Recreation

The Wash & Norfolk Coast Dogs Project

A couple walking their dog through Wiveton Downs

Project summary

This project addresses the balance between welcoming visitors with dogs to the Norfolk coast and ensuring no disturbance to wildlife and habitats.

Background

In 2019 an extensive report was published: Managing visitors with dogs within The Wash and North Norfolk Marine Partnership (WNNMP) area.

This case study-led review of current policy and practice resulted in recommendations for partnership-wide improvements to protect nature and culture.

Funding from West Norfolk Habitats Monitoring and Mitigation (HMM) Fund has enabled the Norfolk Coast Partnership to deliver a joint project with WNNMP to deliver the recommendations from the report.

The recommendations include:

  • Guidance notes: produce a series of simple practical guidance notes to support sites in managing their visitors with dogs
  • Dog Walking Code : share across sites to ensure consistency in messaging
  • Professional dog-walkers workshop session to better support this user group
  • Communications strategy support: provide advice to support sites in the development of their communications strategy and influence visitor-facing websites

Date

July 2021 – March 2022

Partners

The Wash and North Norfolk Marine Partnership (WNNMP), The Norfolk Coast Partnership, Brancaster National Trust

Funded by

West Norfolk Habitats Monitoring and Mitigation (HMM) Fund