Yes, the winding, tree-lined pathway that glides gracefully into the woods from the impressive Edwardian gates, as the silvery Dingle stream meanders alongside, is little more than a lengthy stretch of dog droppings. And "stinks" is indeed the word.
Alarm bells start to tinkle in front of the towering gates. Warning signs about dog poop. And just inside the entrance the first pile.
Before I went along, with two young grandchildren in tow, I hadn't believed tales of how disgusting the short walk had become.
Half-a-dozen strides - well, two strides, two steps and a couple of tip-toes - later I was left under no illusions.
In moments I, and the kids, had dodged two large brown mounds, one of which was still gently steaming, and one dark, almost black, string of pearls as though the embarrassed owner had dragged the mutt along as it did its best to defecate dutifully on the inviting path.
It got worse. By this time the kids were begging to be carried.
But, as they are aged 14 and 12, it was every man for himself.
We edged round a gnarled tree root and I moved to stand on another just by it to avoid a mid-path wash of thick yellow slurry.
It wasn't a tree branch; it was a gnarled brown-grey piece of plop that had formed, possibly over several months, into a right-angled chunk of musty mucus.
How I managed to keep my feet I will never know. I landed in the aforesaid wash of yellow slurry and, to maintain some balance and in the hope of avoiding looming lumps a few feet ahead, I began to run.
But, as the path at this point fell away slightly, it proved difficult to maintain equilibrium, not to mention the rather languid approach to life which I usually manage to effect.
I would imagine that I had to negotiate about a dozen doggy-do deposits before I could slow by smacking into an inviting silver birch.
I didn't avoid many and the chocolate walnut whip, the black banana and the magnolia curly-wurly certainly got me.
I drove home in stockinged feet, my shoes dropped into one of the - empty - dog poo receptacles.
It's sad, but a lot of dog owners all over town just don't give a . . .
Posted by: NEWRADKID, DARWEN on 2:47pm Tue 6 May 08
NOT ONLY IN THE WOODS
REDEARTH ROAD IS FAMOUS AS A DOG TOILET
I WOULD LIKE TO GET HOLD OF THE PEOPLE WHO ALLOW THEIR DOG TO FOUL UP THE PAVEMENTS AND THROW THE STUFF AT THEIR DOORS
NOT ONLY IN THE WOODS
REDEARTH ROAD IS FAMOUS AS A DOG TOILET
I WOULD LIKE TO GET HOLD OF THE PEOPLE WHO ALLOW THEIR DOG TO FOUL UP THE PAVEMENTS AND THROW THE STUFF AT THEIR DOORS
Posted by: Paul Evans, Whitehall on 2:59pm Tue 6 May 08
Every street, road and path if full of dog dirt, yesterday nr Darwen Vale I saw a dog owner lets his very large dog, do its business all over the pavement and then just walked on. Nothing will be done until people are fined along with being named and shamed.
May be the council and police should take a more positive stand on this matter instead of ignorning the problem.
Every street, road and path if full of dog dirt, yesterday nr Darwen Vale I saw a dog owner lets his very large dog, do its business all over the pavement and then just walked on. Nothing will be done until people are fined along with being named and shamed.
May be the council and police should take a more positive stand on this matter instead of ignorning the problem.
Posted by: simplysimon, burnley on 3:15pm Tue 6 May 08
Congratulations Harry! You have single handedly destroyed what is probably the only tourist attraction in the town.
I don't know what the Darwen Tourist Board think of your column of poo.
I couldn't resist reading it!
Congratulations Harry! You have single handedly destroyed what is probably the only tourist attraction in the town.
I don't know what the Darwen Tourist Board think of your column of poo.
I walk that path most days as I live at Sunnyhurst and I disagree with the writer. It doesn't "stink". It's a lovely path overlooking the fishing lake. There's nothing nicer than walking along there on a sunny day.
I walk that path most days as I live at Sunnyhurst and I disagree with the writer. It doesn't "stink". It's a lovely path overlooking the fishing lake. There's nothing nicer than walking along there on a sunny day.
