British Dog Fields

02/11/2025

🚨🚨🚨UPDATE ON THE BDFOTY plaques!

Hi all - a gentle update from HQ 🌿

We’ve sent a few emails about the plaques (worth checking junk and adding [email protected] to your safe list).

They’re being lovingly handmade in the UK by a single craftswoman we chose because we believe in supporting women in business and making something special to display. There are about 50 to create, and we took a little extra time to get the design and finish just right.

Dispatch is happening throughout November, with a tracking email as soon as yours is on the way. We really hope you love them when they arrive - they look beautiful.

On the sharing front: this project has always been about celebrating the whole community. Winners can celebrate, runners-up can celebrate - there’s room for everyone’s good news. If you spot anything that seems off, just pop it over to us directly and we’ll check it quietly.

Thanks for bearing with us and for cheering on the makers behind the scenes. It’s nearly with you. 💛

A quick note for the keen DIY-ers: we know some of you have made your own bits (totally understand why!). If you’d like to add our logo to your banners or any marketing material, please get in touch first and we’ll send you the correct files and simple guidelines. Friendly reminder: please don’t edit the logo under any circumstances - we’ll happily provide assets that fit what you need so everything looks consistent and professional.

Hannah

22/10/2025

Worth a read if you’re anywhere near submitting planning right now… timing matters more than people realise.

There’s a loophole in the Biodiversity Net Gain rules - and it’s a big one.

If you’re running a dog field without planning, or thinking about another, retrospective applications aren’t caught by BNG right now.

That means no 30-year monitoring plans, no ludicrous and inappropriate 'enhancements', and no ecologists telling you to add a hedgehog home in the middle of a dog field.

It’s completely legal, it won’t last forever, and it could save you thousands.

I’ve written the whole thing up (with a case study): link’s here:

👉 https://britishdogfields.com/bng-loophole-for-dog-fields/

For once, the fly in the ointment is working in our favour. 🪰

Use the BNG loophole for dog fields to avoid unnecessary costs legally. Learn how retrospective planning can save you thousands before the rules change.

07/09/2025

If you’ve ever lobbed a stone from your dog field fenced in glass, this article might not be your favourite.

Dog field owners: stop playing planning police. Planning permission isn’t everything—safety, fencing, and standards matter most.

14/08/2025

Between chaos and control is the sweet spot...

UK dog fields face safety risks and inconsistent rules. Here’s why proportionate, industry-led regulation is essential to protect dogs, owners, and operators.

31/07/2025

Just a quick note to share a small update on the East Yorkshire results in this year’s Dog Field of the Year awards.

As many of you know, we assign fields to regions based on official administrative boundaries — it’s not glamorous, but it’s consistent and avoids the “well technically our bins go to…” kind of debate. One field sits right on the line in East Yorkshire and, unfortunately, a complaint came in after voting closed, questioning whether it should’ve been in the category at all.

Because we’d rather get on with celebrating your fields than re-litigating county boundaries, we've made a small adjustment to resolve it cleanly and fairly.

Here’s how it now stands:

Lion’s Den Dog Field is confirmed as the East Yorkshire winner, receiving the most votes within the disputed boundary.

Mount Pleasant Dog Field, whose location straddles a well-debated administrative edge, will proceed to the national finals under a separate category, acknowledging both their exceptional support and slightly fuzzy geography.

Let us be crystal clear: this change doesn’t reflect any wrongdoing, manipulation, or error on the part of either field. It’s just an annoying little technicality we’ve had to smooth out so we can all move forward without drama.

A massive thank you to everyone in East Yorkshire — you showed up in style, and the strength of support for your local fields has been incredible.

All the best,

31/07/2025

🚨 DOG FIELD OF THE YEAR: REGIONAL RESULTS ARE IN 🚨

Once again, we’ve been reminded of two things:

1) Just how deeply passionate (read: utterly obsessed) people are about their local dog fields!

2) That no matter how many times we say “please don’t get your knickers in a twist”, our inbox will still be full of glorious drama, sore losers, and spicy accusations!

p.s. - there have been a handful of legitimate frustrations so this is not directed at you! (you know who you are - if you don't then this is about you!)

To the winners: go you! Your customers clearly love what you’re doing.

To the grumblers: maybe consider putting that energy into your field? Just a thought!

To everyone else: thank you for being part of the most ridiculous, brilliant, and completely unhinged celebration of dog fields this side of Crufts.

Now go see if your field made the cut 👉https://britishdogfields.com/british-dog-fields-of-the-year-2025/