There is a beauty spot in Stoke-on-Trent that is probably best avoided by those of a squeamish disposition. Why? Let’s just say that should you go down to those woods today, you’re in for a big surprise. This is because it’s a notorious haunt for that most British of outdoor pursuits. No, not Rugger or Rounders. I’m talking about Dogging. If you’ve lived a sheltered life, dogging is the practice of straight couples having public sex with an audience. And usually the audience – which is almost exclusively male – are invited, one after the other – or simultaneously – to have sex or engage in sexual activity with the woman while her male partner looks on. The numbers are subject to change, of course, but a constant is for dogging to take place in remote or semi-remote rural locations.

After a tip-off from a sickened resident, the WHT visited the site next to a lay-by off Marford Road, in Lemsford, and an array of discoveries were made in the undergrowth.

There, littered amongst the trees and bushes, were scores of condom wrappers, used condoms, lubricant sachets, rubber gloves and a discarded Viagra packet.

There were even two mattresses which were laid next to a bottle of what appeared to be urine, dumped on the floor of the site.

After the WHT reported fears over WGC becoming a dogging hotspot two weeks ago, a disgusted resident suggested: “Try patrolling that lay-by on Marford Road that backs onto Brocket Park.

“The footpath down to the river and the woods are littered with sexual paraphernalia – grim.”

Initially, the site was believed to be a ‘dogging’ location, but police believe it is used for gay ‘cruising’.

SEEDY strangers are using sites near to some of the North’s top tourist spots to go ‘dogging.’

Advocates of the kinky practice, which involves adventurous couples performing sex acts in cars or in secluded areas while others watch, have targeted popular family locations like St Mary’s Lighthouse, in North Tyneside, and Beamish, in County Durham.

But the activity falls through a legal loophole, as public sex is not an offence unless it is witnessed by someone who is “outraged” by what they see.

That “get out of jail” card means police forces and councils trying to crack down on the bawdy behaviour have had little success.

Among the scores of dogging sites spread across the North uncovered by the Sunday Sun some are in remarkable places.

That includes, according to one dogging website, Doggingafterdark.com, a play area in High Spen, Gateshead, where couples should “walk the dog for a few minutes on a Sunday morning for some no strings attached action.”

While on Teesside, raunchy ramblers are getting their kicks below the flight path of Durham Tees Valley Airport.

“The bottom of the west end of the runway and is often used by couples for sex sessions late at nights,” users of the sites suggest.

Another reputed site for the act is near to Beamish Museum where an online writer simply states to other doggers, “Beamish backroads loads of action.”

The popular Washington Wildfowl Park is also near to an alleged dogging site with nearby car parks described as “quiet areas where you don’t get disturbed.”

See us in the Sunday Sport Today!!!

Another feature on After Dark and Dogging Rachel

Many people have heard of dogging, or know places where it apparently happens, but very few know what goes on in this secretive world. Dogging Tales, is an intimate and compelling documentary told through doggers themselves, who share their experiences of a mysterious, little understood neck of the woods.

Filmed over ten months, the documentary follows a range of people whilst attempting to gain insight into why men and women engage in or watch sexual activity in front of strangers in public areas under the cover of darkness.

Part of the True Stories strand, showcasing the best of feature length documentaries, Dogging Tales is directed by award-winning photographer Leo Maguire – who made his critically-acclaimed debut in 2012 with Gypsy Blood: True Stories (Best Newcomer at Grierson Awards, Bafta-nominated for Photography).

The first interviews with doggers take place in the ‘real world’ – as their day draws to a close and they consider their life, families and relationships. As they prepare to go out they begin to slowly shed their daily personas in anticipation, and Maguire accompanies them on excursions to lay-bys, woods and picnic spots around the UK that often double as dogging locations after dusk.

Going beyond the ‘caught in the act’ image often portrayed in the media, the documentary delves into the physical and psychological realm of dogging. The characters allow themselves to be filmed during their sexual encounters but, in subtle yet revealing interviews, they also open up about their attraction to dogging: how they were introduced to it; why they may feel a lack of fulfilment without it and how their relationships are enhanced or damaged by it. Not just about sex or fetishistic behaviour, this is a human story about alter egos, connections and acceptance.

Next on Channel 4 Thu 04 Apr, 10PM

Giving new meaning to the term “flash mob,” the British have invented a new sex craze called “dogging” that mixes sex, exhibitionism, mobs and the Internet.

Dogging combines technology with swinging, cruising and voyeurism. To wit: Crowds big and small watch exhibitionist couples who’ve met on the Net have sex in cars, and sometimes join in.

“Dogging is the broad term used to cover all the sexual outdoor activities that go on,” says the dogging FAQ at After Dark UK Swingers, a popular dogging site. “This can be anything from putting on a show from your car, to a gangbang on a picnic table.”

Dogging appears to be popular and widespread, attracting heterosexual couples and single men and women of all ages, income brackets and backgrounds. Not surprisingly, however, dogging meets tend to attract more men than women.

