Surge in ‘dogging’ forces Trust to close wood

A SECLUDED patch of ancient wood often used for country walks is being closed to the public after an “unprecedented” rise in illicit sexual activity and anti-social behaviour.

Uffmoor Wood, in the West Midlands, will be padlocked from today after it became one of the Woodland Trust’s most “problematic” sites.

The Trust has seen a series of complaints about so-called “dogging” – groups meeting for sex – as well as drug dealing and out-of-control dogs.

Wardens have been attacked and police called to the 209-acre site, near Halesowen, on several occasions.

The Trust said it had tried to tackle the issues with posters and by speaking to visitors at open days, but the problem had got so “extreme” it now had no option but to shut the wood. Before now, across the whole of the UK it had only ever closed a few car parks.

The Woodland Trust website for Uffmoor Wood has a number of comments from people raising concerns.

One dog walker said: “I was back at the woods earlier this week. Six cars in the car park. Four of them occupied by single men. I assume they were there to ‘make friends’.”

Gareth Hopkins, regional operations manager for the Woodland Trust, said: “This is an absolute last resort, and we’re very sad to take such severe measures.

“Drug dealing, out-of-control dogs and dog fouling have made this wood unsafe. We desperately wanted to keep Uffmoor open for all to enjoy. We hope this is not a permanent measure.”