News Only in Maidstone, the centuries old tradition you won’t find anywhere else in Britain
The Mayor of Maidstone took to the river on Sunday, 5 July to enjoy in a unique Maidstone tradition that is the only of its kind.
Known as Swan Upping, the annual Court of Survey Cruise sees the mayor and members of the court travel along the River Medway to count the swans and cygnets belonging to the Borough of Maidstone.
For more than 400 years, the mayor has held responsibility for the town's mute swans, a privilege granted by King James I in 1619. Today, Maidstone remains the only borough in Britain where ownership of mute swans rests with the Mayor rather than the Crown.
The event brings together the mayor, members of the Hampstead and Yalding Cruising Club, and Maidstone Sea Cadets to travel along the River Medway and count the borough's swans and cygnets. This year, they recorded 12 swans and six cygnets.
This year, councillors from across a range of political parties joined the mayor for the count: Councillor John Perry and his wife Jan, Deputy Leader of the Council Councillor Clive English, Councillor Paul Wilby, Councillor Simon Wales, Councillor Claire Kehily and Councillor Michael Summersgill.
The annual event not only celebrates Maidstone's rich heritage but also provides an opportunity to monitor the health and wellbeing of swans and other wildlife along the River Medway.
Councillor Brian Clark, Mayor of Maidstone, said: "It was a real privilege to take part in this year's Swan Upping and continue a tradition that is such a unique part of Maidstone's history. More than 400 years after the mayor was first granted ownership of the town's swans, the annual event remains a wonderful way to celebrate our heritage and appreciate the natural beauty of the River Medway.
"It was particularly encouraging to see 12 swans and six healthy cygnets. The river is one of Maidstone's greatest assets, and days like this remind us how important it is to protect and cherish the wildlife and green spaces that make our borough so special.”
The tradition was revived in 1975 and has been organised by the Hampstead and Yalding Cruising Club since 1981. Today, it remains an important annual event, connecting Maidstone’s history with its ongoing commitment to protecting the River Medway and the wildlife that depends on it.
The British Trust for Ornithology will now be informed of the results which will be added to the national database for Mute Swans.