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Festive swan feed attracts crowd

Swan Food Project Two women look at the camera among a crowd of people standing along a railing by the river. One of the women has white hair and is wearing a blue Swan Food Project tabard and a string of white tinsel round her neck. The other has long blonde hair, and is wearing a cream coat and mayoral chain. Swan Food Project
Marilyn McCarthy from the Swan Food Project welcomed Worcester's mayor Mel Allcott

Dozens of people have gathered to feed Worcester's swans at community events over the festive period, with a third planned for New Year's Day.

The city's Swan Food Project works year-round to support the birds in their habitat on the River Severn, and educate people about caring for them.

Those gathering at the festive feeding sessions are given suitable food for the birds, attracting a crowd of swans to the city's South Quay.

Chair and co-ordinator Marilyn McCarthy said the festive gatherings were "a thank you for the support that's been given during the year".

Sunday's event was the second of the season with better weather than the first on Boxing Day, which took place in fog.

"We've been too busy handing out food and talking to people to actually stand and count them.

"It's been well-supported - some people see it as part of their Christmas walk," said Ms McCarthy.

Swan Food Project A woman with blonde hair, wearing a cream coat and mayoral chain, stands at a metal railing along the river as she grabs a handful of feed pellets from a plastic tub. Several other people are visible behind her, with dozens of swans gathering nearby in the river.Swan Food Project
Worcester's mayor Mel Allcott joined the crowd - of humans and swans - at Sunday's event

As well as the community feeding events, the project provides advice for people wanting to feed swans at other times, including leftover vegetables from Christmas.

"You do want them to go looking for what food there is available. They do forage for food but obviously there is much less in the winter.

"Nobody wants to see desperately hungry swans in the middle of our city," Ms McCarthy added.

"We're not trying to make pets of them. You're trying to just support them so they can live their wild lives."

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