The National Trust is reportedly planning to bring in “wee poles” to stop dogs from urinating on historic buildings and trees.
According to The Telegraph, a “small handful of sites”, including the Shugborough Estate near Stafford in Staffordshire and Attingham Park in Atcham, Shrewsbury, will see the 3ft wooden posts put up as part of a trial.
The Trust says high amounts of dog urine increases the acidity of soil and can affect plants and the surrounding environment. The trial will see wee soaking into permeable gravel underneath the oak poles, instead of remaining on the surface.
Pheromones releaed in the urine will then encourage other dogs to use the same spot. Signs will be placed closed to the poles to explain what they are for.
The move comes as the National Trust faces calls from 43% of its members to let dogs roam free in and around properties.
It says it now wants to strike a balance between those who want sites to be dog-free and those who want pooches to have full access to the historic locations.
Dogs have been banned from a majority of historic houses over concerns they might foul or damage furniture. However, assistance dogs are still permitted to enter buildings.
The one exception is Dinefwr in Carmarthenshire, Wales, where the charity says dogs pose “no negative impact on the collections or fabric of the building”.
The Trust said it has no plans to let dogs into other buildings. The rules for dogs on properties varies, with factors including whether there are herds of deer, a garden collection deemed of international importance or “very delicate sites of specific scientific interests”.
As part of the charity’s “Dogs Welcome” project, other measures will be tested out including dog washes, dog trailers, dog fields and dog-friendly trails.
Project manager Ceinwen Paynton said: “We know lots of our members have dogs and we want them to be able to get out and enjoy themselves.
“We’re currently looking at a range of solutions to help balance access for dogs with measures to look after the environment. ‘Wee poles’ are one example. We haven’t yet installed these, but we plan to trial them at a small handful of sites.
“Dog urine is, of course, perfectly natural, but in high amounts it can increase the acidity of the soil and affect plants and the surrounding environment. This is an inexpensive and simple way to help us look after these places, while still making sure dog owners feel welcome.
“We’re also improving dog-friendly trails, providing more waste bins and wash-down areas, and creating dog-free spaces for wildlife, livestock and visitors.”