News for dog walkers

Sarah Bunce (Communications Officer) from the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership has contacted Ash Parish News with the following information for dog walkers.

Would you like to hear about interesting dog-friendly walks?

Our free ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ directory is a guide to nearly 80 circular walks ideal for dog walking. Many of the walks are handy for Ash, and all have free parking, many with dedicated car parks. Most, if not all, have poo bins and many have surfaced paths. My top recommendation for Ash is Ash Green Meadows, a lovely quiet walk starting from the South Lane car park, GU12.

I personally visit every walk as often as I can and many have become firm favourites, with interesting history, attractive viewpoints and wonderful wildlife. They’re all different, with meadows, riverside walks, woodlands and parklands. I keep the online directory up to date with honest appraisals and share news through Thames Basin Heaths Partnership’sThames Basin Heaths Partnership’s social media and the Heathland Hounds FacebookHeathland Hounds Facebook group. The group’s completely free and you’ll hear all the latest news about safe places to walk, including member reviews of the ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ walks. You can even join regular Wednesday Walkies to explore them in company. It’s a wonderfully active community and an invaluable source of local information for dog walkers.

All these ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ walks have been created by local councils and housing developers. In the jargon, they’re called SANGs, Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces. They’ve been created as part of a conservation strategy to protect the important wildlife of local heaths. By enjoying the SANGs with your dog, you’re also helping to protect local heaths and the special birds that nest on the ground there.

With nearly 80 walks to choose from, I hope you find some new favourites.

Sarah Bunce

Thames Basin Heaths Partnership

Find ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ at: www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/greenspace/

Find Heathland Hounds at: www.facebook.com/groups/HeathlandHounds

The image has been provided by Eleanor Simon.