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 an ...
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 neighbourin ...
, 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, Magn ...
in the 1980s and the first purpose built site was rented from
Runnymede Borough Council
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of Magna Carta, and as a consequence is, with its adjoining hil ...
on a derelict allotment site in Field View,
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, Magn ...
. When the council wanted the land back a new site was needed with more permanent tenure, so a site in
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 an ...
,
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 neighbourin ...
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
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales and in Scotland. It was founded in 1889. It works to promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment throu ...
,
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".
...
, as well as the traditional swan keepers on the Thames the
Worshipful Company of Dyers
The Worshipful Company of Dyers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Dyers' Guild existed in the twelfth century; it received a Royal Charter in 1471. It originated as a trade association for members of the dyeing indus ...
and the
Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the oldest Livery Companies of the City of London
The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside ...
. 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
''Wildlife on One'' was, for nearly three decades, the BBC's flagship natural history programme.
First broadcast in 1977, each edition ran for half an hour. The narrator was Sir David Attenborough. When repeated on BBC2
BBC Two is a Briti ...
'' – 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 hosp ...
'' (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
Noor Al-Hussein ( ar, نور الحسين; born Lisa Najeeb Halaby; August 23, 1951) is an American-born Jordanian philanthropist and activist who is the fourth wife and widow of King Hussein of Jordan. She was Queen of Jordan from their marri ...
*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
Robert Michael James Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury, Baron Gascoyne-Cecil, (born 30 September 1946), is a British Conservative politician. From 1979 to 1987 he represented South Dorset in the House of Commons, and in the 1990s he w ...
*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
Further reading
* ''The Swan'' by
Stephen Moss
Stephen Moss (born in 1960) is an English natural historian, birder, author, and television producer.
Biography
He is best known for producing wildlife series, many of them presented by Bill Oddie, including:
*'' Birding with Bill Oddie'' (t ...
, (Vintage Publishing 2021)
* ''The Swan – A Natural History'' by Malcolm Schuyl, (Merlin Unwin Books 2012)
* ''No Animals Were Harmed'' by
Peter Laufer, (Lyons Press 2012)
* ''The Animal World Encyclopaedia'' Edited by
Andrew Linzey
Andrew Linzey (born 2 February 1952) is an English Anglican priest, theologian, and prominent figure in Christian vegetarianism. He is a member of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oxford, and held the world's first academic post in Eth ...
(Kingsley Media, 2005)
See also
*
Swan
Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometim ...
*
Mute swan
The mute swan (''Cygnus olor'') is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurosiberia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, ho ...
*
Abbotsbury Swannery
*
Swan Upping
Swan upping is an annual ceremony in England in which mute swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, ringed, and then released.
History
By prerogative right, the British Crown enjoys ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open wate ...
*
1991 New Year Honours
*
2015 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 2015 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrati ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Stories regarding swans treated by the Swan Sanctuary.
Swan trapped in substation in CanterburyOil Spill River MedwayRNLI Gosling Rescue PutneyGuardian Article of fear of SwansDot Beeson ObituaryITV - Swans on Railway LinesCygnet Rescued at Surrey QuaysCamden Journal - Crane rescued on Hampstead HeathEagle Radio - Swan rescued from Cobham ServicesCrawley Observer - Cygnet attacked by dogsGet Surrey - Ducklings and Cygnets at the SanctuaryLocal Guardian - Dog Attack BarnesITV News - Swans returned to ReadingDaily Telegraph - Oil Spill in ReadingEast London Advertiser - Cooking Oil SpillEast London Guardian - Fine for Dog AttackGet Surrey - Swan on M25Get Surrey - Guildford GoslingsDaily Mirror - Geese tortured and killed GRAPHIC IMAGESITV - Swan attacked with catapultLove Wapping - Pair rescued after territorial fightDaily Mirror - Puffin RescueWest London News - Swan Lands on Tesco roofBBC Fatal swan attack at Walton on the HillHen Hatched cygnets brought to Swan SanctuaryEast London Guardian - Dog Attack RewardSwans attacked in East SussexLocal Swan Sanctuary rescuer in HampsteadCygnet rescued from Foots Cray meadows Bexley KentSwan 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