Exploring a breathtaking nature reserve – only to find the landscape graffitied with poo is soul destroying.

So we are actively reaching out because the Lynchmere Commons have literally become quite a dumping ground lately. Please share what you learn here and encourage others to bag it and take it home.

One of our key objectives is to encourage heather to prosper. The less dog poo there is the greater chance the heather will flourish. It's that simple. ​

Why: Bag it and take it home

When dog waste is left behind, it disrupts the natural balance, flooding sensitive habitats with excess nutrients that harm the ecosystem and diminish biodiversity.

​Unlike the droppings found by the wildlife, dog poo alters the soil, encouraging invasive plants to overpower delicate wildflowers. 

Facts and insights:

Nutrient overload

Dog droppings are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which throw off the area’s natural nutrient balance.

Wildlife impact

When natural plant diversity disappears, so do the insects, birds, and animals that depend on these specific environments

Habitat disruption

The resulting soil enrichment lets aggressive plants like nettles and thistles take over, crowding out native wildflowers and fragile flora.

Health risks

Dog waste harbors diseases that pose threats to both your dog, humans and wildlife.

Nature's poo

Wildlife dung does not cause the same problems as dog waste. If you spot cow or horse poo, it's not a justification for leaving your dog waste behind.

Off–path activities

Parts of the commons are occasionally used by the Scouts and for Forest Schools. Adults and children could be affected by dog waste left behind.

How you can help:

The good news? You have the power to keep nature in balance–one bag at a time.

Always scoop the poo

Carry waste bags and toss the used bags in the bin at home or in an appropriate bin on your onwards journey.

No bins nearby?
The council cannot provide bins on The Lynchmere Society land. We don't have the budget or willing volunteers to collect your dog's poo. So please take it with you.

Leaving bagged waste beside the trail is not a solution (it's worse).

Each small, responsible action helps preserve the wild beauty of our commons, allowing everyone and every species to thrive.

The three heathers we are encouraging to grow

Ling heather
(Calluna vulgaris)

Most common species: Ling heather is the most abundant type of heather in the UK.

Flower: It has small, pale purple flowers arranged in spikes along the stems.

Leaves: The leaves are tiny, scale-like, and arranged in opposite rows.
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Habitat: Ling prefers drier areas like heathlands and moorlands. 

Bell heather
​(Erica cinerea)

​Flower: Bell heather has dark purple, bell-shaped flowers clustered along the stems. 

Leaves: It has dark green, needle-like leaves, often in groups of three. 
​
Habitat: Bell heather prefers well-drained, acidic soils and can be found in heathland, open woodland, and even coastal areas. 

Cross-leaved heath
​(Erica tetralix)

Flower: Cross-leaved heath has pale pink, bell-shaped flowers that are clustered at the ends of the stems. 

Leaves: The leaves are slender, grey-green, and grow in whorls of four, creating a cross-like pattern. 

Habitat: It prefers damper, wetter conditions, like bogs, wet heaths, and moorlands. 

Other vegetation we wish to encourage for the insects...

Wild flowers​

Other beneficial plants include hawthorn, which offers blossom for insects and berries for birds, and various wildflowers like red clover, oxeye daisy.

Foxgloves

Foxgloves attract a variety of insects, particularly bees and moths. Long-tongued bumblebees are known to be frequent visitors due to the flower's deep, tubular shape, which provides easy access to nectar. Several moth species, including the Foxglove Pug moth, also rely on foxgloves for food, with their caterpillars feeding on the flowers and leaves. ​

Wild orchids​

Several plants thrive in woodlands and fields, providing excellent resources for birds and bees, including some wild orchid species. Examples include common spotted orchid, early purple orchid, and southern marsh orchid, all of which attract pollinators like bees and butterflies with their vibrant flowers. 

​

Sneezewort

Sneezewort flowers are attractive to a variety of insects, particularly bees and hoverflies. These insects are drawn to the plant's nectar-rich, white, daisy-like flowers, which bloom in clusters from July to August. Other insects, including various flies and some species of beetles and moths, also feed on the plant. 

​

Globe thistle

Globe thistles attract a wide range of pollinators, and have an extraordinary sculptural flower.

and we all love to walk through a Bluebell valley, not a sea of poo.

Bluebells are attractive to a variety of insects, especially during their early spring bloom. Bees, including newly emerged queen bumblebees, are frequent visitors, drawn to the rich nectar. Butterflies, such as brimstone, orange-tip, and pearl-border fritillary, also feed on the nectar. Additionally, hoverflies and even some beetles are known to visit bluebells. ​

What would you rather see on your morning walk?

​Please bag it and take it home.

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