31/01/2025
I have some news that will impact all dog walkers, both private & commercial.
From Monday 25th February 2025.
All dog walkers visiting Swinley Forest, Windsor Great Park, and/or Buttersteep Forest must:
▪️Walk no more than four dogs at any one time.
▪️Not meet with other visitors that would lead to a group of more than eight dogs.
▪️Always be in control of their dog, ensuring that it is always in sight.
From Monday 31st March 2025.
All commercial dog walking businesses exercising in Swinley Forest, Windsor Great Park, and Buttersteep Forest will require a Professional Dog Walking Permit (£600/person/year)
I'm not against a permit per se, as I already hold an MOD license issued by Landmarc to use military access land. These MOD licenses cost £400 per annum, BUT allow commercial dog walkers to walk up to 6 dogs on military land from Camberley - Aldershot such as Barrosa Common, Hawley Woods, Deepcut, Pirbright, etc.
However I don’t understand why a private dog owner can walk on the Crown Estate with up to 4 dogs without a permit, but if a commercial dog walker wishes to walk 1 or 4 dogs there, they will need a permit to do so.
Surely, as a professional dog walker, if we need a permit to walk on Crown Estate land, we should be able to walk up to 6 dogs as per other land agents such as Landmarc.
If any of my clients would like to email saying they can not understand why Professional Dog Walkers covered by insurance can not walk 6 dogs at Swinley when private pet owners not covered by any public liability insurance can walk 4 dogs, plus the cost of a permit is extortionate at £600.
I’d be extremely grateful.
PLEASE email on behalf of us all to: [email protected]
