Ministers urge City of London to act over swimmers in Hampstead Heath wildlife ponds
Ministers have urged the City of London to take action against swimmers disturbing wildlife in Hampstead Heath's protected ponds. The disturbance has raised concerns after videos showed swans and their cygnets being disrupted by revelers. Conservationists and nature charities have criticized the behavior, emphasizing the need to protect nesting birds during this critical time.
- ▪Ministers have written to the City of London regarding disturbances to wildlife caused by swimmers.
- ▪Videos of the chaos showed swans and their young being disturbed, prompting public outcry.
- ▪The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects the nests and eggs of wild birds, making such disturbances illegal.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/30/ministers-urge-city-of-london-to-act-over-swimmers-in-hampstead-heath-wildlife-ponds |
| Publication time | Sat, 30 May 2026 09:00:16 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-30T09:12:09.024Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-30T09:12:09.024Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Swans and their 12-day-old cygnets were disturbed by hordes of splashing revellers in the north London park on Monday. Photograph: pixel8000 ltd/gavin rodgers/pixel8000View image in fullscreenSwans and their 12-day-old cygnets were disturbed by hordes of splashing revellers in the north London park on Monday. Photograph: pixel8000 ltd/gavin rodgers/pixel8000WildlifeMinisters urge City of London to act over swimmers in Hampstead Heath wildlife pondsExclusive: Local authority asked what steps it is taking after hordes of splashing revellers seen disturbing nesting birdsHelena HortonSat 30 May 2026 05.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 30 May 2026 05.02 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleMinisters have written to the City of London demanding it stop people from swimming in a protected pond on…
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