swan upping facts
Ten quirky facts about the annual swan-upping census
It’s swan-upping week! Dating back to medieval times, the census of the UK’s population of mute swans is performed by the Queen’s Swan Warden and their team. For a week the swan-uppers, resplendent in bright scarlet jackets, travel down a stretch of the Thames in traditional boats, recording the number and health of new cygnets. Here's an insight into the history of this seasonal ritual.
