THE Forestry Commission has joined forces with the Kennel Club to make its woods more dog-friendly.

An agreement has been signed to provide better facilities for dogs and their owners in the commission's 55,000 acres of woodland in North Yorkshire.

Similar agreements have been signed in recent years with mountain biking and horse riding organisations.

The Forestry Commission is trying to encourage more people to venture into woodlands as part of its Active Woods campaign, which is backed by the British Heart Foundation.

Dog walking is already the most popular form of woodland recreation. New figures reveal that up to 40 per cent of the 350,000 people who visit Dalby Forest, near Pickering, each year are dog walkers.

District Forester Paul Cody said: "The health benefits of dog walking are not just restricted to the pet. Going for walkies can be an important part of the recommended 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.

"But dog walkers need to feel welcome and valued. That's why we are formally undertaking to work with them to resolve any conflicts and understand their needs.

"Where necessary, we will provide better facilities. That could be anything from more drinking bowls to dog washes. And we will only insist on dogs being kept on leads in specific circumstances, such as around play areas or sensitive wildlife sites."

Other aims of the pact include accommodating dog-related sports in the forest, and promoting the benefits of dog ownership for people's health, confidence and mobility.

The agreement concludes 18 months of discussions with the Kennel Club.