Wadsley and Loxley Common

[TimmyR 10]

The sooner these dog owners realise it is they who are the problem the better. I'm sick to death of having to watch where I'm putting my feet on the common because the obscene amount of s*** everywhere. How would you like it if a human curled one down up there? Its an equal sin.

 

Bring on the cows - at least there s*** doesn't stink. Nor is it put it small bags and hung on trees.

[NewBiz 10]

It's going to be a bit of a ball ache for horse riders, having to negotiate gates. That said, it might put a stop to irresponsible dog owners letting their dogs come charging and yapping at the horses back legs!

[Cuey 10]

I'm in favour of it. The dog muck up there is out of hand. The path from the Wadsley side is like a toilet. Clearly dog owners don't want to take responsibility despite plenty of encouragement, so the only answer is tighter restrictions.

 

The area is a real treasure so if cattle help to maintain it that can only be a good thing. The little un will also love seeing them.

[Lotti 10]

As a dog walker who walks on Loxley Common pretty much daily, I always pick up after my dogs and I hate to see the mess left about. However, I fail to see why those of us who do pick up after our dogs should be tarred with the same brush as those who don't.

 

Are you telling me cows make less mess?!

 

Yes I do walk my dogs up there, and yes they're offlead but they don't bother other people, they are able to play with other dogs if the other dog wishes to play but if we see a family with kids I call my dogs in, keep them out of the way and carry on.

 

I find it so unfair that whilst I don't have an issue with non dog walkers using places (and often leaving litter!), I get all the dog haters who are against me walking my dogs in places despite the fact they don't run at people, they don't jump up and I pick up after them. How is that fair?!

 

Yes, I am against this proposal...

 

First off: They won't clear the bracken - the idea is for them to eat tree saplings to prevent the encroachment of woodland, not to clear the bracken. The bracken will either continue to grow (if the cattle know to leave it alone) or the cows will get sick and die (if they don't know to leave it alone as it's fatally poisonous to cattle).

In other areas where this has been done, all the 'natural beauty' has been trampled and paths are no longer paths because the cattle have turned them up.

As far as not wanting to take responsibility for my dogs - I take my dogs up there to socialise them, this is a VERY important and responsible thing to do so that dogs are well socialised with people and other dogs.

I'm also disabled and most of the common is fairly accessible, there are several other people who walk on there who can't walk well and none of us feel safe walking through cattle when we can't get away if anything kicks off!

Personally, I wouldn't choose walk through a field of cattle on my own, I certainly wouldn't choose to walk through with dogs and I wouldn't take kids through.

It's all very well maintaining the area but why? If nobody can use it??

 

I won't be coming back to the thread because I've been on the Sheffield Forum for years and I know exactly what sort of response I'll get - I was pointed in the direction of this thread by someone else but I don't choose to come on SF anymore in an effort to keep my stress levels manageable!

 

But for anyone who IS against this proposal there is a new council e-petition that can be signed here: Petition

You have to register/log in to sign it but if you wish to be able to explore the common without having to come up against fences, take your kids up there without worrying about the danger of cattle, picnic without picking up e-coli or, God forbid, walk your dog then it's well worth registering to sign it.

 

And for those interested - the real reason the council are doing this is the £100k grant they'll get from Natural England for doing so!

Edited August 17, 2012 by Lotti

[NewBiz 10]

Are you telling me cows make less mess?!

 

First off: They won't clear the bracken - the idea is for them to eat tree saplings to prevent the encroachment of woodland, not to clear the bracken. The bracken will either continue to grow (if the cattle know to leave it alone) or the cows will get sick and die (if they don't know to leave it alone as it's fatally poisonous to cattle).

 

I know they're cows and not ponies, but where Exmoor ponies have been allowed to graze areas that had bracken, they have indeed cleared it, with no ill effects to them. They apparently dig up the roots in winter and eat them. The roots seemingly aren't poisenous.

[hels1977 10]

The sooner these dog owners realise it is they who are the problem the better. I'm sick to death of having to watch where I'm putting my feet on the common because the obscene amount of s*** everywhere. How would you like it if a human curled one down up there? Its an equal sin.

 

Bring on the cows - at least there s*** doesn't stink. Nor is it put it small bags and hung on trees.

 

I think you mean the "very small proportion of dog owners that don't pick up their pet's poo". Do not tar them all with that pooey brush you got there!

 

If you don't like where you put your feet now, bet you can't wait for the cows, they do REALLY BIG POOS!! Quite how cow poo doesn't stink is a little beyond my comprehension, granted I don't get close and take a nice deep breath, but I do recall it smelling rather vile.

[harvey19 541]

Where exactly on Wadsley Common are the cattle to be located ?

[NewBiz 10]

I think you mean the "very small proportion of dog owners that don't pick up their pet's poo". Do not tar them all with that pooey brush you got there!

 

If you don't like where you put your feet now, bet you can't wait for the cows, they do REALLY BIG POOS!! Quite how cow poo doesn't stink is a little beyond my comprehension, granted I don't get close and take a nice deep breath, but I do recall it smelling rather vile.

 

Granted cow s**T isn't exactly fragrant, but compared to dog mess it's a stroll in the park. There's something particulaly revolting about the droppings of carnivours, which no herbivore's faeces can ever match.

[hels1977 10]

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Granted cow s**T isn't exactly fragrant, but compared to dog mess it's a stroll in the park. There's something particulaly revolting about the droppings of carnivours, which no herbivore's faeces can ever match.

 

I'll have to bow to your superior poo-smelling skills! Either way, quantity, stinkiness and so forth. Cows on the common is not the answer to the dog-poo left by irresponsible owners. It will not mean they pick it up, they'll still walk up there and then there will be dog poo AND cow poo.

 

Great for poo-lovers everywhere

[hels1977 10]

Where exactly on Wadsley Common are the cattle to be located ?

 

The entire common. Two of the three thirds will be at either entrance.

[Muddy Paws 10]

A couple of weeks ago I walked dogs on Wadsley common twice a day over a few days whilst their owner was away, they were on lead and I cleaned up after them, and I found that at 7.20 am there was very little dog poo in evidence, but by 8.20 pm there was loads and all over the paths.

 

The common needs more poo bins!!

 

Dog walkers need to realise that they are spoiling things for themselves and take some responsibility if they want to keep using what is a really lovely resource.

For the people that do care it would be a massive loss, there is a wonderful, safe, community feel amongst dog walkers on the common and it is the friendliest, most dog friendly place that I have been, and with some common sense it should be a friendly and beautiful place for everyone to visit.

 

Is it too much to ask that there be some places left for people to safely walk their dogs? there are so many places now where it is difficult, people complain because walkers use parks and understandably sometimes...come on you can't take everything away surely!

[Molls 10]

I agree that it will be only a few irresponsible dog owners ruining it for everyone else & I'm certainly not against people exercising their dogs up on the common but I don't think its for the council to provide more bins, your dog, your rubbish, take it home with you.