DOG fouling is destroying our ancient heathland, says a warden.

Paula Blizzard is pleading with owners to understand the damage they are doing to areas like Turbary Common.

Dog food is high in protein and the resulting waste contains high levels of nutrients that seep into the soil.

The affected patch then grows back as grassland or brambles – not the ancient heathland that supports rare wild species.

Paula, the central warden for Urban Heath Partnership, said: “The problem is huge.

“I spend most of my day talking to people about dog fouling. It doesn’t just wash away – it changes the soil.

“The soil has to be low in nutrients to support heathland.

“When you see patches of bright green grass, nettles and brambles, that’s where it’s been fouled.”

The problem is bad on heathland across Bournemouth and Poole.

Turbary Common, which is managed by Bournemouth Council and is partly a Site of Special Scientific Interest, has a particular problem because not much heathland is far from the entrances, which are fouling hot spots.

Paula said the land was home to 55 different kinds of butterflies and moths – but once the heathland has been replaced by grassland, it could take thousands of years to recover, if ever.

“If you look at Turbary Common on Google Earth, there’s a triangle of green grassland at the entrance pointing towards the heath, where dogs are fouling as they come in.”

She said people pick up their pet’s mess from the pathways but then often throw it into heathland without realising the damage it will cause.