'Dogging' and drugs force closure of UK beauty spot

A beauty spot in the West Midlands has been forced to close because of 'dogging', drugs and dog fouling.

Bosses at the Woodland Trust made the decision to shut off Uffmoor Wood, a beauty spot near Romsley, as a result of a host of issues, including drug dealing, dog fouling, and the inappropriate sexual activity known as 'dogging'.

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The charity said the area is one of its most "problematic" sites and that closing it is a "last resort".

The BBC reports that police have been called to the area on several occasions.

The site added that other problems have included the trust's own staff being knocked to the ground by dogs and being verbally abused by visitors.

Speaking to Stourbridge News, 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, despite our best efforts to work with and educate the irresponsible dog owners.

"We desperately wanted to keep Uffmoor open for all to enjoy. We hope this is not a permanent measure, and we extend our thanks to the responsible dog walkers and local people who love and care about the wood. We appreciate their patience and understanding."