Dog owners watch the birdie on walk (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Dog owners watch the birdie on walk

4:23pm Thursday 1st May 2008 in News

MORE than 70 dogs and their owners took part in a walk around Lackham Country Park and raised money for a Wiltshire based project to re-establish Great Bustard birds.

Animal science and management students at Lackham College organised the walk on Sunday.

Dogs of all sizes, including albino Great Danes, walked through the grounds of Lackham to Lacock and back.

Tamara Franklin, 32, one of the students who organised the walk said: "It was a brilliant day and we couldn't have asked for more people and dogs to come along. There were lots of families, couples, friends and people brought picnics.

"We had a talk from the Great Bustard Group at college. There are a lot of keen conservationists in our group. The project struck a cord with us and for one of our modules we needed to organise an event so we decided to organise the dog walk.

"The entrance fee was halved for the day and the weather was hot. People were so disappointed with the weather at the recent lambing weekend that I think they saw this event and thought let's give it a try.'"

People walked along the woodland walk where bluebells are out in force along with wild garlic.

There was a treasure hunt for children and tractor and trailer rides.

A plant stall also attracted many visitors looking to improve their gardens.

Miss Franklin, of Clevedon, said it was hoped the event had raised about £400 for the Great Bustard project which is based on Salisbury Plain.