This week, people came together at Denbies Wine Estate for Love Dogs, Love Nature: Rethinking the Future of Dog Walking in the Surrey Hills, a special event held as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2026.
With dog ownership having nearly doubled since 2011, understanding how people, dogs and wildlife can thrive together has never been more important. Research commissioned through the Love Dogs, Love Nature project is helping to shape practical approaches that support nature recovery, responsible access and working landscapes across the Surrey Hills National Landscape.
Researchers, conservationists, farmers, land managers and dog owners came together to share insights on the benefits of dog walking, its impact on wildlife and livestock, and the opportunities to encourage responsible countryside access.
A particular highlight was hearing from Dr Jasmin Packer of the University of Adelaide, whose Australian perspective showed that many of the challenges facing the Surrey Hills are shared across the world, and that there is much to learn from different landscapes and experiences.
Above all, the event highlighted the value of partnership working. By bringing together research, practical experience and local knowledge, we can build a better understanding of these complex issues and explore solutions that work for people, dogs and nature.
The event was delivered in partnership with the University of Surrey and Surrey Nature Partnership as part of the wider Love Dogs, Love Nature initiative. Find out more by reading the Love Dogs, Love Nature project report , which was funded by the Surrey Hills National Landscape and published by the Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey, the Surrey Hills National Landscape and the Surrey Nature Partnership.
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