Five cygnets born at wetland centre

A pair of injured whooper swans has hatched a brood of five cygnets at WWT Welney Wetland Centre.

The swans, which first bred on the reserve in 2011, are unable to return to their natural breeding grounds in Iceland due to wing injuries.

Every winter thousands of these birds fly south from Iceland to escape the freezing temperatures.

The only ones left in this country during summer, however, are those physically unable to make the journey back to Iceland.

Wetland birds face many threats throughout their lifetime including collisions with overhead cables.

WWT and UK Power Networks have a long-term partnership to increase the visibility of these wires and therefore reduce the chances of birds flying into them.

These particular whooper swans have now raised a total of six cygnets. Samantha Herbert