Calls to remove or replace netting at All Saints’ Parish Church in High Wycombe came after a dead pigeon was found hanging from it. The church says it cannot be removed immediately because it protects pedestrians from falling masonry during repairs; the cause of death is unknown.
Anna Cooke found the pigeon while searching for another bird that two people said had string attached to its feet. She wants the netting removed or replaced with a more humane option, saying damaged netting can become a hazard to wildlife.
A churchwarden said the church had sought specialist advice on replacing the netting with more modern, secure materials. The church says scaffolding makes some sections difficult to access and work must be coordinated around unstable masonry. It said there is no evidence showing how the pigeon became trapped; the warden said the church also has a responsibility to protect the thousands who pass through its churchyard and surrounding public areas.
