Plea to Exmoor dog walkers not to ‘decorate’ trees with poo bags

Rangers working for Exmoor National Park have asked dog walkers to treat trees with the same care as their Christmas trees at home, and not to “decorate” them with poo bags.

While most dog owners are responsible, authorities in the park – which covers parts of Somerset and Devon – say a few pick up the dog poo and then hang the bag on a tree or fence.

This not only spoils the landscape but is also harmful to wildlife and the ecosystem.

“Dog mess bags may or may not be biodegradable. They may have plastics in them that can cause problems for the environment,” said Sue Applegate from Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA).

Ms Applegate, senior rights of way and access officer with the authority, said the bad habit of a few spoiled the beauty of the countryside for other walkers.

“Sometimes people seem to go to the trouble of picking up their dog mess, but then instead of putting it in a bin or taking it home with them they hang it in a tree or on a fence next to the path, maybe with the intention of coming back for it,” she said.

She added: “It looks absolutely awful, and can smell awful as well. And as we know, most dog walkers actually pick up and take home their dog mess. You’re left thinking, why has somebody done this?”

“You wouldn’t hang bags of dog poo on your Christmas tree, so please don’t hang them on ours.”