28/08/2026
🐾💩 BLUNTS WOOD POO PATROL 💩🐾
We are a group of local professional dog walkers and responsible dog owners who are fed up with other people’s dog poo being left behind.
So, rather than just complaining about it, we’re doing something about it! 💪🐕
📍 Blunts Wood
📅 Monday 7th September
⏰ 5pm
IF YOU HAVE THE STOMACH FOR IT AND WALK AT BLUNTS WOOD & PAIGES MEADOW PLEASE
COME AND JOIN US!
Over the last four weeks, our local Poo Patrols have been busy:
🌳 Bedelands Nature Reserve — over 100 piles of dog poo collected
🌿 Ditchling Common — over 500 piles of dog poo collected
That is an enormous amount of dog waste being left in places used by families, walkers, dogs and wildlife.
💩 WHY DOES DOG POO MATTER?
It's not simply about keeping our shoes clean — although nobody enjoys stepping in it! 🤢
👟 People can step in it
Dog poo can contain bacteria, parasites and worm eggs. When it is left on paths, grass and playing areas, people can unknowingly come into contact with it and carry contaminants home on shoes, clothing or hands.
👧 Children play close to the ground
Children may sit or play on grass, touch contaminated soil and then put their hands near their mouths. This makes good dog-waste management particularly important in areas used by families.
🐕 Dogs can eat it
Some dogs will eat faeces — including other dogs' — potentially exposing themselves to parasites, bacteria and other pathogens.
🦊 Wildlife can encounter and eat it too
Wild animals may come into contact with dog waste or investigate it as a potential food source. Introducing large amounts of dog waste into wildlife habitats is not the same as natural wildlife droppings being part of that ecosystem.
🌧️ Rain doesn't make it disappear
When dog poo is left on the ground, rainfall can wash material and nutrients from it into ditches, streams, ponds and other waterways. This can contribute to nutrient enrichment and affect water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
🌱 It can alter the soil
Dog waste contains significant amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. In areas where lots of dogs regularly foul, these nutrients can accumulate in the soil and favour certain vigorous plant species over others, potentially changing the balance of vegetation and reducing plant diversity.
👃 And, quite simply… it stinks!
Hundreds of piles of dog poo accumulating in a popular walking area create unpleasant smells and make the whole environment less enjoyable for everyone.
🦊 BUT WHAT ABOUT WILDLIFE POO?
There is an important difference between natural wildlife droppings and concentrated dog waste.
Wild animals are part of the ecosystem in which they live. Their droppings are produced as part of natural populations and food webs.
Domestic dogs are different. They are introduced animals, often present in large numbers, and their waste can bring concentrated nutrients and parasites into habitats that may not otherwise receive them at that level.
Picking up dog poo isn't about interfering with nature.
It's about preventing an avoidable source of pollution and helping protect the natural environment we all come to enjoy. 🌱🦊
📣 WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR CHANGE
We have written to the council asking for clearer and more effective dog etiquette signage, and we have contacted our local MP to ask for their support.
We believe better information, better signage and responsible dog ownership can make a real difference.
This isn't about attacking dog owners.
It's about everyone taking responsibility for what their dog leaves behind.
💩 SCOOP IT. BAG IT. BIN IT.
We know this won't stop some owners from not picking up but we do hope to educate and encourage anyone we can to pick up after their own dog whilst cleaning up the places we all want to enjoy. — with Tori Phipps and 5 others.