Dogging is most often practiced in cars at rural parks, lover’s lanes and superstore parking lots. The term dogging has a number of suggested origins, but it probably refers to the “walking the dog” excuse proffered to spouses for an evening’s absence.

Dogging sessions are usually organized through the dozens of dogging sites and message boards that have sprung up in the last couple of years. Photos are exchanged and meetings arranged by e-mail or mobile phone text message.

At the meet, cell phones and text messages are used to confirm meeting places and, crucially, identities. Cameras and videophones are increasingly used to record what goes on.

“Technology is vital and is the main driver (of the dogging phenomenon),” said Richard Byrne, a lecturer at Harper Adams University College in the United Kingdom who produced a survey (PDF) last year that found dogging to be a widespread and growing problem in Britain’s country parks.

Dogging is so prevalent, 60 percent of U.K. country parks are affected by it, Byrne’s report estimated.

A wooded area close to the A38 in Gloucestershire advertised as an area “to meet and have sex” is being monitored by police and council staff.

Tewkesbury Borough Council said activities on Brockeridge Common were causing concern to local residents and creating a litter problem.

A spokesman said it was speaking to the landowner to make the area more visible in an attempt to deter “dogging”.

He added residents were being asked to let police know of any incidents.

The council spokesman said the area had been advertised on websites and people were parking at the lay-by by Brockeridge Common before jumping over a fence into woodland.

Legally, the issue of dogging is a grey area as those taking part are committing no offence unless they are witnessed by a member of the public who can be defined as “outraged” in the eyes of the law.

BIRDWATCHERS have been locked out of a car park at an RSPB beauty spot due to  the activities of doggers.

Gates have been shut at the Highnam reserve on the A40, seven years after the  hide was shut because of people cruising the area day and night for sex.

“We have just had enough,” said RSPB spokesman Tony Whitehead. “It’s a  terrible shame and it’s a last resort. It’s done with heavy heart but while it  remains a target for people who engage in this inappropriate behaviour, we have  no option.”

RSPB staff have had to check the site at odd hours and remove items,  including used condoms, while some members of the public have been confronted  with people having sex in broad daylight. Complaints about the activities have  been received regularly by the RSPB. The bird charity was considering removing  some vegetation but that would have meant changing the habitat of the area, so  it was ruled out.

The reserve is still accessible by bicycle or on foot but virtually all of  its visitors arrive by car.

The RSPB will open the car park for pre-arranged visits and will be running events throughout the year.

Police spokesman Chris Jackson said: “This was the RSPB’s decision and  follows 18 months of multi-agency work to try and resolve the issues in the  area.

“We have consulted with independent advisers, charities and local councillors  to try and improve the situation and understand the decision that has now been  taken by the landowners.

“While we had regular patrols prior to the closure, this measure has now  resolved the issue at the site. While we have found evidence of sexual activity  at the site there have not been any prosecutions in connection with the issue.  We are aware of the effect this has on the staff who work there and the general  public in the area.”

A NEW incentive has been launched allowing Puttenham Parish Council to manage an area of the Hog’s Back known as a notorious public sex site.

Surrey County Council has handed over responsibilty of the land between the A31 and the village to the parish council, along with a £25,000 endowment to help the small authority maintain the site.

Members of the parish council have led the initiative, as they thought the Puttenham community was better placed to respond to local issues than the county council.

Richard Griggs, Puttenham parish councillor, said: “We will now be able to manage this area of land and ensure that the local community can enjoy use of it once again.”

Tony Rooth, leader of Guildford Borough Council, and representative for the Pilgrims ward which includes Puttenham, said it was a very positive move.

“The sexual activity, including dogging, has been quite prevalent at the Hog’s Back lay-by for several years now, and it has clearly presented an increasing problem to the young children at the school in the village and their parents,” Cllr Rooth added.

“There was a lot of public reaction and local concern, which I was very much in support of as borough councillor and as my time as county councillor.”

Cllr Rooth said the county council had tried to get the lay-by closed and restrict access by shutting it at night and early in the morning, but allowing the cafe that operates on the site to remain open.

“But that was not going to work,” he added.

“The local people now have the power and the responsibilty to deal with the local situation.

“I’m hopeful that this will bring an end to the real concerns for parents that their children at the village school may be affected by sexual activities which should not be anywhere near the village.

People gathering for sex in lay-bys along a main road in East Yorkshire are being given warning leaflets by police.

Officers have been monitoring the area along the A165 near Coniston after complaints about so-called “dogging”.

Humberside Police said 18 people had been spoken to in one month. Some were found half-dressed, but claimed to be there for “legitimate reasons”.

Hedges have been cut down to deter would-be participants.

The force said it was responding to concerns expressed by residents in the small village of Coniston, which is outside Hull.

Although the area is rural, there are a number of houses near to where the leaflets have been issued on the A165, which runs between Hull and Bridlington.

The force told residents their investigations had discovered a number of people at the sites.