{"id":32097,"date":"2026-10-03T23:49:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T23:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=32097"},"modified":"2026-10-03T23:49:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T23:49:52","slug":"in-2021-cambridge-farmer-ben-webster-spent-15000-converting-his-sheep-grazing-field-that-earned-300-a-year-into-a-private-dog-park-it-now-brings-in-up-to-400-a-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=32097","title":{"rendered":"In 2021, Cambridge farmer Ben Webster spent \u00a315,000 converting his sheep-grazing field that earned \u00a3300 a year into a private dog park; it now brings in up to \u00a3400 a week"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134640870,imgsize-490487,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg\" alt=\"In 2021, Cambridge farmer Ben Webster spent \u00a315,000 converting his sheep-grazing field that earned \u00a3300 a year into a private dog park; it now brings in up to \u00a3400 a week\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Anything for the pets, isn\u2019t it? In the UK, dog owners are paying by the hour for private, secure fields where their dogs can run freely and safely. Rebecca Lee, who lives in rural Cambridgeshire, rents a safe, green field for her dog Moscow twice a week.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>Moscow barks at bikes. He lunges at cars, children and other dogs. Lee knows that it is fear, not aggression. So taking him to a public park can only worsen the situation. Instead, she books a private field twice a week and lets him loose for an hour. This way, none of his triggers can get in. \u201cMoscow is the world\u2019s most difficult dog,\u201d Lee told The Guardian. \u201cIf you\u2019ve got a dog like him, who is reactive \u2013 he barks and lunges at stuff, mostly because he\u2019s actually quite fearful \u2013 then every walk can be traumatic.<!-- -->\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"7\"\/>Lee isn\u2019t the only pet parent to pay for a private park. In fact, this became increasingly common after the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of dog owners and pet parents across the country regularly hire private fields for their pets to run and exercise. And farmers like Ben Webster are making a living out of it!<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"9\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2><strong>Sheep out, dogs in<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u200b&lt;strong&gt;From sheep to dogs: Farmer turns \u00a3300-a-year field into \u00a3400-a-week business&lt;\/strong&gt;\u200b\" msid=\"134640879\" imgsize=\"374517\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-374517,msid-134640879\/strongfrom-sheep-to-dogs-farmer-turns-300-a-year-field-into-400-a-week-businessstrong.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ben Webster, a farmer in Coton, near Cambridge, has watched that demand arrive at his gate. One of his fields used to be let for sheep grazing at \u00a3300 a year. So when this opportunity arrived at his doorstep, he spent \u00a315,000 turning the field into a secure dog field. In the summer peak, it can now earn up to \u00a3400 a week. In other words, one good week beats a full year of sheep!<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/>\u201cYou get a whole mix of people. As well as the owners of dogs who are a bit nervous or not terribly well trained, you get dog-training classes. And you get people in the summer who want to just come, have a glass of wine in the field and let their dogs run around while they sit with friends on the bench and chat for an hour, knowing their dogs will be safe and secure,\u201d Webster told the publication.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/>The field comes with a tunnel to run through, tyres to jump over and a water tap. Some visitors also bring paddling pools for their dogs. \u201cWe had dog parties,\u201d Webster said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>For dogs like Moscow, this facility is a huge relief. The pup was born during the first lockdown and given up to a rescue centre by his previous owners when they stopped working from home. <!-- -->\u201cHe hadn\u2019t had a lead or a collar on him until he was six months old. I don\u2019t think he\u2019d ever been walked on the pavement. And I think that led to a lot of his issues,\u201d Lee recalls. She approached a dog behaviourist and has since started using a dog field near her home, which gives Moscow a safe space to play.<!-- --> \u201cWe are making lots of progress. He can now go on group walks with a dog walker and is great with other dogs he knows.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2><strong>Ten pounds an hour, 756 fields<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u200b&lt;strong&gt;Farmer\u2019s \u00a315,000 bet on private dog parks now earns him \u00a3400 a week&lt;\/strong&gt;\u200b\" msid=\"134640889\" imgsize=\"454531\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-454531,msid-134640889\/strongfarmers-15000-bet-on-private-dog-parks-now-earns-him-400-a-weekstrong.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Webster is one of many. There is a website dedicated to similar private dog fields. <!-- -->The website, dogwalkingfields.com, lists 756 fields covering an estimated 2,270 acres, with more added every week. An hour typically costs about \u00a310, and the fields are usually fenced all round.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>\u201cDuring the pandemic, enclosed fields became a refuge for people who wanted to exercise their dogs away from other people, socially distanced. Open spaces were crowded, especially with travel restrictions in place. As restrictions lifted a little, the fields became safe havens to meet up with friends and family and exercise safely,\u201d Katherine Shields Smith, co-founder of Dog Walking Fields, said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/>The clientele stretches well beyond difficult dogs. Owners book for pets that are anxious, injured, disabled, small, elderly, in season or in training. \u201cThe owners of these dogs all appreciate somewhere safe to relax off-leash without being approached by other possibly well-meaning but exuberant dogs,\u201d Shields Smith added.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u200b&lt;strong&gt;Why UK dog owners are paying \u00a310 an hour for private fields to walk their pets&lt;\/strong&gt;\u200b\" msid=\"134640897\" imgsize=\"495203\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-495203,msid-134640897\/strongwhy-uk-dog-owners-are-paying-10-an-hour-for-private-fields-to-walk-their-petsstrong.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The unwelcome approach in public spaces is encouraging more and more pet parents to opt for such private fields. The pandemic only added to it. Many pandemic puppies were born into lockdown, when training classes were shut and owners kept their distance. Plenty have grown into poorly socialised adolescents with behaviour problems. Unwanted approaches in public can distress both dogs and owners. \u201cThere are lots of dogs who are friendly but whose owners have no control over them.<!-- -->\u201d And for such pups, these private fields are a blessing. The same can be said for farmers like Webster.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/uk\/in-2021-cambridge-farmer-ben-webster-spent-15000-converting-his-sheep-grazing-field-that-earned-300-a-year-into-a-private-dog-park-it-now-brings-in-up-to-400-a-week\/articleshow\/134640728.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anything for the pets, isn\u2019t it? In the UK, dog owners are paying by the hour for private, secure fields where their dogs can run freely and safely. Rebecca Lee, who lives in rural Cambridgeshire, rents a safe, green field for her dog Moscow twice a week.Moscow barks at bikes. He lunges at cars, children [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Anything for the pets, isn\u2019t it? In the UK, dog owners are paying by the hour for private, secure fields where their dogs can run freely and safely. Rebecca Lee, who lives in rural Cambridgeshire, rents a safe, green field for her dog Moscow twice a week.Moscow barks at bikes. He lunges at cars, children [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":4,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cambridge-farmer-turns-300-sheep-field-into-dog-park-earning-400-a-week.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32097\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}