Barking Mad...?

Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) are currently in the process of destroying important habitat for declining species including the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). This destruction is taking place to clear the way for their latest brainwave: The Dog Toilet.

After piloting the scheme near to Moss Bridge in 2009, LWT have now decided to roll-out the Dog Toilet reserve-wide. The latest examples of this ground-breaking idea can be found at both the Rosley Road and Wellham Road entrances to the Wigan Flashes.

The objective of the canine karzy is to reduce the health and safety risk presented by people handling their dog's excrement. Previously our four-legged friends would dump their load on the footpath, where their owner was likely to perform the nauseating task of "bagging it" and hanging it in the nearest tree. Now, when a dog uses one of these dedicated dog bogs, the owner no longer feels inclined to clear up the mess.

LWT vs BBC

I have it on good authority that LWT recently tried to prevent the BBC from filming at the Wigan Flashes. "Why?" I hear you ask... Well it could be that LWT didn't want the nation to see the state of this local nature reserve. Or, it could be that the camera crew didn't bring the necessary bulletproof clothing. Either way there's something fishy about the whole thing.
The BBC had arrived at the reserve to film a piece for their Countryfile program
(about what exactly I'm not sure, but I heard a rumour it's about people hanging dog excrement in trees...) when they were confronted by LWT "officials". The filming eventually went ahead as planned.

Ungreatful!

It seems that those lovely folks at the LWT aren't too keen on me promoting their picturesque nature reserve in this way. Murk Chump (name changed for legal reasons), who is LWT's "head honcho" at the Wigan Flashes, was quoted as being "disappointed" and fearing that my blog "contravenes copywrite" (I think he means COPYRIGHT). He also seemed to suggest that any fly-tipping which occurs at the Wigan Flashes on a Saturday or a Sunday is not LWT's responsibility...
Who's responsibility is it? Well that, readers, is a mystery!
My camera and I shall be paying a visit to the reserve over the coming weekend, and aim to seek out some of the most scenic parts of the Wigan Flashes. I hear they have some beautiful dog-turd themed tree decorations. Watch this space >

Image taken in 2009

Image taken at Horrock's Flash on 20/02/2010

Image taken at Horrock's Flash on 20/02/2010