Changes to the Dogs on Lead Policy at Milton Country Park

At Milton Country Park, we want the park to be a place where everyone can enjoy nature and the outdoors – including dog walkers and their dogs. We recognise that the vast majority of our dog-walking community are responsible, considerate and take great care to ensure their dogs behave appropriately.

However, after careful consideration, we have made the decision to update our Dogs on Lead Policy.

Under our current policy, dogs must be kept on a lead at all times south of the Thirteenth Public Drain, while dogs can be walked off lead north of the Thirteenth Public Drain, provided they are placed on a lead if requested by a member of staff. These rules are enforceable under byelaws made by South Cambridgeshire District Council under section 41 of the Countryside Act 1968.

Under the new policy, this arrangement will continue during the autumn and winter months. However, during the bird nesting and breeding season, from 1 March to 31 August, all dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the park.

Why are we making this change?

There are several reasons for this change, but protecting wildlife is at its heart.

Milton Country Park is an important home for a wide range of wildlife, including nesting birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Spring and summer are particularly sensitive times, when many species are breeding, nesting and raising their young.

Loose dogs can cause significant disturbance to wildlife, even when they are friendly, well behaved or simply running through vegetation. The presence of a dog can cause animals to become stressed or abandon feeding, nesting or resting areas. Repeated disturbance can affect an animal's health and ultimately its breeding success. Dog scent can also deter wildlife from an area after the dog has left.

Indeed, a recent Biodiversity Audit of the park (completed across 2025) noted the presence of dogs being off lead within sensitive wildlife habitats in the park, and noted that dogs running off lead may be a contributing factor for the unusually low numbers of ground nesting birds in the park. A key recommendation from this report was that “it should be encouraged that dogs are kept on lead to prevent accidental incursions into sensitive habitats”.

There are other environmental impacts that we also need to consider. Dogs entering lakes can disturb sediment and affect aquatic life. Dog waste can alter natural soil nutrient levels and contains substances that can be harmful to wildlife. Some topical flea treatments can also enter watercourses when they are washed from a dog's coat.

For these reasons, keeping dogs on leads during the most sensitive part of the year will help us reduce disturbance and give wildlife the best possible opportunity to breed and raise their young successfully.

Making the park enjoyable for everyone

The change is also about making Milton Country Park welcoming and enjoyable for all visitors.

We understand that most dogs and their owners are responsible, and that many dogs are extremely well trained. However, we also know that some visitors – including young children – can feel uncomfortable or frightened when approached by an off-lead dog.

Similarly, some dog owners do not want unfamiliar dogs running up to or approaching their own dogs, regardless of how friendly the other dog may be.

Keeping dogs on leads during our busiest months will help create a more comfortable environment for everyone using the park.

There is also a human health consideration. While the risk is relatively low, dogs can carry parasites such as roundworms, whose eggs can be present in dog faeces and soil. Infection with Toxocara can, in rare cases, cause serious illness, including damage to eyesight. This is another reason why responsible dog ownership, including picking up after dogs, is important.

Dogs are still very welcome

We want to be clear that dogs and responsible dog walkers remain very welcome at Milton Country Park.

This is a seasonal change that will apply for six months of the year, from 1 March to 31 August. During the autumn and winter, our existing arrangements will remain in place.

We also recognise that being able to exercise dogs off lead is important to many dog owners. We are therefore working to identify and develop a suitable alternative provision within the park, including a secure, fenced area where dogs can exercise off lead. We will provide further information about this as plans develop.

We are not alone

Milton Country Park is not alone in taking steps to reduce the impact of dogs on sensitive wildlife.

The Wildlife Trust (https://www.wildlifebcn.org/nature-reserves/dogs-nature-reserves), The RSPB (https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/fowlmere), Wandlebury Country Park (https://cambridgeppf.org/visitor-information-wandlebury/) and Cambridge City Council all have restrictions on dogs in certain nature reserves and countryside locations, including requirements for dogs to be kept on short leads or, in particularly sensitive areas, restrictions on access. These measures are used to protect ground-nesting birds and fragile habitats.

Our seasonal approach is intended to strike a balance between allowing people to enjoy the park with their dogs while also recognising our responsibility to protect the wildlife and habitats in our care.

Please help us protect Milton Country Park

We will soon be installing new signage throughout the park to make the updated policy clear and help visitors understand where and when dogs need to be on leads.

We would also like to remind all visitors that they do have personal responsibilities under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, including the importance of respecting wildlife and avoiding disturbance to wild animals and birds.

We ask everyone to play their part in keeping Milton Country Park enjoyable and safe for all:

• Keep your dog on a short lead from 1 March to 31 August.

• Clean up after your dog and dispose of waste responsibly.

• Respect wildlife and habitats and do not allow dogs to chase or disturb animals.

• Follow signage and guidance from park staff.

• Be considerate of other visitors, including children and other dog owners.

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We appreciate that this change will take some getting used to, and we thank our dog-walking community for their understanding and cooperation.

Milton Country Park Team