The Swan Sanctuary, Shepperton is a wildlife hospital dedicated to the treatment, care and rehabilitation of swans and wildfowl in the UK and is situated close to the village of

Shepperton Shepperton is an urban village in the Borough of Spelthorne, Surrey, approximately south west of central London. Shepperton is equidistant between the towns of Chertsey and Sunbury-on-Thames. The village is mentioned in a document of 959 AD ...

in area of

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbour ...

, England. The Swan Sanctuary is registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as Veterinary Premises No. 7002114 - Sally Goulden, B. Vet. Med., Cert. G.P. (SAM), MRCVS

History

Originally run from the back garden of Dorothy Beeson’s home in

Egham Egham ( ) is a university town in the Borough of Runnymede in Surrey, England, approximately west of central London. First settled in the Bronze Age, the town was under the control of Chertsey Abbey for much of the Middle Ages. In 1215, Magna ...

in the 1980s and the first purpose built site was rented from Runnymede Borough Council on a derelict allotment site in Field View,

. When the council wanted the land back a new site was needed with more permanent tenure, so a site in

was found and the new sanctuary built there in 2005. Despite a major setback when the Sanctuary was targeted by criminal fly tippers major developments were completed in 2010. The Swan Sanctuary is recognised by other notable animal charities as a centre for the treatment of swans such as the RSPB,

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (now known as Battersea) is an animal rescue centre for dogs and cats. Battersea rescues dogs and cats until an owner or a new one can be found. It is one of the UK's oldest and best known animal rescue centres. It w ...

and

Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo is a medium to large zoo near Norton Juxta Twycross, Leicestershire. The zoo has the largest collection of monkeys and apes in the Western World, and in 2006 re-launched itself as "Twycross Zoo – The World Primate Centre". T ...

, as well as the traditional swan keepers on the Thames the Worshipful Company of Dyers and the Worshipful Company of Vintners. Local supermarkets donate their waste food to help the sanctuary feed their patients,

Aims

To provide treatment, care, rehabilitation and, where possible, release back to the wild of all wildfowl species where they are injured or in distress. To provide training for organisations who may find themselves faced with wildfowl casualties in the capture and handling of the birds. Education of groups of all ages in the work done by the Swan Sanctuary.

Achievements

1991 Founder Dorothy Beeson awarded BEM 2000 Lord Erskine award from the

RSPCA The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest a ...

in recognition of the contribution to animal welfare. 2001 Daily Mirror Pride of Britain award for conservation work. 2015 Founder Dorothy Beeson awarded MBE for services to swan rescue and rehabilitation. 2015 Founder Dorothy Beeson awarded International Fund for Animal Welfare ( IFAW) prestigious Animal Action Award 2018 The Swan Sanctuary awarded Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

Funding

The sanctuary receives no government funding and is run entirely on donations from the public and corporate sponsorship.

The Swan Sanctuary on television

The sanctuary has appeared in the following television programmes: *'' Wildlife on One'' – Natural Neighbours (BBC 1994) *''

Animal Hospital ''Animal Hospital'' is a British television show starring Australian singer and TV presenter Rolf Harris that ran on BBC One from 1994 to 2004 and more recently starring Phil Dixon. The series featured animal welfare stories from many RSPCA hos ...

'' (BBC 1994 – 2004) *''Animal 24:7'' (BBC 2006 - 2010) *'' Pet Rescue'' (Channel 4 1997 – 2002) *''Animal Rescue Squad'' (Channel 5 2008) *''In the Shape of Love – The Swan Sanctuary of Surrey'', UK (Supreme Master Television 2011)

Key people

Founder *The late Dorothy Beeson MBE BEM Patrons * Queen Noor of Jordan *Lady Patricia Marina Hobson OBE *Sir John and Lady Egan *The Hon. Russell and Marcia Mishcon *David and Molly Borthwick Former patrons *Marchioness of Salisbury Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury *Sir Ronald Hobson KCVO *

Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...

*Lord and Lady Remnant Trustees *Stephen P Knight *Melanie G Beeson *Gary Nelson *Max Grundy *Howard Smith

References

{{Reflist

External links

Stories regarding swans treated by the Swan Sanctuary.
Swan trapped in substation in Canterbury

Oil Spill River Medway

RNLI Gosling Rescue Putney

Guardian Article of fear of Swans

Dot Beeson Obituary

ITV - Swans on Railway Lines

Cygnet Rescued at Surrey Quays

Camden Journal - Crane rescued on Hampstead Heath

Eagle Radio - Swan rescued from Cobham Services

Crawley Observer - Cygnet attacked by dogs

Get Surrey - Ducklings and Cygnets at the Sanctuary

Local Guardian - Dog Attack Barnes

ITV News - Swans returned to Reading

Daily Telegraph - Oil Spill in Reading

East London Advertiser - Cooking Oil Spill

East London Guardian - Fine for Dog Attack

Get Surrey - Swan on M25

Get Surrey - Guildford Goslings

Daily Mirror - Geese tortured and killed GRAPHIC IMAGES

ITV - Swan attacked with catapult

Love Wapping - Pair rescued after territorial fight

Daily Mirror - Puffin Rescue

West London News - Swan Lands on Tesco roof

BBC Fatal swan attack at Walton on the Hill

Hen Hatched cygnets brought to Swan Sanctuary

East London Guardian - Dog Attack Reward

Swans attacked in East Sussex

Local Swan Sanctuary rescuer in Hampstead

Cygnet rescued from Foots Cray meadows Bexley Kent

Swan attack in Battersea Park
1991 establishments in the United Kingdom Animal charities based in the United Kingdom Animal welfare organisations based in the United Kingdom Wildlife sanctuaries of the United Kingdom Charities based in Surrey Organizations established in 1991