Commercial dog walking in our woods

You now need a licence for commercial dog walking in some of our woods.  

Nothing beats a stroll in the woods with our four-legged friends. We welcome responsible owners walking their own dog in our woods, as long as they follow our dog walking code of conduct.

If you are being paid to walk other people’s dogs in our woods, you’ll need a licence from us to continue. It’s simple to apply.

1. Check whether commercial dog walking is permitted at your local Woodland Trust wood. This information is clearly signposted on site. You can also check by emailing us at dogwalking@woodlandtrust.org.uk.
2. Request a copy of our commercial dog walking terms and conditions and the licence application form by emailing us at dogwalking@woodlandtrust.org.uk. Once completed, please return your application digitally or by post.
3. If your application is approved, we will send you an invoice. This must be paid before you begin commercial dog walking at your chosen Woodland Trust site. Annual licences cost £500 and are valid from 1 June to 31 May. Licenses requested after 1 June will be charged a pro-rata amount for the remaining months of the year. 
4. You’ll receive your commercial dog walking lanyard and car sticker within 14 days of payment. Please always display these when on site.
5. Your commercial dog walking licence lasts for one year (1 June to 31 May) or part of the year, for one named Woodland Trust site. We’ll send you a reminder when it’s time to renew.  

FAQs

Why do I need a commercial dog licence? 

The number of people using our woods for commercial dog walking has increased recently. To ensure the safety of our woods, wildlife and visitors, we need to manage the number of people who use our woods in this way. There will be a limited number of licences available for some sites. Once they are taken, you can apply to go on a waiting list or apply for a licence at one of our other woods.  

What if I walk multiple dogs but don’t get paid? 

If you are walking your own dogs, you don’t need a licence. Please walk your dogs responsibly, so you don’t disturb sensitive wildlife or other visitors. You can find out how by reading our dog walking code of conduct.

How many dogs can I walk without a licence? 

If you are walking any dogs as a business, from one to six dogs, you need a licence. 

Is there a limit to the number of dogs I can walk when I have a licence?

No one is allowed to walk more than six dogs at a time, for any reason, at any of our woods. This keeps our woods, wildlife and visitors safe. 

How long does a licence last for?

Licenses are valid for one year, from 1 June to 31 May. Licenses requested after 1 June will be charged a pro-rata amount for the remainder of the year.

How can I tell if someone at my local wood has a licence to walk their dogs here?

All commercial dog walkers must display their Woodland Trust licence in the front window of their vehicle, and they must always wear their licence lanyard while on site. 

Can I mention my Woodland Trust commercial dog walking licence on my business advertising?

Yes, you can mention that you have a licence to walk dogs at the specific Woodland Trust site named on your licence. Please don’t use our logo.

I’ve got my Woodland Trust commercial dog walking licence for my local wood, but I’d like to walk at another Woodland Trust site. Is that okay? 

No, you need a separate licence for each of our woods you want to walk dogs in commercially. This is to ensure that the number of people operating dog walking businesses is kept at a level that doesn’t impact our woods, wildlife and visitors. 

Why doesn’t my local Woodland Trust wood allow any commercial dog walking?

At some of our sites, the woods and wildlife are too sensitive to allow commercial dog walking. For example, we may need to protect vulnerable plants or ground nesting birds. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to know more about the special wildlife we’re looking after at your local wood.

How was the £500 annual fee decided?

The annual fee of £500 is in line with many other organisations who operate licence schemes for commercial dog walking. It also matches fees we charge other estate users for business-related activities. The fee was agreed internally through business modelling to offset the costs of administrating the commercial dog walking licence scheme.

Are public rights of way exempt?

Yes, public rights of way are exempt and do not require a commercial dog walking licence. Please note that your dogs must remain on the bridleway at all times, so must be kept on leads.

How will sites will be chosen and how will this information be shared?

We are at the very early stages of rolling out this scheme. Sites requiring a licence will be identified using a triage system. This will take into consideration the number of commercial dog walkers using the site, complaints from the public and other site users, incidents recorded involving dogs, time spent on additional management of the site and the impact of dogs on the health of the wood. 

You won't need a licence for all of our sites, as some are not used by commercial dog walkers. At some sites, we will take the decision to stop commercial dog walking completely if necessary. Where there is a large volume of commercial dog walkers, we will restrict the number of licences available at these sites to limit impact on the wood.

Will there be a consultation or review before licences are implemented?

While developing this scheme, we spoke to a large number of commercial dog walkers, as well as insurance companies and other landowners. As the scheme is now up and running in trial format, there will be no further consultation at individual sites. We will constantly review the scheme as we roll this out.

If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch by emailing us at dogwalking@woodlandtrust.org.uk.