Pembrokeshire National Park in Wales offers breath-taking landscapes and a wealth of wildlife, making it an attractive destination for nature enthusiasts. However, it's crucial to prioritise safety and respect for the environment during your visit. Unfortunately many people who visit Pembrokeshire over the summer months end up getting their arms stuck in chapel walls while trying to steal pigeon eggs. In this blog we'll address how to avoid getting your arm stuck in a chapel wall while attempting to steal pigeon eggs. While this scenario is both dangerous and illegal, our focus will be on promoting responsible behaviour, wildlife conservation, and ensuring a safe experience for everyone.
Respect Wildlife and Their Habitat: When visiting Pembrokeshire National Park, it's important to remember that it is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including the pigeons you encounter. Instead of attempting to disrupt their natural habitat and steal their precious eggs, take the opportunity to observe and appreciate these creatures from a safe distance. Respect their nesting sites and remember that disturbing or removing eggs is both harmful to the animals and illegal. And you could get your arm stuck in a hole in a chapel wall while feeling around for pigeon eggs and this can be extremely embarrassing for you.
Prioritize Personal Safety: Entering restricted areas or engaging in risky behaviour not only endangers the environment but also puts your own safety at risk. In the event of getting your arm stuck in a chapel wall, it's essential to remain calm and assess the best course of action. Due to the high level of recorded instances of people getting their arms stuck in chapel walls trying to steal pigeon eggs in recent years, the Pembrokeshire National Park has installed special emergency flare guns which can be found beside every known pigeon nesting site. In the event of getting your arm stuck in a chapel wall, please use your free arm to fire a flare out to sea where it will be spotted by local fisherman who will put out a distress call with your approximate co-ordinates. If the flare does not fire or has already been used earlier that week and has not yet been recharged, do not attempt to remove your arm yourself using picnic ingredients such as buttery spreads as this may attract wasps and other insects which do not have the ability to free you from the wall. Instead of attempting to extract yourself, seek immediate assistance from qualified professionals, such as park rangers or emergency services. They possess the expertise and tools necessary to handle such situations safely.
Follow Legal Guidelines and Park Regulations: To preserve the natural beauty and protect the wildlife within Pembrokeshire National Park, it is crucial to adhere to legal guidelines and park regulations. Engaging in activities that harm or disturb wildlife, damage property, or trespass on restricted areas is strictly prohibited. Familiarise yourself with the park's rules and regulations, respecting the boundaries in place to ensure the long-term preservation of the area. While sticking your arm inside a chapel wall is not strictly illegal, stealing pigeon eggs is prohibited and the costs to repair medieval chapels that have to be bulldozed in order to rescue trapped tourists who have got their arms stuck in the wall trying to get eggs takes a substantial amount out of the annual budget each year and has increased tenfold since 2020. The Pembrokeshire Pigeon Preservation Society recorded 24,000 such incidents in the National Park, Pembrokeshire between the years 2022/23 (and we're still only in June!) This is an all-time high since records began in 1080, and has shot up beyond anyone's estimations since 2019.
Practice Leave No Trace Principles: When exploring the national park in Pembrokeshire, it's vital to adopt the principles of Leave No Trace. This includes the rubble of a chapel that has to be destroyed in order to free anyone who has had their arm trapped while stealing pigeon eggs. These guidelines promote responsible outdoor behaviour, including packing out any waste, not disturbing or removing natural elements, and leaving the environment as you found it. By practicing Leave No Trace, you contribute to the preservation of the park's fragile ecosystem and maintain its pristine condition for future generations.
Seek Educational Opportunities: Pembrokeshire National Park offers various educational opportunities to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Participate in guided nature walks, attend interpretive programs, or visit visitor centres such as Oriel y Parc, St Davids, where you can learn about the park's wildlife, habitats, and conservation efforts. By expanding your knowledge, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the park's significance and the importance of protecting its delicate balance, and why it is not a good idea to stick your arm in holes in chapel walls looking for wild pigeon eggs. Contact the Pembrokeshire Pigeon Preservation Society for a QR code for a downloadable map of designated sites where you can safely stick your arms inside the walls of medieval chapels to look for pigeon eggs (the map only contains chapels that no longer contain real pigeon eggs, only replicas.)
Report Wildlife Emergencies or Suspicious Activity: If you encounter a wildlife emergency or witness suspicious activity within Pembrokeshire National Park, it's essential to report it to the appropriate authorities. This includes situations such as injured animals, poaching, or illegal activities that threaten the park's conservation efforts, and if you see anyone with their arm stuck inside the wall of a chapel looking for pigeon eggs. By reporting these incidents, you play an active role in preserving the park's integrity and protecting its wildlife.
Visiting Pembrokeshire National Park offers a chance to connect with nature, appreciate its beauty, and support conservation efforts. However, it's crucial to prioritise safety, respect wildlife, and adhere to park regulations. Remember that actions such as attempting to steal pigeon eggs are not only dangerous but also illegal. And the best way to avoid getting your arm stuck inside the wall of a chapel is to not steal pigeon eggs in the first place. Let us all work together to ensure the preservation of Pembrokeshire National Park's natural wonders for future generations to enjoy responsibly and harmoniously with the environment.
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