IF YOU believe your folklore then summer is here now the first cygnet has hatched at Abbotsbury Swannery.

The hatching is almost two weeks earlier than usual and, according to the Benedictine monks who founded the site 600 years ago, marks the first day of summer.

More than 1,000 cygnets will hatch over the next six weeks at the site on Chesil Beach.

There are approximately 900 swans and 150 nests at the world’s only managed colony of wild mute swans.

First to hatch yesterday morning was a chick staff have named Sunny.

His parents are Philip and Annabelle, who had been nesting together for five years.

Sadly, Philip died last week.

Head Swanherd Dave Wheeler said: “Annabelle is coping really well without her partner, because she’s such an experienced mother and she looks very happy with her young.”

Mr Wheeler said the cygnets usually hatch in the second or third week in May – this year is the second earliest date ever recorded since the Swannery began.

High temperatures in March encouraged the swans to nest early.

Staff at the Swannery have been extra busy with the early arrivals.

Mr Wheeler said the swans usually mate for life and they are familiar with every couple at the swannery.

He added: “It’s great seeing the same pairs rearing their cygnets.

“Now that one has hatched this usually sets the others off, so there will be loads of little ones on the way soon.

“There are over 100 nests and there are an average of six eggs in each nest so it’s a busy time.”

The swans return to the swannery year after year to nest and raise their young.

Female swans, called pens, start laying eggs from the age of three and can continue until they are 20.

See abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk for more information about the cygnet’s hatching.