Live Roundups Editor's Desk Insights Executive Ops Weather About 🔍
Home › Environment › Swimmers urged to keep out of Hampstead Heath pond to...
Environment

Swimmers urged to keep out of Hampstead Heath pond to protect nesting swans

The Guardian UK Wednesday 27 May 2026, 15:36 UTC By Helena Horton 1 min read
Key Points

Nature groups have urged the public to stay out of the Hampstead Heath pond to protect nesting swans and their cygnets. The wildlife was disturbed by numerous swimmers in the park on Monday as temperatures reached a record 35C. This disturbance included a swan poking an unhatched egg after it fell into the water.

Nature groups say cygnets and their parents need to be left alone by people trying to stay cool in heatwave

Nature groups have pleaded with swimmers to give wildlife a wide berth after dozens of people swam in a nature pond on Hampstead Heath among nests of baby birds.

Swans and their 12-day-old cygnets were disturbed by hordes of splashing revellers in the north London park on Monday as London reached record 35C temperatures. In one video, a swan was seen poking an unhatched egg with its beak after it fell into the water during the chaos.

Continue reading...
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

Related Stories

Deepest and most extensive whale graveyard discovered in Indian Ocean

Some remains found in Diamantina fracture zone date back more than 5m years and reveal species and ecosystems unknown to scienceThe oldest, deepest and most extensive whale graveyard yet discovered has been found in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, with fossils dating back more than 5m years. Whale falls – the term for dead whales that sink to the ocean floor – are not uncommon, but most have been found at depths of less than 4km (2.5 miles). By contrast, the newly discovered necropolis...

The Guardian UK 1h ago

Deepest and most extensive whale graveyard discovered in Indian Ocean

Some remains found in Diamantina fracture zone date back more than 5m years and reveal species and ecosystems unknown to scienceThe oldest, deepest and most extensive whale graveyard yet discovered has been found in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, with fossils dating back more than 5m years. Whale falls – the term for dead whales that sink to the ocean floor – are not uncommon, but most have been found at depths of less than 4km (2.5 miles). By contrast, the newly discovered necropolis...

The Guardian Environment 1h ago

[Written Question] Carbon Emissions: Consumer Goods

Question by: James McMurdock Answering Body: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of imported embodied emissions on the competitiveness of UK industry.

UK Parliament Written Questions 1h ago

[Written Question] Water: Conservation

Question by: Bob Blackman Answering Body: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to introduce mandatory water efficiency requirements for (a) data centres and (b) other large non-household users.

UK Parliament Written Questions 1h ago