SWANS are nesting for the third year in a row at the Basins and Wellington councillor Bob Bowrah has been doing his best to give them a fighting chance of hatching young.

He has put up notices and blocked paths to stop people and dogs going near the swans. He says most people have been sensible but he and others have noticed groups of youngsters going as close as possible to the nest site and has seen dogs in the water – although the male swan soon attacks them.

Mr Bowrah is urging people to steer well clear of the nest and says it would be great to have sygnets on the Basins for the first time. 

He said a dog killed the last white duck recently but the dog’s owner was unconcerned and walked off towards Rockwell Green. Two youngsters who were fishing saw the event and were both very upset.

Any dog owner whose pet likes to enter the water is urged to keep the dog on a lead until well past the nesting site.