Protect woodland wildlife by keeping dogs on leads
Published: 10/02/2026
From 1 March 2026, we are asking dog owners to help protect the wildlife that calls Milton Keynes’ ancient woodlands home by keeping dogs on a lead all year round.
Milton Keynes is fortunate to have three ancient woodlands: Howe Park Wood, Linford Wood and Shenley Wood. These woodlands are home to a variety of wildlife, all of which rely on the woodland floor for food and shelter.
Research shows that dogs off lead are perceived by wildlife as predators. Even dogs wandering off paths can cause stress, forcing animals to alter their behaviour, becoming more vigilant, changing routines, or abandoning feeding areas. These disturbances also contribute to stress levels in woodland species, many of which are already in decline.
Woodland wildflowers such as bluebells and wood anemones, which support pollinators, are extremely delicate and do not recover well from trampling. Dog urine also adds excess nutrients to the soil, encouraging dominant plants like hogweed and nettles to outcompete wildflowers. Keeping dogs on a lead helps protect these plants and prevents soil degradation caused by dog waste.
By combining strategic path closures with a year-round dogs-on-lead policy, we aim to create a positive impact on nature, allowing wildlife to thrive and display natural behaviours without additional stress. This approach also benefits woodland wildflowers, which provide vital nectar sources for pollinators.
Dogs are still welcome to visit but if you’re looking for alternative routes to let your dog off the lead, there are plenty of open spaces nearby that are perfect for this. We recommend exploring areas such as Tattenhoe Valley Park, Loughton Valley Park, Furzton Lake, Caldecotte Lake and Great Linford Manor Park, which offer areas where well-trained dogs can enjoy walking off lead without the risk of disturbing sensitive woodland habitats.
We’d like to thank all our park users in advance for their understanding of the changes and for helping us protect these incredibly important woodlands.
Are you a dog owner? Find out more about dog walking in Milton Keynes.
