A UNIQUE business for dog owners will open in Hereford this week, and it will be dedicated to a best friend who died from cancer.

After a year of researching, planning and sheer hard work, the first field to book exclusively to exercise your dog safely and securely in Hereford is set to open on Saturday, November 6.

The field is a long held dream of local businesswoman Sara Jane Sarzo of Mobile Care and Clean and her husband, Andrew.

They have dedicated the field in name to one of their best friends, Marilyn, who sadly lost her battle with cancer on Christmas Day 2020.

Mrs Sarzo said: “She was a truly gorgeous person, selfless and always happy, her passing was a great loss to our family and we wanted to do something to remember her.

"She had loved dogs all her life and had a special bond with our two Jack Russell’s during her fight with cancer, so this seemed the right thing to do."

Marilyn’s Meadow is a five-acre secure field that is quiet and undisturbed and gives dog owners the opportunity to book their own exclusive slot to exercise their dogs.

Mrs Sarzo said it would be perfect for nervous dogs or those needing to work on their recall.

She and her husband have worked hard with a local fencing company M J Evans to ensure it is secure.

Located at Coldwells Road in Holmer, next to the Secret Garden Pub, it has it’s own car park with a waiting area and spaces.

Access is via a gate that you are given an access code to ahead of your booked time period.

She added: “We have six dogs and have been fostering and rescuing dogs for many years now. Many of the dogs who have come to us have been abandoned or mistreated and were so nervous that taking them out for a walk was really challenging.

"We would often travel miles to secure fields in other areas and this is when we started to dream of having something in Hereford."

The husband and wife is is grateful for the support from local people and their family and friends, with particular thanks to Dave Duggan who has worked tirelessly on all the ground works and is the resident grass mower.

Going forward they hope visitors will enjoy picnics and small get togethers and that a Marilyn’s Meadow community will develop and flourish.