Help nature thrive in ponds and rivers
A new strand of the Take the Lead initiative is around helping nature thrive in ponds and rivers.
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, a series of fun and tongue-in-cheek wildlife animations have been produced, sharing the viewpoints of various creatures about the impact of dogs on their water habitats.
The campaign is part of the “Downs to The Sea” project, which is aiming to help biodiversity bounce back by creating a network of restored ponds and wetlands across the region, as well as engaging with schools and wider communities to help people reconnect with, and understand the importance of water.
Tails from the Downs | Episode 1 🐟
Trev and his fellow trout urge dog owners to speak to their vet about swopping spot-on treatment for tablet form which can help reduce the risks to life in our rivers – always speak to your vet about any change in medication.
Tails from the Downs | Episode 2 🦇
Barb the Bat shares her worries about disturbance in ponds by dogs and people having a knock-on effect on the availability of food for her family. Invertebrates like mayflies and dragonflies spend most of their life underwater. Keeping ourselves and dogs out of the water is the best way to help ensure invertebrates and amphibians like newts and frogs are able to thrive, whilst also keeping ourselves safe.
Tails from the Downs | Episode 3 🦋
Ever wondered what challenges wildlife face when trying to bring up their babies on the side of a river? Kerry the Kingfisher speaks up for her local riverside PTA in this episode of Tails from the Downs. Nesting in riverbanks can be a challenging way to bring young into the world – a challenge made harder by eroding riverbanks caused by feet and paws.
Frequently asked questions
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- Why are you encouraging owners to keep dogs away from watercourses?
Ponds and rivers are precious and important habitats, with delicate ecosystems supporting a huge variety of wildlife and plants. Lots of dogs love the water however their presence can have devastating impacts on the creatures who live and rely on watery habitats. Through our Take the Lead campaign we are encouraging dog owners to give nature a helpful hand by keeping their dogs away from the water so wildlife can thrive. Keeping dogs out of rivers and ponds can also ensure that they are not exposed to the risk of catching Leptospirosis or toxic blue-green algae which can be found in some areas.
- What impact do dogs have on watercourses?
There are several ways that dogs impact watercourses, including:
Flea and Tick Treatment – Research has shown that spot-on flea treatments which contain insecticides are posing significant risks to wildlife who live and feed in our rivers or ponds. Fipronil and imidacloprid are powerful pesticides that are banned from agricultural use due to their harmful environmental effects but are still commonly used in pet products. The chemicals can enter watercourses via several avenues, including dogs entering a pond for a swim, for example. Research suggests one dose of flea treatment with Imidaclopid for a medium-sized dog contains enough pesticide to kill up to 60 million bees.
Sediment disturbance – When dogs enter a pond or river, they stir up sediment which causes the water to turn murky. Sediment can then settle on plants, stopping light penetrating through to aquatic vegetation and stunting their growth. Insect larvae such as dragonfly or mayfly live in the river bed and can be killed by dogs trampling into the waterway. This has a knock-on effect on wildlife, such as birds and bats, which rely on these invertebrates as food. The dog disturbance can also disrupt spawning amphibians such as tadpoles and newts.
Bank erosion – Dogs can cause erosion on river and pond banks when they push their way through vegetation to enter the water. This can destroy precious native flora and fauna, as well as disrupt nests such as those of the kingfisher or water voles. Dogs can also end up inadvertently spreading invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam as they may carry the seeds further afield on their fur.
- Why does this matter in the South Downs?
Our waterways are in trouble. Last year the “Water In The Park” report shone a stark spotlight on the state of waterways across the South Downs region.
The key finding is that most bodies of water are failing to meet good ecological standards, with an overall decline from 2014 to 2022. The study covers six river catchment partnerships across a vast swathe of Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey, revealing that 90 per cent of rivers and lakes are not achieving good status.
So we’re determined to improve our rivers and watercourses to help increase biodiversity.
We are very lucky in the South Downs National Park to have precious chalk streams, meandering rivers and historically important dewponds. These water habitats support a wealth of wildlife which needs our help to thrive.
Dew ponds were created as often the only nearby water source in the landscape, so they are crucial for wildlife.
- How do chemicals such as insecticides from flea treatment get into our ponds, rivers and streams?
Spot-on flea and tick treatments are put on to pet fur and skin. These treatments are then easily washed off into ponds and rivers when the dog enters the water. These chemicals can also get into our waterways through pet bedding being washed or owners washing their hands. Tablet form flea and tick treatments are suggested as an alternative to avoid this.
- What can I do as a pet owner around flea and tick treatments?
Tablet form flea and tick treatments are suggested as an alternative, however it is recommended that any pet owner consults their vet, asking important questions such as, do I need to treat my pet all year round or at all, and if so can I use a tablet form medication?
- How do I stop my curious dog entering a watercourse?
Keep dogs on the paths when around waterways – you can do this by either putting them on the lead, or keeping them under close control.
- Are there any places where my dog can go for a swim?
Most beaches allow dogs at certain times of the year, or there are several dog swimming pools you can book sessions at.
- My dog regularly overheats during the summer and enjoys cooling off. What can I do?
During the hotter weather dogs should be taken on early morning or late evening walks so they do not overheat. Many pet shops sell cooling mats and dog paddling pools which you can use in the garden.
- My dog doesn’t have spot-on flea treatments so what is the problem if they go for a quick cool-off in the water?
Spot-on flea and tick treatments is only one of the impacts dogs have on wildlife in rivers and ponds. Even if they are free of chemicals they can still trample larvae, disrupt spawning amphibians, disturb the sediment on the riverbed floor which can impact plantlife, or even erode banks which may destroy or disturb nesting kingfishers and water voles.
- How will not letting my dog go in the water help wildlife?
By keeping dogs out of these precious habitats you can ensure that your dog isn’t disturbing spawning amphibians, or disturbing a nesting water vole. Any action, big or small, can help wildlife in our rivers and ponds have a better chance of surviving. Animals in these habitats are already facing huge pressures, including water shortages due to climate change, so any help we can give them is a positive.
- Can my dog go for a swim in the sea?
Many beaches allow dogs at certain times of the year – please check local guidelines.
If walking near the coastline in the National Park, please do keep dogs on leads and under close control. There have unfortunately been incidents of dogs falling off cliffs along the coastline at Seven Sisters and Eastbourne.
- How do I find out more information on the subject?
Here are some useful sites:
- What about wild swimming in the National Park and humans cooling off in watercourses?
Humans can have the same impact as dogs in terms of trampling banks and disturbing spawning amphibians.
Many of the ponds in the National Park have been restored specifically for nature conservation and are also shallow and unsuitable for swimming.
With regards to rivers, The Rivers Trust has some guidance here for wild swimmers https://theriverstrust.org/enjoy-rivers/wild-swimming
Extreme care should be taken before entering any watercourse.
- What impact do dogs have on watercourses?
- Why are you encouraging owners to keep dogs away from watercourses?