Abbotsbury Swannery

Tucked away behind Chesil Beach in west Dorset is a tidal lagoon called the Fleet. For over 800 years this sheltered stretch of water has been home to the only breeding colony of Mute swans in Britain.

Come with us now to the Abbotsbury Swannery to see these beautiful birds.

The main entrance to the Swannery is in the clump of trees you can see directly behind these people. There is also a car park, gift shop and cafe beside the entrance, all hidden away so that they don't spoil this view.

Visitors can either walk down to the lagoon, or take a ride in this horse-drawn cart, for which you pay a small fee. It's not as far as it looks in this picture.

Once you have crossed the field you enter this small copse of trees. A raised path leads past a shallow stream and a series of ponds and takes you out to visit the lagoon.

In this section there were a number of displays and a slide show telling visitors about the history of the swannery and surrounding area. 

Originally the swans were bred by monks from the local Abbey, who then ate some of them for food. Nowadays this is a nature reserve and a popular tourist attraction and it is illegal to eat the swans! 

The sign above warns visitors to be careful around these wild birds. However, very close to the sign these swans were posing on the path and looking entirely harmless

As you come out of the trees the river widens out into a small estuary that feeds into the lagoon. Between 500 and 1000 swans (depending on the season) are resident here. 

Here is the lagoon. On the far side of the water is Chesil beach and beyond that is the sea. 

This sign gives a fascinating insight into the uses to which the feathers are put. 

Lloyds are a famous and ancient company in London who insure shipping (and other ventures now). All lost ships are recorded in a book, using traditional quill pens made from the feathers of these swans. 

And I certainly did not realize that the white plumes on the helmets of the Queen's bodyguard were composed of swan's feathers either. Amazing.

It's fun to watch the swans being fed, although it can get a bit busy. The children love joining in, and although the swans are not tame, they have become used to all the people and just seem to concentrate on getting some food. 

Although the swans can move around the lagoon freely, there are a number of pens provided for breeding swans, to keep the young families together for a few weeks. There are also some quieter pens and shady pools tucked away from the visitors.

Sheltered pens beside the reed beds.

Surrounding the swannery are large areas of grasses and reed beds which provide sheltered natural feeding and nesting grounds for the swans. 

These water reeds have been  used for many centuries to thatch the roofs of local cottages. You may have noticed that the sign welcoming visitors to Abbotsbury had a small thatched roof. 

As well as the swans there are all sorts of other birds to be seen. There is a raised platform beside the lagoon for viewing the diverse bird population and a number of small huts called 'hides' for serious birdwatchers to use, unobserved by the birds. 

Despite the efforts of the staff to provide secluded quarters for the young families, some swans decide to be different. This swan and her family were resting right on the main path, so that all the visitors had to walk carefully past them. 

The charming cygnets ( the name we give young swans) were part of a large family. I counted 10 of them. If you visit a bit earlier in the summer you can see the cygnets when they have just hatched. They are gorgeous.

The swans can make their nests anywhere in the swannery. This swan had even built her nest beside the path and had hatched her young right there.

Abbotsbury Swannery is located on the main coastal road between Portland and Bridport in West Dorset. The website address is-

www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/swannery.htm

The swannery is open from mid March to early November. The dates vary, so please check before visiting. During these months it is open 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm. 

You can also purchase a combined ticket for the Swannery and nearby Sub-Tropical gardens, at a discount price.