A Lake District conservation charity is cracking down on commercial dog walkers on a piece of land it owns.
Friends of the Lake District has owned and managed the eastern side of the Helm at Oxenholme since 2008 and restored public access.
The popular venue close to Kendal town centre, welcomes thousands of visitors a year but recently, it has become a site used by commercial dog walking businesses.
It has generated a growing number of complaints from walkers, families and legitimate dog owners, the charity said.
Douglas Chalmers, chief executive of Friends of the Lake District, said: “Initially and then during lockdown, we took a tolerant view of this commercial activity on our land because of the difficult circumstances for everyone, but the use by commercial dog walking companies is increasing and so are the complaints we are receiving as the land owner.
“As a landscape charity, we have always worked to secure a landscape that is accessible and available for everybody to enjoy. Unfortunately, this illegal use of our land has become untenable and its impact unfair on legitimate users, wildlife and the Fell Ponies and cattle that graze the Helm.
“It means that we are now forced to monitor the use of this land and if we become aware of any use by commercial dog walkers, notify the police and appropriate South Lakeland District Council officers who can impose penalty fines.”
Complaints have included reports of groups of unleashed dogs chasing fell ponies. There has been disturbance to nesting birds and foxes at the site. Walkers, families and private dog owners have reported incidents of aggressive behaviour and intimidation from large groups of dogs inadequately controlled or supervised, the charity added.
It said it had contacted a number of local commercial dog walking businesses to advise them that the site was now being monitored and its use by commercial dog walking businesses was now subject to penalty fines.
