Thames Swan Upping reports healthy cygnets amid rising litter

Traditional skiffs moved smoothly along the River Thames on Saturday as part of the annual Swan Upping ceremony, a centuries‑old event that sees officials and volunteers count and weigh the swan cygnets born each spring. The coordinated effort, overseen by the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Environment Agency, recorded a rise in the number of healthy cygnets compared with the previous year, indicating a positive trend for the iconic bird population that has long been a symbol of the river.

While the tally was welcomed, officials used the occasion to highlight an escalating concern: the increasing volume of litter and debris accumulating in the Thames. Representatives warned that plastic waste and other pollutants threaten the swans’ habitat and could undermine the gains made in recent years. The ceremony concluded with a call for continued public vigilance and river‑clean‑up initiatives to safeguard the health of both the wildlife and the waterway.