An important annual event took place recently which saw dozens of wild swans and signets captured, counted, and health checked. 

Once a year a representative for the king comes to the area and conducts a census of all the swans in Cookham and Bourne End. 

This year the event known as 'Swan Upping' took place on Tuesday July 16. 

Resident of Bourne End Syd Abbott said that part of the upping was conducted this time round in his neighbour's garden. 

"One lot of swans was our local set that come to visit us from the marina every day," he said. 

"Those of us who live on the river know where the swans nest regularly." 

The new signets are ringed, tagged, and given a health check so they can keep an eye on the ones who have just been born.

The annual event runs over three days or so, covering different stretches of the River Thames. 

"Our section is always on the Tuesday," Mr Abbott said. "They start at Cookham bridge at 1.30 pm and they finish at Marlow.

"They check on the swans, see how many signets they have had and check if they are healthy."

All the officials involved with the checks wear different clothing and often the emblem of the crown to signify their role as a representative of the king. 

"We're trying to promote conservation, particularly to school kids," Mr Abbott continued. 

"By shear luck our set of swans happened to be right by our back garden when the event was taking place so the boats came right up to our lawn."

The officials catch the two parents first and then take each one of the signets. They then secure them in a body hold and then wrap them up a bit like a Christmas turkey. 

"These guys know exactly what they're doing," Mr Abbott said. "So they know how to approach the swans and then it's a case of how to you get two adults and seven signets out of the water and on land.

"They need to get them out quickly so there's several boats working at once so the operation runs pretty smoothly."

They then take out an old fashioned weighing device to weigh each swan and they measure them and make sure that there is no net or wire that they have bitten into. 

Once all the health checks are finally done they are released back onto the water.