Here at Margam Country Park, we take visitor safety and security seriously. Please read the following safety guidelines and tips before exploring the Park.
- In an emergency, please phone 999
- For your safety, please do not consume any plants, fungi or wildlife in the Park
- Always wash your hands before eating
- We advise visitors not to touch the animals on the Farm Trail and to use the hand wash facility available at the Farm Trail
- Ticks can be found in areas of long grass, rough vegetation and woodland. Scroll down for more information on how to keep safe and be 'tick aware' whilst exploring the Park
- We support Counter Terrorism Policing's campaign to encourage everyone to look out for each other. Scroll down for more information on this.
Be Tick Aware
Ticks are small arachnids which feed off the blood of birds and mammals, including pets and people. Ticks are widespread across the UK and can be found in both urban settings and the countryside where there is long grass, rough vegetation and woodland.
Numbers vary dramatically during the year and also due to changing weather conditions. They are most active during warm, damp weather.
Simple steps to avoid coming into contact with ticks:
- Wear long trousers
- Stick to clearly defined paths
- Avoid brushing against or walking through long grass and vegetation
- Wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to spot and brush off
Tick removal
Whilst not all ticks have the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease, they are still an unwelcome guest and should be carefully removed with a special tick removal tool or fine tipped tweezers, which can be obtained from most chemists, vets or pet shops.
Take care when removing a tick. It is important not to crush, smother or burn it, as this may cause the tick to regurgitate its infected stomach contents into the wound. Do not try an pull off a tick with your fingers, as this may cause the head and/or mouthparts to stay embedded in your skin.
Lyme Disease
Some ticks carry bacteria which causes lyme disease. Similar to the symptoms of influenza, people with lyme disease may experience flu-like symptoms such as a temperature, head-aches, muscle or joint pain and tiredness or loss of energy. Another sign is a bullseye rash pattern on the skin (usually centred around the bite), but this is not always present. If you develop these symptoms after being bitten by a tick, contact you GP.
- Please visit NHS Choices website for more details.
- More information about ticks and associated diseases is available from Lyme Disease Action
Action Counters Terrorism
We support Counter Terrorism Policing's campaign to encourage everyone to look out for each other. To help keep you safe, we have security measures in place you can see, and of course, ones you can't. We are asking our visitors to help by staying alert and trusting their instincts. During your visit to the park, you will see staff members on site, who are there to help you if you need it.
If something doesn't feel right during your visit, please report it to a member of staff immediately and they will do the rest. Don't assume that others will report it. In an emergency, please phone 999.
The Dangers of Frozen Water
Do not go on to frozen ponds under any circumstances. Children and pets are particularly at risk when tempted to play on the ice formed on open water during cold weather.
Pets should be kept on leads when near frozen water and owners should refrain from throwing objects onto ice for them to retrieve.
If you fall through the ice:
- Keep calm and shout for ‘help’.
- Spread your arms across the surface of the ice in front of you.
- If the ice is strong enough, kick your legs to slide onto the ice.
- Lie flat and pull yourself towards the bank.
- If the ice breaks, work your way to the bank breaking the ice in front of you away.
- If you cannot climb out, wait for help and stay as still as possible. Press your arms by your side, keeping your legs together. Keep your head clear of the water.
- Once you are safe, go to hospital immediately for a check up
If you see someone fall through the ice:
- Shout for assistance; get help by phoning the emergency services (call 999).
- Do not walk or climb onto the ice to attempt a rescue.
- Shout to the casualty to ‘keep still’ and offer reassurance to keep them calm.
- Try and reach them from the bank using a rope, pole, tree branch, clothing tied together or anything else which can extend your reach.
- When reaching from the bank, lie down to avoid being pulled onto the ice – this spreads your weight more evenly.
- If you cannot reach them, slide something which floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, across the ice for them to hold onto to stay afloat whilst help is on the way.
- If the casualty is too far away, do not attempt to rescue them. Wait for the emergency services while calming and reassuring the casualty.
Let's keep each other safe!