and deter anti-social behaviour
• extra eyes and ears on the ground to report fallen trees/branches/ windthrow, damage to infrastructure and fire
• reporting any injured wildlife or livestock
• positive engagement that enhances dog walkers’ knowledge and experience of woodland management, ensuring they are included in discussions and informed about any upcoming management, such as thinning
• dog walkers’ participation in volunteering activities, such as litter picking or assisting with woodland management tasks

Further support and next steps

We asked what type of guidance and training would be most useful for managing dog walking. The highest scoring types of resource were:

• templates and approaches to more effective signage
• information for visitors
• case studies showing how others have effectively addressed issues

These are the areas we have focused on in our new guidance, and we will be adding to this, with best practice case studies, in the future.

Appendix: survey questions

Managing dog walking in woodlands - your experiences

1. We’re interested in hearing from people who have experience of managing woodlands with public access and dog walking. Do you have experience of this? Yes/No
2. Your name?
3. Your organisation (if applicable)?
4. Your email address?
5. Do any of the following represent your circumstances (please select all that apply)?
   • Managing woodlands that have public rights of access (e.g, PRoW or CRoW)
   • Organisation with responsibility for woodland management
   • Organisation with responsibility for access management
   • Private woodland owner or manager
   • Managing woodlands in receipt of access grants/supplements (such as EWCO or CS WS4)
   • Managing woodlands that form part of local or regional land or nature recovery schemes
   • Managing community woodlands
   • Managing woodlands that are part of the Public Forest Estate
   • Individual or organisation that hosts canine activities and events
   • None
6. What are the issues you, or your colleagues experience arising from dog walking in woodlands you own or manage? (please select all that apply).
   • fouling of paths and other areas
   • disturbing/chasing wildlife, including ground-nesting birds
   • problematic interactions with other visitors, land managers or landowners
   • pressure of use by commercial dog walkers
   • problematic interactions with livestock
   • car parking problems arising from visitors with dogs
   • difficulties in relation to forestry operations and safety
   • health and safety or liability concerns for people and / or dogs arising from natural or man-made features or structures
   • tree health/damage concerns arising from visitors with dogs
   • none
   • other
7. In relation to Question 6 which are the MOST IMPORTANT issues to address i.e. causing the most concern for the way you manage your woodlands? (Please RANK the options below, 1 being the most important.
8. If you have ranked other as most important in the above, please describe the issue(s).
9. In relation to the issues above, can you give one or two examples that illustrate the impact dog walking has on your woodland and access management?
10. On a scale of 1 to 5, how likely is it that your experience of managing visitors with dogs in your woodlands would lead you to: Withdraw some/all access or stop you considering additional access?
11. Can you give any examples of how you have been able to manage visitors with dogs in your woodlands, any good practice or management interventions that have helped?
12. Have you found ways that visitors with dogs can help support good/positive woodland and visitor management?
13. If YES, please describe your experiences in the box below.
14. On a scale of importance, what will help you better manage visitors with dogs in woodlands? (Please RANK the options below, 1 being the most important).
    • information about how to design and manage access infrastructure and facilities to reduce problems
    • templates and approaches to more effective signage and information for visitors
    • case studies about how others have successfully addressed issues
    • training on the best approaches to managing dog walking in woodlands
    • other
15. If you selected other as most important’, please explain why you chose this option?
16. Is there specific support you need to help you manage visitors with dogs better in woodlands?
17. Do you have any other comments around managing visitors with dogs in woodlands?
18. Alongside this, we are collecting information for sharing case studies and to guide future support and training needs.
19. If you answered yes to the previous question, could you provide a few more details?

END OF SURVEY.