Three days of ‘Paws on Paths’ access to be trialled at RHS Garden Rosemoor from 17 March 2025
From Monday 17 March, for six months, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Garden Rosemoor will be trialling a new concept – dedicated dog-friendly days – at the extensive gardens in North Devon.
Dog-walking visitors will be welcome to bring their beloved pooches into selected areas in the garden every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the trial period.
Furry friends, following a strict ‘paws on paths’ policy, will be allowed to explore the Formal Gardens, Stream Field, lakeside, arboretums, and woodlands with their owners. Dogs will not be permitted 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 throughout their visit – short leads will be available on loan to those who arrive with long or extendable leads.
Refreshments and snacks will be available to purchase from the outdoor outlet, the Shepherd’s Rest in the Stream Field, during all dog friendly days.
The trial is the result of a careful assessment of the volume of requests received for more dog friendly access to the gardens (RHS Rosemoor already runs popular evening ‘Walkies’ events in the summer), as well as an evaluation of dog ownership in the area and of holiday visitors to the Southwest.
Of an estimated 12 million dogs in the UK, around 10% of them are predicted to reside in Southwest England – it is a dog-loving region. The Canine Cottages’ 2023 Report revealed that over 200,000 dogs went on holiday with their owners that year and that Westward Ho!, just 30 minutes from Rosemoor, was one of the top destinations for dog-friendly adventures. In fact, Rosemoor has seen the number of comments about dog access on social media increase threefold in the past year with over 70% of remarks in favour of more dog access at the gardens.
Emma Thompson, Head of Site at RHS Rosemoor, says, ‘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.”
For six months, up to two dogs per adult will be welcomed to RHS Rosemoor from Monday through to Wednesday, with the toilets outside the main welcome building (nearest to the car parking) assigned specifically for use by dog walkers with their pets. Poo bags and water bowls will be offered on these days.
Assistance dogs will continue to have access every day and RHS Rosemoor’s current ‘no dogs in cars at any time' policy will remain firmly in place, to ensure the safety of pets.
Feedback will be collected from all visitors to the gardens (with and without pets), RHS members, staff and volunteers throughout the 6 month period to fully inform any decision about the pilot’s success at the end of the trial period. Comments will be collected via an online survey which will also be made available in hard copy at the garden on request.
