SWAN THE MOVE WITH NETWORK RAIL

Monday 7 Aug 2006

SWAN THE MOVE WITH NETWORK RAIL

Region & Route:: | Southern

A brand new Ford Transit van is winging its way to the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton, thanks to an egg-citing deal it has struck with Network Rail. The new vehicle will be used by the sanctuary as an ambulance for swans and other water fowl. Since it opened in 1980, the Swan Sanctuary has built up an international reputation for its dedication to the care and treatment of wild birds and it is the largest and only completely self-contained swan hospital in the UK. Each year around 4,000 swans along with thousands of other animals are given some form of help – from bank side treatment to hospitalisation, often involving major surgery. The sanctuary offers facilities including a fully equipped operating theatre, an X-ray room, an intensive care ward, several nursing ponds and a 4 acre rehabilitation lake. Network Rail’s weather strategy manager Tony Jackson, who led the project to donate the van said, "Swans can be a problem for us when they decide to sit or walk on the tracks, causing delays and disruption for rail passengers. Dot and Steve at the Sanctuary have trained our staff in dealing with swans, helping Network Rail to safely remove them from the line and keep train services on the move. We’re grateful for their help with this, and we’re pleased to be able to give something back with this new paramedic vehicle.” Dot Beeson BEM, who manages the Swan Sanctuary, said: “We’re often called to help birds throughout the UK and Ireland so the new vehicle is a welcome addition to the team. The vehicle is much better than anything we’ve had before, and as a charity, we’re very grateful to Network Rail for its support.”

Notes to editors

Network Rail's Tony Jackson handed over the keys to Dot Beeson BEM, founder of the Swan Sanctuary. In the last 3 years, Network Rail has recorded at least 50 incidents involving swans on the tracks in its Wessex route area alone. This has resulted in an estimated 80,000 minutes of delays. The Wessex route covers South West London, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset and Hampshire. The Swan Sanctuary relocated to larger premises in Shepperton in 2005 and hopes to open to the public next year. www.swanuk.org.uk

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