Abbotsbury Swannery is located in the quaint village of Abbotsbury, next to The Fleet Lagoon. Here you pass through the world’s largest breeding mute swan colony. Swans fly freely, they can choose to nest anywhere but are attracted to this place. Therefore there are no cages and therefore visiting the zoo is a very different experience. There are more than 600 swans that have been here for over 600 years.
Written records of the existence of the swan farm date back to 1393, but it is believed that the swan farm was created in the 1040s by Benedictine monks who kept the birds. Today, protected birds can live peacefully in this unique natural wildlife habitat. With Chesil Beach on the sea side, the fleet sometimes creates a natural barrier for swans against rough seas.
Visitors can meander along the paths that run through it. ,nesting sites. You can get very close to breeding pairs in late spring and perhaps catch a glimpse of the newborn swans. The swan farm is open to the public from March to the end of October. A great time to visit is between mid-May and late June, when young pigs are found. There is an option to help feed the swans.
Mass feeding is done twice a day at 12 noon and 4 pm. There is a great little cafe serving delicious homemade food to feed yourself. It is fully licensed and available at the entrance before paying for the entry; so walkers passing by are welcome. Nearby are other great attractions including Abbotsbury Children’s Farm and Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens.
