South Downs rangers log 318 droppings

South Downs National Park Authority said on Tuesday that its rangers counted 318 instances of dog fouling along a 250-metre stretch of Kingsley Common, a heathland site in the national park. The authority published the figure in an online post and used the count to urge dog owners to clear up after their pets. The appeal focused on Kingsley Common’s wildlife, which the park says includes rare birds and reptiles. The authority did not say when the survey was carried out, but said the count was logged by rangers and released on June 2. ### Where did rangers make the count? Kingsley Common was the site named by the authority in its June 2 post. The common sits within the South Downs National Park’s heathland landscape, where the park has repeatedly run campaigns around responsible dog walking and wildlife protection. The South Downs authority has separately described its heathland areas as habitat for rare ground-nesting birds, reptiles and amphibians. (southdowns.gov.uk) In its visitor guidance and campaign material, the park tells dog walkers to keep dogs under control, stay on paths in sensitive areas and dispose of dog waste in bins. ### Why did the park link dog waste to wildlife? The South Downs authority said the Kingsley Common appeal was about protecting rare birds and reptiles. On its wildlife pages, the authority says ground-nesting birds use open heathland between March and September to nest and raise young, and it asks visitors to keep dogs on leads and stick to paths during that period. (southdowns.gov.uk) South Downs guidance on dog walking also says dog waste should be bagged and binned because it can affect the countryside. In a park guide for visitors, the authority says dog mess differs from farm or wild animal droppings and can contain worms and diseases that may be passed to humans or livestock or contaminate soil and water. (southdowns.gov.uk) ### Has the park raised this issue before? January 2025 guidance published by the South Downs authority carried the message: “Don’t rely on the poo fairy!” In that article, Olivia French, who leads engagement on heathlands, said bagging and binning dog waste was important and tied the message to protection of sensitive habitats. (southdowns.gov.uk) March 2024 campaign material from the park and partner groups also urged dog walkers to keep animals on leads and on paths around livestock and wildlife. The authority has used similar messaging across its “Take the Lead” campaign and visitor leaflets. ### How unusual is this kind of cleanup problem in the South Downs? January 2023 coverage from local and national outlets reported that a charity walker collected more than 40 kilograms of dog waste along the 65-mile Serpent Trail in the South Downs National Park. (southdowns.gov.uk) That effort was also framed around protecting heathland habitat. (friendsofthesouthdowns.org.uk) The South Downs authority’s latest count is narrower in scope — 318 droppings over 250 metres at one named common — but it fits a pattern of repeated public appeals by the park over dog fouling on sensitive land. That characterization is based on the authority’s published campaigns and prior reporting on clean-up efforts in the park. (petersfieldpost.co.uk) ### What are officials asking dog owners to do now? The South Downs authority’s current guidance tells visitors to bag and bin dog waste, adding that any public bin will do. Its wildlife guidance also asks walkers to keep dogs on leads and remain on marked paths in areas used by nesting birds. June 2 was the date of the authority’s Kingsley Common post, and that post is the latest public appeal tied to the 318-count survey. (southdowns.gov.uk) The park’s dog-walking and wildlife advice remains available through its website and visitor materials. (southdowns.gov.uk)