REDBRIDGE: Teenagers attack Swans' nest

10:36am Friday 16th May 2008

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A GANG of callous thugs have smashed the eggs of one of Redbridge's only two breeding swans after reaching its nest on a make-shift raft.

A group of seven teenagers battered the undefended eggs with a plastic oar after floating across a pond to an island where the bird had built its nest, in South Park, Ilford.

The carnage only ended when the youngsters, who built the raft by strapping empty plastic bottles to a wooden pallet, were chased off by a park warden.

Parks Police constable, Ian Cranston, was shocked by the damage the gang caused during the attack, on Monday, May 12.

He said: "I was saddened by what I saw, because these boys had gone to great lengths to make this raft to get over to the nest and smash the eggs.

"I don't know why they did it, or what they got out of it. They must have thought it would be fun.

"When we got there the swan was floating on the pond, obviously disturbed by what had happened.

"It must have done its best to defend the eggs, but it was completely outnumbered."

PC Cranston, who volunteers for the London Swan Sanctuary in his spare time, said officers would do their best to ensure the bird's surviving eggs are protected during the next few weeks.

He said: "This Swan is one of only two nesting females in our parks, so its eggs are particularly precious. Luckily some eggs survived and it's protecting them again.

"We are doing all we can to protect them both."

These views were echoed by John Boylin, head of Redbridge Parks Police, who called on park users to stay away from nesting birds.

He said: "We are sad to have lost some swan eggs, because we only have one other nest in the borough.

"This is a particularly shocking incident, and hopefully a one off, but it's essential that people stay away from birds nests at this time of year."