‘Use park bins or take rubbish home’ plea as cygnet tangled in string

BOSSES at Bradgate Park have pleaded with visitors to use bins or take their rubbish home after they were forced to rescue a baby swan left tangled in string.

Bradgate Park Trust say the cygnet was spotted last weekend with a piece of string caught around its beak and foot, which left the poor creature unable to eat.

Park rangers were able to capture the bird and untangle it, but the incident has led the Trust to issue a timely reminder to visitors to make sure they don’t leave rubbish behind which could harm the wildlife at the park.

A post on the Trust’s Facebook page read: “This cygnet was found with string caught around its beak and foot making it unable to eat.

“Fortunately our rangers managed to catch it and remove the string.”

The post continued: “We urge visitors to use our on site bins or take litter home. Please take care of the park and its wildlife and do not litter.”

In response to the post, members of the public heaped praise on the rangers who rescued the swan.

One comment read: “Thank God for the park rangers. There are many “strings” to their job.

“Especially clearing up after the few who visit the park for a picnic and feel it’s acceptable to just get up and walk away, leaving all their rubbish behind.

“Bradgate was a gift to the people to use and enjoy, not for people to abuse. I am a regular visitor and feel very privileged to have such beauty on my doorstep.”

Another said: “Well done the rangers.

“Just so bad people don’t know how to use a bin.”

Another comment read: “Good job we have rangers checking our wildlife.

“Some people who visit the park and leave their rubbish is shameful.

“Let’s have some respect please for all animals and creatures.”