Residents complain of a swan invasion in east London

Our very own swan lake! Residents complain their local park in east London has been overrun by ‘near industrial quantities’ of the birds

• Dozens of swans are living on Jubilee Pond in Wanstead Flats in Epping Forest 
• The size of the group of birds has been growing larger during the summer 
• Visitors claim anyone who tries to eat near the pond is surrounded by swans 
• One man said the lack of breeding birds in the summer encourages the swans 

As the graceful white birds glide across the pond, some are calling it east London’s very own Swan Lake.

But others fear the influx of swans is messing up their local park due to the ‘near industrial quantities’ of food flung their way by nature lovers in the urban idyll. 

One visitor to Jubilee Pond on Wanstead Flats, a site of special scientific interest in Epping Forest, suggested the birds are too demanding, saying: ‘They literally surround anyone who has food.’

Almost 40 swans have moved into Jubilee Pond on Wanstead Flats in Epping Forest, pictured

Tim Harris, who writes GCSE science books said an abundance of food and recent renovation of the lake has led to the growth in its popularity among swans, pictured

Tim Harris, who writes GCSE science books, said: ‘My feeling is that this is an area that doesn’t have breeding birds on it in the summer, so the swans have come to see it as a safe haven.’ 

He believes the pond’s renovation has increased its popularity, and that the abundance of food has attracted the birds.

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