Nature groups and swimmers have pleaded with Londoners to respect wildlife after crowds of people desperate to cool down bathed close to nesting swans during the heatwave.
The behaviour of swimmers who flouted the rules to disturb wildlife at Hampstead Heath’s ponds has been condemned as “utterly appalling”.
Social media footage shows bathers ignoring “no swimming” signs to invade the home of newly-hatched cygnets in north London during the heatwave, paddling close to the swans and even allowing their dogs to swim in the water.
Hundreds lined the banks of Hampstead’s wildlife ponds, wading through the water and floating on inflatables, with one swimmer stopped from clambering over a swan nest while coots, moorhens and swans were seen desperately guarding their eggs.
In one video, a swan was seen gently poking an unhatched egg with its beak after it fell into the water during the chaos.
Many locals have reacted with fury and accused the City of London Corporation of not doing enough to protect wildlife.
The chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park committee Gregory Jones said that the recent conduct of some visitors swimming in non-lifeguarded ponds was “utterly appalling”, adding that swimming was only allowed in the Mixed, Ladies' and Men's Ponds for safety reasons.
Mr Jones said: “Entering other non-lifeguarded water bodies is extremely dangerous, against our bylaws, and causes significant harm to wildlife habitats.
“We always seek to engage with visitors first, but the constabulary will take enforcement action where necessary, including issuing fines or making arrests.”
The unseasonably hot weather has coincided with the nesting season for water birds, but many Londoners have been swimming in unauthorised areas with a number of outdoor swimming ponds and lidos quickly getting booked up during the heatwave.
Instagram account Swans of Hampstead Heath said the non-swimming ponds were "increasingly being treated as beach destinations".
It posted: “We are currently in peak nesting season. There are still eggs waiting to hatch, ducklings and chicks only days/weeks old, and for the first time in years, swans have successfully nested on this pond, with cygnets now just 13 days old.
“Restricting these birds to a small section at the back of the pond makes it incredibly difficult for them to access the natural food they need to survive.”
The Standard spoke to swimmers who were queueing to bathe in the designated areas on another sweltering day on Thursday.
One American studying in London said: “It’s terrible. I saw it on social media and its so sad that people feel they have to do that.
“I guess the demand is so high that people are desperate.”
Another student said the the problem is “two-fold” as she “wants people to be cool” but believes it shouldn’t come at the cost of wildlife.
Both students said they had left the queue after losing patience but did not plan on “illegally” swimming in a non-designated pond.
Oliver White lives locally and has noticed the pond getting busier every year.
“Of course it’s disgusting. It’s frustrating for everyone. Frustrating for people who work to preserve the Heath and for people who want to swim.
“Also it’s probably annoying for people who swim where they’re supposed to.”
Swimming at undesignated sites in Hampstead has also been condemned by the Chair of Hampstead and Highgate Angling Society Bob Gibbs.
Mr Gibbs said the behaviour at undesignated swimming sites has been “dreadful” for the past six to seven years, exacerbated by the booking system which was introduced after Covid-19.
He explained: “The news of swimming at undesignated sites in Hampstead Heath has spread like wildfire. This particular pond is tempting because it’s south facing, but people don’t realise they could suffer catastrophic injuries from swimming in it.”
For Mr Gibbs, a seasoned fisherman, several of the association’s projects are ruined by reckless swimmers.He explains that the “peaceful pursuit” of fishing is interrupted because you cannot risk swimmers getting “tangled in lines” or “caught on hooks”.
Aside from swans protecting their eggs, he said swimmers stir up silt at the bottom of ponds which prompts algal bloom.
“It is this which causes ponds to turn into green soup,” he said. He called on the City of London to take a tougher approach of the “desperate situation.”
The heath is patrolled by Hampstead Heath Constabulary, but it was claimed that swimmers were only temporarily cleared from the water by officers with no fines issued, with the same people returning to the pond the moment officers left.
Swans of Hampstead Heath claimed to have written to the City of London last year to explain that the signage to discourage swimmers was “ineffective”, and that by failing to protect these spaces, they were making it increasingly difficult for regular visitors to enjoy one of London’s most important urban wild spaces.
The post said: “People travel from all over London to party in this pond with little regard for its wildlife. The Heath should not have to lose its nature to accommodate people unwilling to respect it.”
The City of London Corporation is in the process of creating a safe haven for nesting birds on Hampstead Heath's Model Boating pond, backed by £50,000 in donations.
The RSPB said it was “a crucial time of year for breeding birds which just want to nest and care for their young in peace”, and urged people to swim in authorised, lifeguarded spaces rather than nature reserves.
It said: “Along with the dangers of swimming in unauthorised places, there is a significant risk of disturbing wildlife. Many species are already under huge pressure and disturbance can make a parent abandon their nest, putting eggs and chicks at risk.
“Everyone has a part to play in protecting nature so we’d urge people to be responsible and give birds and other wildlife plenty of space when outdoors this summer.”
The unprecedented spring heat has sent thousands flocking to beaches, lakes and rivers across the country, but emergency services have been stretched by a string of fatal incidents involving children and teenagers getting into difficulty in open water.
.png?w=600)
