One month in! Stanwick Lakes Dog Walking Field 🐾

It’s hard to believe it’s been a month, already! We opened our new secure dog walking field in late August – first to our “pupdates pack” – followed by a wider invitation in early September, and since then, we’ve welcomed over 150 visitors – and just as much feedback. Thank you so much!

We asked for your thoughts, and you gave them generously. Here’s what you’ve told us, and what’s happened as a result, so far…

What you’ve loved most:

First up, the warm and fuzzy stuff. The feedback we’ve heard most often is how much you and your dogs enjoy the woodland setting itself within the field. This is brilliant – affirming the interest in an authentically wild space to explore, rather than a flat, turfed paddock.

This also aligns with our objective to provide an off-lead space that is natural and a similar habitat to the rest of Stanwick Lakes, whilst protecting the nature reserve which is a protected SSSI for wildlife.

Our new pre-visit video instructions have also gone down well, alongside the shade and enrichment features dotted around the field. And judging by the photos we’ve been sent, the dogs are just as taken with it all as you are.

What’s come up most: your top asks, answered!

• The driveway
  Many shared concerns about the lead-in drive becoming muddy and uneven.
  We’ve now laid new aggregate to help.
• The gate
  You observed there was nowhere secure to fix it open while driving in.
  The post has now been fitted for exactly that!
• 📅 Booking more than one session – the most common question about our system.

This one, we acknowledge, isn’t obvious – but the good news is, we do think it is easy once you know how:

DAILY CHECKS:

For those asking (or interested) – daily checks are carried out across the field, looking at the fences, tidiness, tree branches or any damage, and the general condition. These daily checks will also help us monitor, review and work through some of the other points you’ve raised…

What we’re keeping an eye on…

Some things we’d like to do will simply take a bit more time – some depend on weather, others on funding or manpower, and some we’ll just need to see how things an out before we can decide:

• 📅 Repeat bookings – this is possible, but not obvious, and we plan to review our booking system seasonally. If the gif above doesn’t show or explain it clearly, you can watch this quick 20-second guide to repeat bookings here.
• 🌱 Mud and uneven ground within the field – something we’re watching closely. A path around the perimeter is one option we’re exploring, though it will depend on additional fundraising.
• 💩 Poo! – we’ve had reports of it being left behind, and separately, feedback that it can be hard to spot. Our checks do monitor this, but we’d really ask everyone to make the effort to clean up after their own dog.
• ⚖️ Keeping it wild, while making it work for you – there’s a balance to strike between maintaining the field’s natural feel and making improvements for visitors with accessibility in mind, and it’s one we’ll consider with every change we make.
• 💧 This is alongside our ongoing effort to provide water and lighting for winter as soon as we can. 💡

If you spot something new, or there’s anything else you’d like to add, our ears (and inbox) are always open – a reminder that you can drop us a line at dogs@rftrust.org.uk. If you’ve already sent us something that hasn’t had a reply yet, or isn’t covered here, please bear with us while we work through it all.

Your next visit:

Hope this gives you a good idea of how things are going – whether you’re planning your first visit or your next one. Thank you again for every visit so far; every booking helps us reinvest in the field and supports our wider work as an environmental charity.

If you’ve not joined the pack yet, sign up and you’ll get your instructions and top tips straight away – right there on the confirmation page once you submit – or shortly after in your inbox.

https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/dog-walking-field/

Dog Walking Field – Register Interest & Get Instructions

Then you’re all set to book your first visit whenever suits.

Thank you for being part of this from the very start – here’s to many more muddy months ahead.

Until next time – happy walking and tail-wagging from all of us at Stanwick Lakes.