RHS Garden Rosemoor to trial dog-friendly days

RHS Garden Rosemoor will be trialling dedicated dog-friendly days from Monday, 17 March, for a six-month period. 

During this trial, dog-walking visitors will be allowed to bring their dogs into selected areas of the garden every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The trial will follow a ‘paws on paths’ policy, permitting dogs to explore the Formal Gardens, Stream Field, lakeside, arboretums, and woodlands. 

However, dogs will not be allowed in the children’s play areas, eateries, Education Centre, fruit and vegetable gardens, Potager Garden, or on any lawns. 

All dogs must be kept on short leads, with short leads available to loan at the entrance.

Emma Thompson, Head of Site at RHS Rosemoor, said: “We want to be as accessible as possible and welcome people from all walks of life to our beautiful spaces. Given we receive so many enquiries about dog access throughout the year, we really need to listen to what people are asking us for. We also understand that whilst some people love dogs, others really value the ability to visit a garden they know is pet free. This is why we are only allowing dogs in on regularly scheduled, designated days and are restricting dog access on these days to pathways, so that both types of visitors can enjoy our gardens in peace. Given we have 65 acres to explore, we are confident that we have plenty of space to provide an enjoyable experience for all during this trial.”

In addition to access, refreshments will be available at the Shepherd’s Rest in the Stream Field during the dog-friendly days. 

The trial follows rising demand for more dog access, particularly in a dog-loving region where around 10 per cent of the UK's estimated 12 million dogs are located.

Up to two dogs per adult will be welcomed, with facilities such as toilets, poo bags, and water bowls available for dog walkers. 

Assistance dogs will continue to have access every day, and the RHS’s ‘no dogs in cars at any time’ policy will remain in place to ensure pet safety.

Visitor feedback, gathered via an online survey and in hard copy at the garden, will be used to assess the success of the trial.