Our Hospital 

​Our dedicated swan hospital is based at the Skylark Nature Reserve in the village of Barlow, near Selby, North Yorkshire. Our previous base from 2005 until 2009 was at Brandsby, near York.

Facilities at our sanctuary include a dedicated swan hospital, a separate wildlife hospital, intensive care facilities, isolation pens for sick animals, washing facilities for birds contaminated with fuel or oil, outdoor rehabilitation pens with water pools, soft release aviaries, a classroom for educational visits from schools and community groups, as well as a tea room for our dedicated volunteers and helpers!

As our sanctuary base is also a well protected local Nature Reserve, the animals here therefore enjoy an environment similar to those they would naturally find themselves in the wild, aiding their recovery The Nature Reserve is home to more than 100 species of different wild animals, which also makes for an ideal place to release back to the wild any suitable casualties once nursed and recovered back to full health.

We are especially grateful to receive kind support from Drax Power, who have so generously donated us the use of this land from which we have operated our dedicated hospital facilities since 2009, allowing us to successfully treat thousands of animals each year.

Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital is a proud associate member of the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

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Rehabilitation Pens

Our outdoor pens provide our swans casualties with near-natural surroundings, as well as water pools for bathing and preening, and encourages natural behaviour and acclimatisation ahead of release.

Veterinary Support

We are proud to boast the support of some of the best and most respected Veterinary Surgeons in the Country. Vets from the International Zoo Veterinary Group give up their time free of charge to support our valuable work, for which we remain extremely grateful.

Swan Hospital

Our dedicated swan hospital houses sick and injured swans. The animals housed in this hospital are often recovering from surgery procedures provided by our vets, or are receiving further or ongoing treatment.

Wildlife Hospital

Our wildlife hospital is for sick, injured or orphan wild birds and mammals. It is here we provide veterinary cages, intensive care incubators and emergency first aid to casualties upon first arrival at our sanctuary.

Intensive Care

Our intensive care pens are for swans which require particular support and care, with additional heat provided 24 hours a day, and isolation if so required.

Oil Response

We have created an oil response room, for swans coated in oil or fuel contamination. The birds are washed and processed in this area, before being introduced to the other stages of their rehabilitation back to the wild over time.