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Submitted by Richard MacLean on Sat, 21 Mar 2009
Greetings - attached are a few quick comments passed on from the Bot Garden staff in response to the initial post on this subject:
Re the apparent revelation about the dog-doo bags, they've been available in the gardens for aeons and they're well used...
In terms of the suggestion that Magpie Lawn be made more dog-friendly, our line is that we'd be reluctant to do that. While we don't have problems with dogs on leads in the garden, it's not a place for dogs off leashes - even on Magpie Lawn.
While nearly every dog owner says their dog is docile and wouldn't hurt a fly, we just don't want dogs on the loose in the Garden - especially in a place that's so popular with young kids.
Our experience is that the owners of dogs off leashes are also far less likely to pick up their droppings. Dog shit is a big problem in the Garden - and it's not just the gardeners who hate it. We get loads of complaints about it - including from people who end up standing or sitting in it while trying to have a picnic or throw a frizbee about in places like Magpie Lawn.
Re the cyclists: We generally don't have problems with considerate cyclists who ride slowly. As is already well covered by others, it's the arrogant, thoughtless, cyclists (and there are a lot of them about) who create the problems in the Garden by treating the pathways as a racetrack.
The pathway between the Cable Car and Salamanca Road is a case in point. Generally we haven't got a problem with cyclists riding on the pathway - but it's when they rip through groups of people walking in the busy area around the Cable Car terminal itself and the nearby lookout -that's when we get the complaints.
Re the late, lamented, drinking fountain in the playground, it was smashed up by vandals and had to be replaced. A fountain on Magpie Lawn? Unfortunately it'd cost an arm and a leg to put one there because there's no nearby water main - so we'd have to install a long pipe connection. A fountain by the Cable Car? Sounds like a reasonable idea - we'll have a look at it.
Greetings - attached are a few quick comments passed on from the Bot Garden staff in response to the initial post on this subject:
Re the apparent revelation about the dog-doo bags, they've been available in the gardens for aeons and they're well used...
In terms of the suggestion that Magpie Lawn be made more dog-friendly, our line is that we'd be reluctant to do that. While we don't have problems with dogs on leads in the garden, it's not a place for dogs off leashes - even on Magpie Lawn.
While nearly every dog owner says their dog is docile and wouldn't hurt a fly, we just don't want dogs on the loose in the Garden - especially in a place that's so popular with young kids.
Our experience is that the owners of dogs off leashes are also far less likely to pick up their droppings. Dog shit is a big problem in the Garden - and it's not just the gardeners who hate it. We get loads of complaints about it - including from people who end up standing or sitting in it while trying to have a picnic or throw a frizbee about in places like Magpie Lawn.
Re the cyclists: We generally don't have problems with considerate cyclists who ride slowly. As is already well covered by others, it's the arrogant, thoughtless, cyclists (and there are a lot of them about) who create the problems in the Garden by treating the pathways as a racetrack.
The pathway between the Cable Car and Salamanca Road is a case in point. Generally we haven't got a problem with cyclists riding on the pathway - but it's when they rip through groups of people walking in the busy area around the Cable Car terminal itself and the nearby lookout -that's when we get the complaints.
Re the late, lamented, drinking fountain in the playground, it was smashed up by vandals and had to be replaced. A fountain on Magpie Lawn? Unfortunately it'd cost an arm and a leg to put one there because there's no nearby water main - so we'd have to install a long pipe connection. A fountain by the Cable Car? Sounds like a reasonable idea - we'll have a look at it.
cheers
Richard MacLean - WCC Communications