A major campaign to encourage dog owners to pick up poo (those who don’t already) is being launched in the New Forest before Easter. A group run by the Verderers and the New Forest Dog Owners Group, the New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England are keen to address a problem that causes more complaints than any other in the forest.

“We believe most dog owners are responsible, and part of that is picking up their poo,” says Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, former Chairman of the National Park, who chairs the special dog action group. “But a lot of owners don’t and you only have to look around car parks to see the piles of disgusting poo. It’s a health risk, it harms the forest, and can affect the enjoyment of many people. The answer is so simple – pick up poo, bag it, and bin it.”

The campaign will include posters in places used by dog owners such as vets’ surgeries and traders; leaflets to be given out to forest users; special displays to be used at shows and forest car park events; and the purchase of 6000 bags to give away. To further aid encouragement small gifts, suitable for walkers, will be offered to those who are spotted behaving well and picking up.

“One of the myths we’d like to dispel is that of the poo fairy,” says Heather Gould, Co-Chair of the New Forest Dog Owners Group. “Why some people do the right thing and bag their dog’s poo, but then hang it in a bush or a tree, is beyond us. Please, bag poo, and take it to a bin, either in a car park or at home where it can go in the general waste.”

A further reason for the campaign is to counter the risk of disease. Several diseases can be passed to humans through dog poo, such as Toxicara which is a roundworm infection. There is also a potential risk to cattle from Neospora being passed through dog poo to roaming cattle and causes cows to abort prematurely. Finally, there’s increasing evidence that the currently high level of foxes, which also spread disease, is in part due to dog poo, which they eat when other food is short.

The campaign has gained wide support. Those helping financially include the New Forest Trust, the New Forest Association, the Verderers, and the Commoners Defence Association.

“We really need to succeed in reducing dog poo, otherwise we’ll need another approach such as legal means to punish those who leave it,” says David Bennett, Co-Chair of NFDOG. “We love our dogs, but they do bring responsibilities, and if we can persuade those who don’t bag and bin it to adopt the habit the forest would be cleaner, and more welcoming, as well as safer.”

An added bonus (we'll be giving out their bags) is a partnership with a new company recovering plastics from the environment and turning them into poo bags. These ReSEAcled bags can be found here https://petimpact.co.uk/products/reseacled-poo-bags and if you type in 'NFDOG' at the checkout, there's a 10% further discount. 

Note: This campaign was launched in April 2025, and continues.