HUNDREDS of dog walkers who regularly use the RSPB's Farnham Heath reserve could be told to keep their pets on the lead, or even banned from certain areas of the reserve.

The number of dogs being exercised has been steadily rising since the bird conservation charity purchased part of the Bourne Woods and began its 10-year felling and heathland restoration plan in 2004.

Last month The Herald reported how a child riding on the heath fell from a pony after it was chased by a dog which pursued it onto the road.

Now the RSPB is asking the public for their views on what restrictions they believe should be imposed to protect wildlife.

Matters appear to have come to a head after a dog dived into a pond last weekend and flushed out a bird rarely seen in Britain, which had attracted 'twitchers' to the reclaimed heath.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.