The first cygnets of the year at Abbotsbury Swannery have arrived - but it was a race against time.

Despite floods and high winds, the first fluffy cygnet hatched safely from the eggs in nest no 2, heralding the coming of summer.

It was all hands on deck for Swannery staff just days beforehand, as exceptionally high spring tides threatened to flood the nesting area where the swan pairs have been tending their eggs.

To avoid disaster, the team had to move quickly to raise and reinforce the most vulnerable nests before they were overwhelmed.

Swanherd Steve Groves said: "We had to move fast to lift the eggs, add extra bundles of nesting material and put stakes round about 15 of the lowest and more exposed nests, but thankfully, all survived.

"It's always a special sight hatch and it will be so nice to welcome visitors back to the Swannery this year for the hatching season and to watch the youngsters growing up over the summer.

"It seemed so sad that we were the only ones to witness this wonderful spectacle last year."

There are more than 80 nests at Abbotsbury Swannery this year and hundreds of cygnets expected over the coming weeks.

The Swannery is the only place in the world where visitors can walk through a colony of mute swans and enjoy the cygnets grow throughout the season.

The hatching continues during May and June and it's great fun to watch the youngsters take to the water for the first time, and from July until October, they develop into teenagers. In September they will be making their first attempts to fly.

Abbotsbury Swannery is open every day from 10am to 5pm and advance booking is essential.

For more information, visit abbotsburyswannery.co.uk

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