Abbotsbury - Dorset's unique swannery
Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset is the only managed colony of swans in the world where you are able to enjoy the experience of walking through the heart of hundreds of nesting and free-flying Mute Swans. The location, in a lagoon just inside the Dorset coast, further enhances a visit to this beautiful and tranquil place.
The 600-year-old swannery was established by Benedictine Monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury in the 11th century. The monks farmed the swans to produce food for their lavish Dorset banquets. St Peter’s monastery was destroyed in 1539, during the dissolution, though some of the ruins are still visible. Since that time, the Swannery has been under the stewardship of the Ilchester Estates. The unique natural wildlife habitat extends over a site of some 25 acres
During the nesting and hatching period (end May-end June), it is possible to be standing next to hatching eggs and if you’re very lucky, you may even witness a cygnet being born right before your eyes.
Visitors to the Swannery can help hand feed over 600 swans at 12.00 noon and 4.00pm daily. The accompanying talk from the swanherd provides an enaging and informative insight into these graceful birds.
The Fleet, besides which the swannery sits, is the largest lagoon in Europe, and runs for about 13 kilometres along the Dorset coast. It is brackish and tidal, but sheltered by Chesil Beach, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
At the end of July, the swans become flightless, for around six weeks, due to the moulting of their feathers. Once every two years, the swans in the lagoon are rounded up, so that they can be examined, weighed and measured, and any new birds in the colony ringed. The round-up is undertaken by around 50 canoes that start at the eastern end of the lagoon and slowly drive the birds into the swannery bay at Abbotsbury. Up to 900 birds have been recorded, but the number varies from year to year as they are free to come and go to the site.
Further reading
Links to external websites are not maintained by Bite Sized Britain. They are provided to give users access to additional information. Bite Sized Britain is not responsible for the content of these external websites.