I totally agree with Anna. I've never had a problem walking my dogs on The Heath and really appreciate the freedom to roam wherever I want. There are always people to talk to and lots of dogs to socialise with and I know that lots of other responsible dog owners feel the same as me. What's more, we report any problems, eg., fires, suspicious characters, lost children, dogs etc., to The Heath Constabulary.
A
Anna Farlow
12 years ago
"In Mt Fuji, Japan, dog enthusiasts can go to a dog amusement park. Dog owners can enjoy rides and activities with their dog or if a patron does not own a dog, he can rent one by the hour."
The Heath is not and will never be an amusement park.
"A dog park on Hampstead Heath could also run activities and events" " Qualified vets, dog behaviorists, groomers, nutritionist and a breed specific specialist could cover these days. The dog park could also hold workshops for children teaching them about responsible dog ownership, correct handling and approaching and puppy petting."
Puppy petting? Sounds awfully like a zoo to me. The Heath is not the place for professionals to be touting for business, and the place for children to meet dogs is the schoolroom or in the homes of friends who have dogs.
The Heath is not a park. There are no flower gardens and even paths are primitive by some standards. If people want parks they can use Regent's Park, Golder's Hill Park or Primrose Hill. The Heath is for those Londoners who treasure wildlife and the countryside. There are woodlands, ponds, meadows - none of which has been managed to the point where it is not recognisable as landscape rather than urban park.
As a member of the dog community on the Heath for some forty years now I can assure you the vast majority would be horrified by this suggestion, but - as I have already stated - in any event the terms of the Bequest would not allow it.
S
Simone Scott
· petition starter
12 years ago
Commercial enterprise for who? Zoo???
K
Karen Ziegler Smith
12 years ago
I agree with Anna. I think it is not necessary at all. I have walked my dogs on the heath for over 25 years. I have never had a problem with my dogs socialising with other dogs and cannot possibly see what a dog park would add to the heath. What I love about the heath is that it is not a park but parkland and heathland and I enjoy roaming every corner with my dogs.
S
Steve Lim
12 years ago
I signed this petition by ERROR. I agree with Anna Farlow's comment.
A
Anna Farlow
12 years ago
Featured
The Petitioners have not troubled to investigate the history of the Heath. If they had they would know that it was bequested to the nation by the last owner and that Byelaws were put in place which are pretty much written in tablets of stone. These Byelaws, coupled with national and local legislation, serve very well. In addition the dog parks being proposed here are entirely inappropriate for the Heath and sound more like an opportunity for commercial enterprise or zoo than anything else. They may have been enthusiastically embraced in America, Japan, etc. but I very much doubt that anyone in the UK would approve of them.
P
Philip Lang
12 years ago
Featured
Hi Jeremy
This is the sort of idea that potentially a few years later could be converted into dog owners only being allowed in the restricted areas.
A poisoning "for your own good "type of argument would suffice.
I have walked my dogs on the Heath for 40 years and walk the perimeters, it is the sense of freedom and open sky that make the Heath so attractive.
I find it extraordinary that anyone would want to be fenced in.
Philip
J
jamie palmer
12 years ago
Featured
In my experience, the heath is perfect as it is, as a place to socialise with other visitors and their dogs. Why would anyone need a designated space on the heath? Call me cynical, but I see this as a way of calling for all dogs on the heath to be on lead or banned altogether. It would be much easier to argue for those restrictions if we had "a designated dog park".
yes
I think this would useful in all boroughs
I totally agree with Anna. I've never had a problem walking my dogs on The Heath and really appreciate the freedom to roam wherever I want. There are always people to talk to and lots of dogs to socialise with and I know that lots of other responsible dog owners feel the same as me. What's more, we report any problems, eg., fires, suspicious characters, lost children, dogs etc., to The Heath Constabulary.
"In Mt Fuji, Japan, dog enthusiasts can go to a dog amusement park. Dog owners can enjoy rides and activities with their dog or if a patron does not own a dog, he can rent one by the hour." The Heath is not and will never be an amusement park. "A dog park on Hampstead Heath could also run activities and events" " Qualified vets, dog behaviorists, groomers, nutritionist and a breed specific specialist could cover these days. The dog park could also hold workshops for children teaching them about responsible dog ownership, correct handling and approaching and puppy petting." Puppy petting? Sounds awfully like a zoo to me. The Heath is not the place for professionals to be touting for business, and the place for children to meet dogs is the schoolroom or in the homes of friends who have dogs. The Heath is not a park. There are no flower gardens and even paths are primitive by some standards. If people want parks they can use Regent's Park, Golder's Hill Park or Primrose Hill. The Heath is for those Londoners who treasure wildlife and the countryside. There are woodlands, ponds, meadows - none of which has been managed to the point where it is not recognisable as landscape rather than urban park. As a member of the dog community on the Heath for some forty years now I can assure you the vast majority would be horrified by this suggestion, but - as I have already stated - in any event the terms of the Bequest would not allow it.
Commercial enterprise for who? Zoo???
I agree with Anna. I think it is not necessary at all. I have walked my dogs on the heath for over 25 years. I have never had a problem with my dogs socialising with other dogs and cannot possibly see what a dog park would add to the heath. What I love about the heath is that it is not a park but parkland and heathland and I enjoy roaming every corner with my dogs.
I signed this petition by ERROR. I agree with Anna Farlow's comment.
The Petitioners have not troubled to investigate the history of the Heath. If they had they would know that it was bequested to the nation by the last owner and that Byelaws were put in place which are pretty much written in tablets of stone. These Byelaws, coupled with national and local legislation, serve very well. In addition the dog parks being proposed here are entirely inappropriate for the Heath and sound more like an opportunity for commercial enterprise or zoo than anything else. They may have been enthusiastically embraced in America, Japan, etc. but I very much doubt that anyone in the UK would approve of them.
Hi Jeremy This is the sort of idea that potentially a few years later could be converted into dog owners only being allowed in the restricted areas. A poisoning "for your own good "type of argument would suffice. I have walked my dogs on the Heath for 40 years and walk the perimeters, it is the sense of freedom and open sky that make the Heath so attractive. I find it extraordinary that anyone would want to be fenced in. Philip
In my experience, the heath is perfect as it is, as a place to socialise with other visitors and their dogs. Why would anyone need a designated space on the heath? Call me cynical, but I see this as a way of calling for all dogs on the heath to be on lead or banned altogether. It would be much easier to argue for those restrictions if we had "a designated dog park".