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 in area of Middlesex, 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 in the 1980s and the first purpose-built site was rented from Runnymede Borough Council on a derelict allotment site in Field View, Egham. When the council wanted the land back a new site was needed with more permanent tenure, so a site in Shepperton, Middlesex 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 and Twycross Zoo, 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 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: The Thames with Tony Robinson (Channel 5) Series 3 Episode 7 Available to stream on My 5 Wildlife on One – Natural Neighbours (BBC 1994) Animal Hospital (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 Sir John and Lady Egan The Hon. Russell and Marcia Mishcon David and Molly Borthwick
Former patrons Marchioness of Salisbury Sir Ronald Hobson KCVO Lady Patricia Marina Hobson OBE Michael Caine Lord and Lady Remnant
Trustees Stephen P Knight Melanie G Beeson Cayley West Max Grundy Howard Smith
Further reading
The Swan by Stephen Moss, (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 (Kingsley Media, 2005)
See also Swan Mute swan Abbotsbury Swannery Swan Upping 1991 New Year Honours 2015 New Year Honours
References
External links Stories regarding swans treated by the Swan Sanctuary. Swan Rescue in Winchester ITV News Avian Influenza with segment from the Swan Sanctuary Cygnet Rescued on Hampstead Heath 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 Independent Happy List 2015 Love Wapping – Pair rescued after territorial fight Daily Mirror – Puffin Rescue West London News – Swan Lands on Tesco roof Evening Standard – Swan hit by car rescued by police BBC Fatal swan attack at Walton on the Hill
Hen Hatched cygnets brought to Swan Sanctuary Evening Standard – Shot Swan Becomes Foster Father East London Guardian – Dog Attack Reward Swans attacked in East Sussex
Cygnet rescued from Foots Cray meadows Bexley Kent Shot swan taken to Swan Sanctuary Swan attack in Battersea Park