A POPULAR walking route has become the scene of ‘illegal’ dog walking activities, which has sparked anger from users of the green space who have complained of ‘aggressive’ behaviour and fell ponies being chased.

The Helm, near Oxenholme, is increasingly being used by a number of commercial dog walking businesses, resulting in a growing number of complaints from walkers, families and dog owners, according to Friends of the Lake District-who have owned and managed the eastern side of the Helm since 2008.

The complaints received by the charity have included reports of groups of unleashed dogs chasing fell ponies.

There has also been disturbance to nesting birds and foxes at the site.

And walkers, families and private dog owners have reported incidents of “aggressive behaviour” and “intimidation” from large groups of dogs “inadequately controlled or supervised”.

Douglas Chalmers, chief executive at Friends of the Lake District, said: “Initially and then during lockdown, we took a tolerant view of this commercial activity on our land because of the difficult circumstances for everyone, but the use by commercial dog walking companies is increasing and so are the complaints we are receiving as the landowner.

“As a landscape charity, we have always worked to secure a landscape that is accessible and available for everybody to enjoy. Unfortunately, this illegal use of our land has become untenable and its impact unfair on legitimate users, wildlife and the Fell Ponies and cattle that graze the Helm.

“It means that we are now forced to monitor the use of this land and if we become aware of any use by commercial dog walkers, notify the police and appropriate South Lakeland District Council officers who can impose penalty fines.”

The charity has contacted a number of commercial dog walking businesses to advise them that the site is now being monitored and its use by commercial dog walking businesses is now subject to penalty fines as set out in the CROW Act.

The CROW Act has specific rules, only allowing access to people on foot and has certain other stipulations.

One of these states that, the right of access is excluded in respect of a person who, “engages in any activity which is organised or undertaken (whether by him or another) for any commercial purpose”.

“Walking dogs as part of a commercial dog walking/sitting business comes within this exclusion,” said a spokesman from Friends of the Lake District.