A New Chapter for Our 2025 Cygnets

There was a bit more action than usual around the lake at Knowle Park this week.

If you were walking past and noticed people watching the water a little more closely than normal, or spotted a kayak gliding across the surface, you were witnessing an important moment in the life cycle of our resident swans.

Last spring, Harry and Sally, our pair of Mute swans, successfully raised two cygnets on the lake. It was a joy to watch. From tiny grey fluffballs paddling behind their parents to confident young birds exploring the water’s edge, they became a familiar sight for many regular visitors.

But nature has a timetable.

By late winter, those young swans should have moved on. As the breeding season approaches, adult swans begin preparing to nest again. The female increases her food intake to build up energy reserves for egg laying and incubation. Both adults become more territorial. What was tolerance in the autumn can quickly turn into hostility by February.

Over the past week, we began to notice signs of that shift. Harry and Sally were showing increasing aggression towards their now fully grown offspring. It’s a natural behaviour, but on a relatively small lake like ours, it can become stressful and potentially dangerous if the younger birds do not leave of their own accord.

Rather than waiting for the situation to escalate, we contacted our trusted partners at Southwater and Horsham Swan Rescue, and Swans & Friends Bird Rescue. We are fortunate to have experienced and knowledgeable rescue organisations willing to step in when needed.

On the day of the relocation, the first cygnet was caught fairly quickly. Even so, it requires patience, gentle handling and the right equipment to ensure minimal stress for the bird. The second cygnet, however, had clearly decided it was not going to make things easy.

After several attempts from the bankside, additional support arrived in the form of a kayak and a specialist swan hook. With careful coordination between the rescue team and our Park Ranger Arif, the second bird was eventually secured safely. Wildlife management is rarely straightforward, especially when water is added to the mix, and that experience truly matters in moments like these.

Both cygnets were taken for an overnight stay with the rescue team, where they received thorough health checks and were ringed for future identification. Ringing allows individual birds to be monitored over time, contributing to a wider understanding of swan movements and survival.

The following day, the two young swans were released at Earlswood Park Lakes in Redhill. This larger body of water provides space, safety and the company of other juvenile and non-breeding adult swans. In a bigger group and a more expansive setting, they will have the opportunity to establish themselves without direct conflict with their parents.

Relocation is never a decision taken lightly. Our approach at Knowle Park is always to let nature take its course where possible. However, we also have a responsibility to ensure that the wildlife within the park is managed sensitively and safely. In this case, early intervention helped to prevent injury and reduce prolonged stress for all four swans.

We are incredibly grateful to Sally, Claire and Danny for their time, skill and dedication. Their calm, professional handling ensured a smooth outcome for the birds and reassurance for those watching from the footpaths.

Now the focus shifts back to Harry and Sally. With their territory to themselves once more, courtship behaviour started the following day! If all goes well, this could be their third successful year raising a brood on our lake.

For visitors, it is another chapter in the park's unfolding story. For us, it is a reminder that even in a well-loved and carefully managed green space, nature follows its own timetable. Sometimes our role is simply to observe. Sometimes it is to step in and help.

We look forward to sharing further updates as the new nesting season begins.