Although there are issues with dog dirt in darwen I don't approve of the way this article has been written. Harry's seemingly amusing trip down dog poo lane has trivialised the problem. I await his forthcoming publications: "The happy ballad of the speeding driver" and "The new adventures of the used Hypodermic"
Although there are issues with dog dirt in darwen I don't approve of the way this article has been written. Harry's seemingly amusing trip down dog poo lane has trivialised the problem. I await his forthcoming publications: "The happy ballad of the speeding driver" and "The new adventures of the used Hypodermic"
Posted by: Christine, Darwen on 4:14pm Tue 6 May 08
The problem starts before the dogs get into Sunnyhurst Woods. I live on Falcon Avenue and the mess because of inconsiderate owners is absolutely awful. Some owners let their dogs off the lead so that they can run on ahead but because of the trees along the way the dogs quite often stop and do what comes naturally. I am sure that if any dog was to mess outside their homes they would be the first to complain. So come on inconsiderate owners you know who you are so please clean up after your dogs they can't pick it up themselves
The problem starts before the dogs get into Sunnyhurst Woods. I live on Falcon Avenue and the mess because of inconsiderate owners is absolutely awful. Some owners let their dogs off the lead so that they can run on ahead but because of the trees along the way the dogs quite often stop and do what comes naturally. I am sure that if any dog was to mess outside their homes they would be the first to complain. So come on inconsiderate owners you know who you are so please clean up after your dogs they can't pick it up themselves
Posted by: happy bob, on one on 1:43am Wed 7 May 08
At the back of the Astley Bank Hotel, some dog walkers pick up there dog crap in little bags - only to throw the bags into the fields further up the path. We have had two CCtv cameras fitted and its a £ 1000.00 fine, YOU ARE NOW BEING WATCHED
At the back of the Astley Bank Hotel, some dog walkers pick up there dog crap in little bags - only to throw the bags into the fields further up the path. We have had two CCtv cameras fitted and its a £ 1000.00 fine, YOU ARE NOW BEING WATCHED
I walk that path Falcon Avenue at Sunnyhurst and I DO agree with the writer, It is a lovely path overlooking the fishing lake but i cant take my eyes off the path for the dog s h itee do the dog owners know they are feeding the rats they eat dog s hitee,They should be fined then again more dog bins should be put in the woods,Then the lazy dog owners who do clean it up don't need to put it into a carrier bag then throw it into the trees its disgusting and needs looking into,I do feel sorry for the people living on Falcon Avu
I walk that path Falcon Avenue at Sunnyhurst and I DO agree with the writer, It is a lovely path overlooking the fishing lake but i cant take my eyes off the path for the dog s h itee do the dog owners know they are feeding the rats they eat dog s hitee,They should be fined then again more dog bins should be put in the woods,Then the lazy dog owners who do clean it up don't need to put it into a carrier bag then throw it into the trees its disgusting and needs looking into,I do feel sorry for the people living on Falcon Avu
Posted by: small brown Richard, Darwen on 10:45am Thu 8 May 08
This sort of behaviour is disgraceful and unfortunately is endemic in our society, quite simply no-one gives a $h*t.
Take a walk around local resevoirs, dogs happily crapping and swimming in our drinking water. This is a civilised society. The Telegraph should have a photo board to show the culprits, the police have used you tube videos as evidence.
This sort of behaviour is disgraceful and unfortunately is endemic in our society, quite simply no-one gives a $h*t.
Take a walk around local resevoirs, dogs happily crapping and swimming in our drinking water. This is a civilised society. The Telegraph should have a photo board to show the culprits, the police have used you tube videos as evidence.
Posted by: Rover, Back yard, Darwen on 12:35pm Thu 8 May 08
Go on, then. Have a go at us little doggies. Nowt better to do, some folk. At least we don't go round leaving broken bottles, sharp cans, syringes and God knows what else lying around. We have to be careful where we stick out little paws. Grrrr!
Go on, then. Have a go at us little doggies. Nowt better to do, some folk. At least we don't go round leaving broken bottles, sharp cans, syringes and God knows what else lying around. We have to be careful where we stick out little paws. Grrrr!
Posted by: small brown Richard, Darwen on 2:32pm Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]Rover[/bold] wrote:
Go on, then. Have a go at us little doggies. Nowt better to do, some folk. At least we don't go round leaving broken bottles, sharp cans, syringes and God knows what else lying around. We have to be careful where we stick out little paws. Grrrr![/quote] I know were I would stick your little paws and it would solve both our problems!!!!
Rover wrote:
Go on, then. Have a go at us little doggies. Nowt better to do, some folk. At least we don't go round leaving broken bottles, sharp cans, syringes and God knows what else lying around. We have to be careful where we stick out little paws. Grrrr!
I know were I would stick your little paws and it would solve both our problems!!!!
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