‘Tread Lightly’ Plea for Heritage Sites

This is a bilingual message from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. To read the English version, please scroll down.

Mae’r cynnydd yn y diddordeb yn safleoedd archeolegol a hanesyddol Sir Benfro wedi ysgogi Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro i atgoffa’r cyhoedd i barchu henebion archeolegol a’u cymunedau cyfagos, ac iddynt beidio â gadael unrhyw olion ar eu hôl.

Dros y misoedd diwethaf, mae cynnydd yn nifer yr ymwelwyr â safleoedd fel Waun Mawn, Craig Rhos-y-felin a Charn Goedog wedi arwain at broblemau mynediad a thystiolaeth o ddifrod.

Daeth Waun Mawn i’r amlwg yn gynharach eleni yn dilyn rhaglen ddogfen gan y BBC, gan iddi ddamcanu y gallai hon fod yn ffynhonnell wreiddiol rhai o gerrig gleision enwog Côr y Cewri. Ers hynny, mae nifer yr ymwelwyr â’r ardal wedi cynyddu, ynghyd ag adroddiadau am ymddygiad diofal sy’n creu problemau i gymunedau lleol a’r safleoedd.

Mae rhai o’r problemau a wynebwyd hyd yma’n cynnwys tanau’n cael eu cynnau, cerrig yn cael eu difrodi neu’n cael eu symud, giatiau’n cael eu gadael ar agor ar dir ffermydd a phobl yn parcio’n anystyriol ar lonydd cul ac o flaen gatiau ffermydd.

Dywedodd yr Archeolegydd Cymunedol Tomos Ll. Jones : “Er ei bod yn wych bod pobl eisiau archwilio’r gorffennol, rhaid i ni gofio bod yr henebion hyn, sydd wedi hawlio eu lle ers miloedd o flynyddoedd, o bwysigrwydd cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol mawr ac na ellir eu disodli.

“Mae llawer o’r henebion hyn wedi’u gwarchod rhag aflonyddwch gan y gyfraith, ac maent wedi’u lleoli ar dir preifat a mannau sydd â dynodiadau naturiol. O’r herwydd, byddai tarfu, difrodi neu symud unrhyw ddeunydd yn drosedd.

“Dylai ymwelwyr hefyd feddwl am y rheini sy’n byw ac yn gweithio yn yr ardal, gan wneud pob ymdrech i ddilyn y Cod Cefn Gwlad, gan gynnwys parcio mewn mannau priodol.”

Sefydlwyd cynllun Gwarchod Treftadaeth i ddiogelu treftadaeth yn ardal y Parc Cenedlaethol yn 2018, os hoffech chi gael rhagor o wybodaeth, gan gynnwys sut mae helpu, ewch i www.arfordirpenfro.cymru/gwarchodtreftadaeth.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am sut i #Droedio’nYsgafn wrth ymweld â safleoedd allweddol, ewch i www.arfordirpenfro.cymru/troedion-ysgafn.

Mae dros 200 o deithiau gwe, gan gynnwys sawl llwybr o amgylch safleoedd treftadaeth, ar gael ar wefan y Parc Cenedlaethol yn www.arfordirpenfro.cymru.

A surge of interest in Pembrokeshire’s archaeological and historical sites has prompted Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to issue a reminder to the general public to respect archaeological monuments and their surrounding communities, and leave no trace of their visit.

Over recent months, an increase in visitors to sites such as Waun Mawn, Craig Rhosyfelin and Carn Goedog has led to access issues and evidence of damage.

Waun Mawn was thrust into the limelight earlier this year by a BBC documentary, which theorised that this may have been the original source of some of Stonehenge’s famed bluestones. Since then, footfall in the area has increased, along with reports of careless behaviour creating problems for local communities and the sites themselves.

Some of the issues faced so far include fires being lit, stones being damaged or removed, gates left open on working farmland, and inconsiderate parking on narrow verges and in front of farm gates.

Community archaeologist Tomos Ll Jones said: “While it’s great that people want to explore our past, we must be mindful that these monuments, which have been in place for thousands of years, are of national and international importance and cannot be replaced.

“Many of these monuments are protected from disturbance by law, and are situated on privately owned land and spaces with natural designations. As such, disturbance, damage or removal of material would constitute a criminal offence.

“Visitors should also spare a thought for those who live and work in the area, and make every effort to follow the Countryside Code, including parking in appropriate places.”

A Heritage Watch scheme to safeguard heritage in the National Park area was set up in 2018, if you would like to find out more, including how to help visit www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/heritagewatch.

For further information about how to #TreadLightly when visiting key sites go to www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/tread-lightly.

More than 200 web walks, including several routes around heritage sites, can be found on the National Park website at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/web-walks.