THE start of the Easter holidays sees many people taking the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy Dartmoor. But with the lambing season well underway, Dartmoor National Park Authority is reminding visitors to take extra care around lambs, especially when out walking with a dog.

A leaflet entitled 'Paws on Dartmoor' has been published, providing advice for dog owners on how to enjoy Dartmoor safely.

Copies are available from National Park Visitor Centres at Princetown, Postbridge and Haytor. National Park rangers will be on hand to offer help and advice over the holiday period and will be handing out free information cards to dog walkers.

Andrew Watson, head of access, recreation and estates, said: 'Spring is a great time to get out on Dartmoor. Many visitors and local exercise their dogs when enjoying Dartmoor and although a dog may not be actively chasing livestock, its presence can still cause disturbance.

'The national park is a living, working landscape and this time of year is one of the busiest and most important times for farmers. During the lambing season pregnant ewes are particularly vulnerable so extra care is needed.'

The key messages are:

l always control your dog, so that it does not scare or disturb cattle, sheep or ponies

l when walking your dog on the moor, keep it on a short lead during lambing and bird breeding season (March 1 to July 31)

l regular worming of your dog keeps it healthy and protects Dartmoor's livestock

l ensure you clear up after your dog and dispose of poo bags responsibly

l remember that if your dog is chasing sheep or cattle, a farmer is entitled to shoot your dog.

Karla McKechnie is livestock protection officer with Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society and the Dartmoor Commoners' Council. Part of her work is to raise awareness of the importance of keeping dogs under close control when visiting access land.

She also records and investigates reported incidents of stock worrying — in the past 12 months there have been more than 60 reported incidents in Dartmoor alone.

If anyone witnesses any disturbance of livestock or interference with bird-nesting sites by dogs, please call the Livestock Protection Officer on 07873 587561, or the police on 101.