A TRUST is calling on dog walkers to take extra care when exercising their pets as farmers put their sheep out to graze.

A spokesman for the Malvern Hills Trust said: “The first flock of sheep, with their lambs, will be returning to graze the southern section of the hills from British Camp to Swinyard Hill.

“Over the next three weeks, sheep and lambs will also return to the northern and central hills within the electric-fenced enclosures - sheep and lambs can already be found on Hollybed and Castlemorton Common.

“We’re asking people to take extra care during this time if exercising with dogs on the hills and commons.

“To keep the sheep and lambs safe, please put your dog on a lead near livestock.

“Sadly, sheep are killed on the Malvern Hills each year by dogs but this can be avoided if walkers put their pets on a lead as a precaution.

“Don’t forget that even allowing a dog to chase livestock is serious and a criminal offence.

“Livestock worrying is a distressing event for everyone including the dog and owner so please take extra care.

“Livestock are an essential part of the management of the Malvern Hills and Commons.

“The cattle and sheep eat the bramble, scrub and young trees and this maintains the open grassland habitat.

“This keeps the landscape special and benefits the geology, archaeology, wildlife, and the access and views for visitors."

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The trust publishes Stockwatch, a weekly update with the locations of cattle and sheep grazing on the Malvern Hills and surrounding commons where dogs should be on a lead. Stockwatch is published on the trust’s website, social media and in the Malvern Gazette each week.

However, the spokesman added: "As most of our land is common land, commoners do graze livestock freely across the hills and commons and members of the public should therefore be ready to encounter livestock anywhere and at anytime."