Dog walker calls for an end to alleged bird hunting on Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve

Paul Steele, a 49-year-old lifestyle blogger known as the Bald Hiker, lived on Hawley Gardens in Thornton before moving to Yorkshire earlier this week.

He regularly walked his three dogs Malc, Pete and Gladys on Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve early in the morning.

The reserve, which was formerly the site of Fleetwood Power Station before being reclaimed by Lancashire County Council in 2005, is subject to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

It is classed as a precious biological heritage site because of wildflowers, nesting birds and two lagoons.

The site is zoned, with areas where dogs are required to be on leads, numbers are limited to four dogs per person, and there are further areas where dogs can be off leads.

But Mr Steele questioned why the dog orders, put in place by Wyre Council to restore the natural balance of the green space, were imposed if hunters were still able to visit the site to shoot ducks and geese.

"They have spent so much money and effort putting the dog orders in place but why?" Paul said.

"Surely it's more anti-social to be visiting the marsh to shoot ducks and geese than to walk dogs off their leads.

"Last Sunday, I saw three vans parked up, and four men jumped out in waders to go off shooting - they do it at pre-dawn before it gets light so they aren't as easily seen.

"Lots of other dog walkers have told me the same thing, there are quite a few of us who have seen them."

Wyre Council declined to comment on the PSPO orders or alleged hunting on the Marsh.

Lancashire County Council also declined to comment.

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