Row in Dorset as family blocks access to footpath through Happy Bottom nature reserve

Relatives of a recently deceased landowner have closed a 780-foot footpath linking the Dorset village of Corfe Mullen to the Happy Bottom nature reserve, installing CCTV cameras, barbed wire, warning signs and black-and-yellow tape that local walkers say has blocked decades of informal access.

The family says it withdrew what had been a permissive path because of repeated vandalism, theft and the difficulty of keeping livestock on land where loose dogs roam and dog mess is discarded in undergrowth. Campaigners led by dog walker Jackie Bonham say the route has been used by residents for decades and are seeking a Definitive Map Modification Order, or DMMO, to record the path as a public right of way.

The former owner allowed public access for at least 35 years, supporters say, but the estate passed to his family after his death last September and the daughter who inherited the land has closed the route. Walkers reported discovering security cameras in trees and handwritten signs warning of CCTV earlier this year, and some say they were escorted off the land after crossing it.

"It's a lovely little nature walk and goes up to the Corfe Mullen nature reserve and barrows," Bonham said. She said she had gathered more than 100 statements from people who say they have used the route, including some with evidence of use that predates her time in the area. Bonham and other residents argue that many users meet or exceed the 20-year public-use threshold normally cited in applications to register unrecorded paths.

The family spokeswoman said the path has always been permissive — a voluntary route on private land that does not create a legal right of way — and that the owners are entitled to withdraw access. She said two relatively recent injuries, including a broken leg and a badly twisted ankle, illustrated how uneven and steep stretches of the route can be, and that the family was concerned about liability if someone were hurt. The spokeswoman also cited repeated theft and criminal damage, saying the family had been advised by police to install CCTV to gather evidence.

Dorset Police confirmed it received ten reports of theft, criminal damage and trespass on the land between March and July but said "proportionate investigations were carried out to establish any viable lines of enquiry" and no arrests were made. A Dorset Council spokeswoman said the path currently has no definitive status and that there is no legal mechanism that prevents a landowner from closing an unrecorded path.

Because the route crosses local boundaries, residents must submit DMMO evidence to both Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council. Dorset Council told campaigners that a backlog of DMMO applications means investigations can be detailed and lengthy, and it warned that processing could take years. Bonham said residents fear a delay of up to a decade while the status of the path remains unresolved.

Locals also raised concerns after parts of the land appeared on a local plan as potential sites for future housing development of more than 20 homes. The family denied knowledge of the proposed allocation and said they do not support development on the land.

The dispute highlights tensions that can arise between private landowners and communities over access to greenspace and nature reserves. Permissive paths allow owners to grant public use without creating a permanent right of way, but withdrawal of access can prompt residents to seek DMMOs, a statutory process that requires detailed historical evidence and consultation with multiple bodies.

The family said it was willing to discuss options with local residents if a way could be found to keep the path open safely and without risk to livestock. Campaigners say they will continue to collect evidence and pursue the DMMO route while urging local authorities to expedite consideration of the application. Dorset Council reiterated that any DMMO application must follow statutory stages and that the authority is constrained by existing workloads.

Happy Bottom is designated locally as a tranquil nature reserve and is used for walking and wildlife observation; both residents and landowners said they wished to preserve the area's natural character. For now, the route remains closed to the public and the dispute is expected to continue as neighbours and local officials consider legal and practical options for restoring access.