Mother’s Love

(Hop aboard: The mother swan checks on the six 
cygnets tucked beneath her wings) 

This doting mother swan has really taken her babies 
under her wing. Six tiny cygnets could be seen peeking 
from beneath her feathers as she floated on the pond 
at the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens in Devon. 

The swan, who had been swimming with her brood behind 
was forced to play piggyback after the young birds became tired. 

Amazed visitors watched as the swan spread her wings to 
allow the cygnets aboard, before before tucking them back 
protectively to stop them falling off. 

She then continued on her way across the pond, occasionally 
turning her head around to check on her precious cargo. 

Visitor Richard Meston. 32, captured the incredible scene on 
camera. He told how he watched one young birds attempt to 
climb aboard while swimming. 

‘The cygnets had been splashing around in the water, playing 
and swimming around their mum,’ he said. 

‘They looked like they were starting to get tired and one by 
one started to scramble up on their mum’s back. 

‘She didn’t mind at all and even gave them a nudge up. 

‘After they got settled in, she covered them with her wings 
protectively like a cushion and went on her way. 

‘She kept looking back at them to make sure they were still 
there. It was almost as if she was giving them a quick telling 
off to keep them in line. 

‘I could imagine them like kids in the back of the car saying 
“Are we nearly there yet?” and squabbling.’ 

The father-of-three, from Bournemouth, Dorset, added: 
‘My children absolutely loved them, they were enchanted. 

‘I’ve never seen anything like it – it was a very sweet little family.’ 

‘It was really beautiful and everyone around the pond stopped 
what they were doing to watch.