BBC Radio WM breakfast show host Sarah Julian and her team camped at Cannock Chase on July 9, 2026, for a ghost hunt, only to stumble upon suspected dogging activity. Julian told listeners she was unaware of the area's reputation until she discovered drivers parked with their lights on in a car park.
Ghost Hunt Turns Unexpected
Julian and sidekick Josh Tranter were exploring the reputedly haunted nature haven when they found the car park on the Hednesford side. In a clip played on the show, Julian said: "We've found a car park on the Hednesford side of Cannock Chase. Why are there cars parked here with people in them and nobody doing anything?" Tranter replied: "I don't know, we've just got here and there are people sitting with their (car) lights on. I don't know if Cannock Chase has a reputation for anything." Julian responded: "Dog walking is what it's known for. Let's get back in the car."
Reaction on Air
Resuming the live broadcast, Julian said: "We didn't expect that - somebody should have warned us." On Friday morning's show, she added: "Did you know about this other thing it's famous for? No-one told me about it. We found out about it for ourselves last night. Josh and I were in the forest last night when this happened."
Cannock Chase's Other Reputations
Beyond dogging, Cannock Chase is known for legends like the Pigman—a humanoid with a man's body and swine's head allegedly created during WWII genetic experiments—and the Black Eyed Child, a ghostly figure with pitch-black eyes. The 16,800-acre site also has reported big cat sightings.
Police Action
In 2012, Staffordshire Police launched Operation Muttley to crack down on dogging. Inspector Donna Gibbs said: "It isn't particularly nice for families or people walking their dogs to find people engaging in this behaviour."
