The celebrated song of the skylark and bubbling call of curlew are evocative and welcome sounds of spring, as people explore our wonderful countryside and urban commons again. Birds like these – whose numbers are in worrying decline - are making their fragile nests on the ground, tucked away safely in long grass.

However, too often, an exuberant or inquisitive pooch, wandering or bounding through grass or heather, easily disturbs wildlife and scares adult birds off nests or tramples eggs. And vulnerable chicks can quickly perish if they are left alone for too long.

The Wildlife Trusts are calling on dog walkers to keep their dogs on short leads to help ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Whether you’re visiting moorland, fields, urban parks or the beach, there are birds nesting on the ground - or just above it - that can be hard to see and are at risk of trampling, disturbance, and harm.

In this region, Northumberland Wildlife Trust has raised concerns about dogs chasing birds at its Holywell Pond reserve, north of Holywell Village in Northumberland. Breeding species on the site include little grebe, pochard, greylag goose and sedge warbler. 

Across the region, dogs have also chased and attacked the Trust’s Flexigaze conservation project’s sheep and Exmoor ponies on a number of its reserves including East Chevington and Linton Lane.

Elsewhere, on its Weetslade Country Park reserve on the outskirts of Newcastle, the Trust’s estates team had to install locked gates on part of the site to allow its resident skylarks to breed without disturbance from dogs and humans. During the non-breeding season, the gates are opened for dog walkers to pass through.

Geoff Dobbins, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Estates Manager says: “Allowing dogs to run wild in nature reserves can be devastating for wildlife, particularly in spring when species are breeding and vulnerable. We’re asking dog walkers to be sensitive by keeping their animals on short leads, sticking to paths, and properly disposing of dog poo. Wildlife is already under enormous pressure - let's all keep dogs in check so as not to make things worse.”

Many people think of birds’ nests as being high up in trees, but a surprising number nest on the ground or just above it, in low bushes. For example:

• Nightjars lay their eggs directly onto the ground in heathlands
• Willow warblers tuck themselves away at the base of trees and bushes in woods and open areas with scattered trees
• Meadow pipits hide their eggs in grassy tussocks on commons and meadows
• Familiar garden birds like dunnocks and blackbirds can nest close to the ground
• Oystercatcher, ringed plover and little tern eggs and chicks are brilliantly camouflaged on beaches among pebbles and sand, making them easy to disturb.

Keeping dogs on short leads will benefit other wildlife that can be harmed or disturbed by enthusiastic pooches - from snakes to seals and amphibians to mammals.

Other benefits of keeping dogs on leads include:

• Lessening the negative impacts of dog poo and urine by reducing it to a smaller area
• Preventing dogs jumping in lakes and rivers - this disturbs aquatic wildlife and the insecticides that are found in dog flea treatments can end up polluting water

• Reducing risks to other animals and people

The law says that you must keep your dog on a lead no longer than two metres between 1st March and 31st July, when on any open access land to protect ground-nesting birds. For safety, you should also always keep your dog on a lead around grazing animals.