Founded | 1991 |
---|---|
Founder | The Late Dorothy Beeson MBE BEM |
Type | Charity |
Location |
|
Revenue | GBP £214,000 (2018) |
Website | Official website |
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
- Lady Patricia Marina Hobson OBE
- Sir John and Lady Egan
- The Hon. Russell and Marcia Mishcon
- David and Molly Borthwick
Former patrons
- Marchioness of Salisbury
- Sir Ronald Hobson KCVO
- Michael Caine
- Lord and Lady Remnant
Trustees
- Stephen P Knight
- Melanie G Beeson
- Gary Nelson
- Max Grundy
- Howard Smith
Further reading
- The Swan by Stephen Moss, (Vintage Publishing 2021) ISBN 978 1 529110 37 1
- The Swan – A Natural History by Malcolm Schuyl, (Merlin Unwin Books 2012) ISBN 978 1 906122 40 9
- No Animals Were Harmed by Peter Laufer, (Lyons Press 2012) ISBN 978 0 7627 6385 6
- The Animal World Encyclopaedia Edited by Andrew Linzey (Kingsley Media, 2005)
See also
References
- "Sally Goulden MRCVS".
- "BBC Filthy Rotten Scoundrels target Swan Sanctuary".
- "RSPB Advice on Swan Care".
- "Battersea Cats and Dogs home recommend Swan Sanctuary". Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- "Twycross Zoo species advice for Swans".
- "Vintners Support Swan Sanctuary".
- "Budgens Donate Out of Date Food".
- "BBC Human Rehabilitation at Swan Sanctuary". 27 January 2009.
- Hime, Juliet (1991). Debrett's People of Surrey. Debrett’s Peerage Limited. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-870-52006-5. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- "New Year Honours list 2015: Swan Sanctuary founder appointed MBE". 30 December 2014.
- "Princess Alice Hospice founder and saviour of swans honoured".
- "MRCVS Honours 2015".
- "Swan Sanctuary Founder receives MBE". February 2015.
- "The selfless heroes saving the world's animals are finally recognised for dedication".
- "Lifetime Dedication Award for Swan Sanctuary Founder". Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- "Winners of the 2018 Queen's Award for Voluntary Service announced".
- "Network Rail Van for Sanctuary". Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- "In the Shape of Love".
- "The Hobson Charity".
- John Egan (industrialist)
- "The Mishcon Family Charitable Trust".
- "Bennett Lowell Limited".
- Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury
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
- Daily Telegraph Article about battered swans
- 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
- Local Swan Sanctuary rescuer in Hampstead
- Cygnet rescued from Foots Cray meadows Bexley Kent
- Shot swan taken to Swan Sanctuary
- Swan attack in Battersea Park