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Messages are welcome on any subject relating to Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve; the surrounding area of St George and Crews Hole or any of Bristol's Parks and Green Spaces.


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Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 8)


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Rob

rob@troopers-hill.org.uk BS5


Oct 14, 07 - 9:44 PM
Please clean up after your dog!

It has been pointed out on another thread that the shorter grass created at the side of the paths is very popular for dogs to poop on. It was suggested that the grass should be left longer to deter this - unfortunately that doesn't work; the poop is still there but can't be seen so easily - until it is trodden in. It also effects the ecology as can be seen by the green strips each side of the paths.

We know that many owners clean up after their dogs, but many still don't - as evidenced by the amount we had to clear before today's kite event. There are now 2 dog poop bins on Troopers Hill Field and 3 on the hill so there is no excuse. Some people don't let their children play on the hill because of the amount of mess, which means that they are being deprived of this natural playground due to the actions of a few thoughtless owners.

Please, please clean up after your dog and report anyone you see who doesn't to Bristol Parks - they will take action against known offenders.
Ian



Oct 15th, 2007 - 8:02 AM
Re: Please clean up after your dog!

I agree - please make sure the bins are emptied regularly though - I have taken my dog poop home before now - not that it is far but if bins are provided then they need to be regularly emptied especially if you are enforcing the clean up. Maybe they need to be bigger or have a couple more?

Can I also say that there is a more real danger to both children and animals from broken glass and exposed debris following the clearance as well! I've removed quite a bit myself our disposed of it in the thickest undergrowth - only so much I can put in my pocket! Plastic is also a nightmare to smaller animals as well.
Liz

BS5


Oct 15th, 2007 - 2:56 PM
Re: Please clean up after your dog!

Yes, I took some home off the field yesterday. On my shoe. Remind me again why people are allowed to walk dogs on playing fields. Surely this is a no-brainer for the H&S people. It's not so much the disgusting chore of getting the brown stuff off a child that deters parents. It's the toxicara canis, a nasty disease that can cause people to lose their sight.
Susan

BS5


Oct 15th, 2007 - 7:51 PM
Re: Please clean up after your dog!

Ian, re. your the comment on full dog bins. Every now and then I find a dog poo bag has been left with its "ears" sticking out of the bin. Other owners assume the bin is full and then leave an array of dog poo bags at the base of the bin. Whenever I have found this I have just had to open and close the lid for the first bag to disappear and there has always been plenty of room to spare to tidy up other people's offerings plus room for more.

If you ever do find that a dog bin is truly full please do let Bristol Parks or us know straight away and then something can be done about it. More frequent emptying visits could be arranged if it was shown they were needed - at the moment my opinion is,as a rate payer not wanting to incur more cost unnecessarily, that it seems to be about right but I only walk the Hill every couple of days and I may be missing a peak.

All the best,

Susan
Susan

BS5


Oct 15th, 2007 - 8:13 PM
Re: Please clean up after your dog!

As Liz say toxocara canis is a truly dreadful disease carried in dog faeces. I worked for an insurance company at one time that insured local authorities. Unfortunately there were a small but steady number of claims that had to paid to be children who had lost their sight through this vile disease. Quite often they had contracted it from dog faeces on playing fields.

An element of prevention can be given by regularly worming your dog but the best prevention of all is to either not let your dog foul in public places or remove all of the faeces if they do.

More information can be found on here or here

N.B. I am not promoting the product sold on the first site, they just seemed to give a good clear description of the problem.

A huge thank you to all those dog owners who keep a close eye on their dogs at all times and who clear up after them if necessary.

All the best,

Susan
Jules



Oct 15th, 2007 - 8:59 PM
Re: Please clean up after your dog!

Susan is right. The main 'culprit' being the use of supermarket carrier bags which tend to 'choke' the flaps. A supply of bags, at each bin, has been tried in various parks but these tend to become bunting for the benches and trees or just thrown/blown around as litter.
The bins are checked at every visit by maintenance staff, and emptied if required. Irrespective of need they are emptied three times per week including every Friday and Monday morning.
The least used bin is the one near the lower stack, the busiest is the one nearest Malvern Road, though this regularly contains lots of litter or bags of litter on the floor nearby, as does the one just inside the reserve from Malvern Road Open Space (TH Field) and the one at Greendown (This may be kindly Friends collecting same). The one near the entrance on Summerhill Terrace is the one most used exclusively by dog walkers.
The situation re bins is being closely monitored.

http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5199
This shows another reason for scooping! And why visors and gloves and white paper suits are worn when strimming!

Again, if a bin is spotted that is truly full then please inform as Susan asks:
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/environment-and-planning/street-care-and-cleaning/dog-and-animal-fouling/

alternatively type 'dogs' into the BCC search engine...

If a bin IS full then please deposit your bag at the base of the bin, or follow Ian's example. The WORST offenders are those who throw their bags into the bramble... from whence some lucky soul has to try and retrieve it!
Ian



Oct 16th, 2007 - 1:38 PM
Re: Please clean up after your dog!

I think the field should be kept clear of dog faeces quite how this is acheived I don't know. There is also no excuse from dog faeces being left on the paths be they the tarmac or the rough paths, this is the easiest place from which to pick up the mess.

I wear wellies and so can usually kick other peoples dogs mess into brambles or well off the path. It doesn't solve the problem but keeps at least the main routes clear.

I am a dog owner and am conscious that if the mess becomes a real problem that we may well be prevented from walking the dogs in a a great piece of open space.
Liz

BS5


Oct 16th, 2007 - 2:02 PM
Re: Please clean up after your dog!

I think my dislike of dogs is fairly well known to FOTH members. Personally I think we should go the way they have in Rekjavik and ban them (more or less - I think you can get a £200 license if you absolutely must have a dog in the city). And I really can't see why we let them go on playing fields.

I was at Uni with a girl who went blind as a child from toxicara. She has two lovely daughters she will never see. But I'm sure the miscreant dog owner would think it was worth it if it saved them bending down.

I have only ever in my life met one person who said "yes, I allow my dog to poo where it wants", so I really don't know why there's so much of the brown stuff around. And I don't appreciate the person who walks past my house and lets their dog wee on my bin and my recycling box and poo on the grass verge by my gate. I knew who it is - I ought to take photos really.

Liz
(getting off high horse)


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