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Members of the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Companies use traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey up-river
© Press Association

Swan Upping brochure
An illustrated brochure about Swan Upping is available to download, aimed specifically at schoolchildren. Download the Swan Upping brochure.

SWAN UPPING
Swan Upping is the annual census of the swan population on stretches of the Thames in the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

This historic ceremony dates from the twelfth century, when the Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans.

At that time swans were regarded as a delicious dish at banquets and feasts.

Today, the Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen only exercises her ownership on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries.

This ownership is shared with the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Companies, who were granted rights of ownership by the Crown in the fifteenth century. Nowadays, of course, the swans are no longer eaten.
 
In the Swan Upping ceremony, The Queen’s Swan Marker and the Swan Uppers of the Vinters’ and Dyers’ livery companies use six traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey up-river.

The officials wear traditional scarlet uniforms and each boat flies appropriate flags and pennants.

When a brood of cygnets is sighted, a cry of “All up!” is given to signal that the boats should get into position. On passing Windsor Castle, the rowers stand to attention in their boat with oars raised and salute “Her Majesty The Queen, Seigneur of the Swans”.

Swan Upping takes place in the third week of July each year.

This year, it will take place from 14 to 18 July 2008.

The observation points and times are as follows (all times given are approximate):

Monday 14 July 2008
Sunbury 09.00 – Departure point
Shepperton Lock 10.45 Penton Hook Lock 12.30 Romney Lock 17.30

Tuesday 15 July 2008
Eton Bridge 09.00 – Departure point
Boveney Lock 10.15 Boulters Lock 13.00
Marlow Lock 17.30

Wednesday 16 July 2008
Marlow Bridge 09.00 – Departure point
Hurley Lock 10.30 Hambleden Lock 12.00 Henley Town 13.30
Marsh Lock 16.00
Shiplake Lock 17.00
Sonning Bridge 18.00

Thursday 17 July 2008
Sonning-on-Thames 09.00 – Departure point
Caversham Lock 10.30 Mapledurham Lock 12.30 Goring Lock 17.00
Moulsford 18.00

Friday 18 July 2008
Moulsford 09.00 – Departure point
Benson Lock 10.15
Clifton Hampden Bridge 13.00
Culham Lock 16.15 Abingdon Bridge 17.30

The cygnets are weighed and measured to obtain estimates of growth rates and the birds are examined for any sign of injury (commonly caused by fishing hooks and line).

The swans are also given a health check and ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen’s Swan Warden, the Professor of Ornithology at the University of Oxford’s Department of Zoology. The swans are then set free again.

At the completion of Swan Upping each year, The Queen’s Swan Marker produces a report which provides data on the number of swans accounted for, including broods and cygnets.

This important data enables suitable conservation methods to be used to protect the swans.

A serious decline in the swan population in the mid-1980s was halted by the replacement of lead fishing weights with a non-toxic equivalent.

However, growing demands for recreational use of the river by anglers and boat users has resulted in an increasingly hazardous habitat. 

Vandalism and the theft of cygnets also create threats to the swan population.

Apart from Swan Upping, The Queen’s Swan Marker has other duties. He advises organisations throughout the country on swan welfare and incidents involving swans such as vandalism.

He also monitors the health of local swan populations, and briefs fishing and boating organisations on how to work with existing wildlife and maintain existing natural habitat.

He works closely with swan rescue organisations and carries out the rescue of sick and injured swans, and he co-ordinates the temporary removal of swans from stretches of the Thames used for summer rowing regattas.