Surrey Hills Sheep Parade highlights the importance of dogs on leads

A colourful flock of 13 decorated sheep sculptures is set to tour the Surrey Hills, bringing an important countryside message to life: dogs must be kept on leads around sheep.

A colourful flock of sheep sculptures decorated by local artists will soon appear across the Surrey Hills, bringing one clear message to walkers and dog owners: keep dogs on leads around sheep.

The Sheep Parade launches at Denbies Wine Estate on National Dog Day, August 26th, before the sculptures travel to a series of locations across the Surrey Hills National Landscape throughout the year.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact dogs can have on sheep in open countryside. With 87% of farmers reporting dog attacks on their sheep, the issue remains a serious concern wherever livestock and dogs share the landscape.

Rather than focusing on the problem alone, the Sheep Parade aims to encourage understanding and positive behaviour change through a fun, engaging community project.

Why sheep matter

Sheep are an important part of the Surrey Hills landscape. Their grazing helps manage vegetation naturally, supporting wildflowers, insects and birds while reducing the need for more intensive land management.

Protecting sheep is therefore not only about animal welfare but also about supporting nature recovery and maintaining the countryside that local communities and visitors enjoy.

A shared responsibility

The message behind the Sheep Parade is simple: dogs must be kept on leads around sheep.

This is not only about preventing physical attacks. Even brief encounters, such as a dog running close to sheep, chasing them or causing panic, can create significant stress.

In some cases, this stress can lead to injury, separation from lambs or longer-term welfare impacts. Keeping dogs under control helps ensure farmers, walkers and animals can safely share the countryside.

Where to see the sheep

The Sheep Parade launches at Denbies Wine Estate with a free family-friendly event where visitors can see all 13 sculptures, help name them and enjoy live dog training demonstrations.

Families can also enjoy the Nature Train experience and meet a shepherd and flock (small charge applies).

After the launch, the sculptures will travel to locations across the Surrey Hills National Landscape, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to discover the colourful flock.

When: Wednesday 26th August, 11am–3pm
Where: Denbies Wine Estate, Bradley Lane, Dorking RH5 6AA

For more information, visit surreyhills.org.

The sheep images used are not those which will feature in the parade and have been created for illustration purposes.

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