Villagers’ delight as cygnets hatch
Monday 4th May 2009, 11:05AM BST.
A new family has arrived at one of Shropshire’s most historic homes, much to the delight of visitors and villagers.
A number of cygnets have hatched to a pair of swans who have made their home at Whittington Castle moat.
The swans, affectionately known by villagers as Bill and Betty, had a total of nine eggs in their nest this year.
At least five of the eggs have already hatched, villagers said today, amid hopes all nine will hatch and survive.
Villager Jean Hayward, who has been recording the number of cygnets on the moat for more than 10 years, said the hatching of the eggs had become an annual event which the whole village looked forward to.
She said: “Last year there were seven eggs and most survived while this year there is nine and hopefully they will do well.
“They always seem to hatch around about the May Bank Holiday and a lot of people come to see them.
“They have lived here for more than 10 years and have become quite well known.”
Mrs Hayward said it was likely the RSPCA would be called in during the autumn to remove the young swans from the moat for safety reasons.
She said: “The young swans often walk on the road and that can cause problems for traffic.
“When they are learning to fly sometimes they fly into overhead lines and they can injure themselves so it is best that they are taken away.”
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