Bedfordshire Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested and charged after he destroyed a swan’s nest on Bedford Embankment on Friday evening (4 June).
The 18-year-old was also charged with assault after punching a witness from Bedford Rowing Club who confronted him.
The nest contained four eggs, all just days away from hatching. All of the eggs were destroyed.
Joanne Gullon of St Bede’s Ford Swannery praised the members of the rowing club who attempted to intervene and also thanked Bedfordshire Police for their quick response.
“Once this swan decided to nest on the steps, laying an egg in a pile of rubbish, we knew she could not be legally moved,” said Joanne.
“From that point, St Bede’s Ford Swannery supplied nesting material so the bird could nest properly, thus speeding up her leaving the area.”
The Swannery had plans in place to remove the swan and her new cygnets to a sanctuary as soon as the eggs had hatched.
“The nest was being watched by thousands of Bedfordians daily, and the destruction of the eggs is sickening to all,” said Joanne.
“We hope that the court will take this matter very seriously as four cygnets have been killed and the mother is suspected of being seriously injured.
“Such brutality toward the symbol of our town is an attack upon all the people of Bedford, who hold the swans deep in their hearts.”
Beds Police confirmed that they were called just before 8pm on Friday evening (4 June) to a report of a man destroying a swan’s nest and assaulting a person in The Embankment, Bedford.
An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault and damaging and destroying the nest of a Schedule 1 wild bird.
