Protecting Cloughey Warren

The Warren has been used as common area from as long as anyone can remember, and is especially popular with dog-walkers. The Warren includes the flat grass area beside the car park and the sandhills between Main Road and the beach. It is a beautiful and unspoiled area with a great variety of wildflowers in Spring and Summer.  It been part of an ASSI (Area of Special Scientific Interest) for about 10 years. This designation is supposed to prevent activities that damage the natural environment.  

Stop press 17/12/08 - Otter spotted in sand dunes at Cloughey Warren

This morning a walker reported seeing an otter coming out of the sea, running across the beach and into the sand dunes.  Has anyone else seen any otters in Cloughey Bay?

General views of Warren at Cloughey

Dog Fouling - There are special bins and bags available for the collection of dog-dirt and these are being used by most of the dog-walkers.

One of the prominent signs with dog-fouling bin

Quads and Scramblers - Over the past few years a few people have taken their quads and scramblers onto the Warren and caused significant erosion damage as well as causing nuisance with their very noisy engines.  One noticable area of erosion is the sand pit in the short grass area which 5 years ago about 10 sq metres is now 7 times bigger.    High winds blow out the sand, but it is the action of the vehicles on the turf on the edges that is allowing the hole to get bigger.

Bike tracks at the sand hole showing erosion.

Photos of motorbikes speeding across Warren 

In response to the increased activity by quad and scrambler bikers, Ards Council erected signs making it clear that these vehicles were not allowed on the Warren, but this has not be enough to keep off some of the scrambler users.   CDCA has received many complaints from residents and dog-walkers about quads and scramblers, and the ASBO team in Newtownards has intervened and cautioned several perpetrators, including users of radio-controlled cars that were causing significant erosion to the turf.

Don't let this...

Scrambler damage on grass part of Warren beside Main Road

Become this.....

This photo was taken on 10/12/08 and shows damage to North end of Cloughey Warren casued by scrambler bikes

What can you do to help us prevent this?

If you use the Warren, bring your mobile phone with you and have this number saved - 028-9182 4044 -  this is the reporting line for the Ards ASBO team - if you see any quads or motorbikes on the warren, ring this number and leave a message with time and date and what you saw - how many vehicles etc.  You do not have to leave your name but if you do the ASBO team will contact you with follow-up report.

Riding quads and bikes is an exciting sport - but it should be done in the right place.   Public places are not appropriate for this activity and there are now many proper facilities where people can bring their bikes or quads and be properly insured without risk or nuisance to other people.