Purple poo campaign aims to protect Berry Head ecosystem

People are being urged to pick up their dog's mess and put it in one of the nearby bins

A conservation charity has launched an unusual campaign designed to encourage dog owners to pick up their pet's mess.

Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust's purple poo campaign aims to reduce the amount of dog waste at Berry Head - a National Nature Reserve.

The charity will spray dog mess purple using biodegradable paint, to make it clearly visible to all visitors.

The trust said dog mess damaged the "delicate ecosystem" of the limestone grassland in the area.

Marije Zwager, engagement ranger at the trust, said: "Berry Head is an area of national importance due to the endangered species that reside there, including both plants and animals.

"We must all help to protect the area and preserve it for future generations to enjoy."

"We've got very unique plants that like to grow on the limestone... they're negatively affected by the dog faeces that's been left," Ms Zwager added.

She said: "It's very unpleasant as well for us as rangers working here, we strim here, do a winter cut, so the faeces just sprays everywhere.

"People come here with families with young children, and we don't want them getting their hand into dog faeces."

The trust said it encouraged visitors to Berry Head to join in this campaign by promptly picking up after their dogs and disposing of it in one of the bins on the reserve.