PLANS to allow dogs into a National Trust garden in the Tamar Valley have been welcomed.

Cotehele House near St Dominick is trialling a new policy of allowing dogs into certain sections of the formal garden: assistance dogs will be allowed in all areas.

Owners have been asked to keep their dogs on short (rather than retractable) leads, to stick to the paths and to “manage barking so as not to disturb visitors”.

The National Trust says that the initiative at Cotehele is part of a wider trial this winter in the South West.

At Lanhydrock, a trial has already taken place over two months this autumn and will be evaluated using feedback from visitors, staff and volunteers.