Twenty minutes down the road from where I live, at Llanfairfechan (that’s Welsh for ‘The Little Church of St. Mary’) there are a pair of friendly wild swans who I’ve trained to eat out of my hand. They enjoy celebrity status in the area, and are always well fed and happy. Every year they have a good brood of cygnets, who quickly become as tame as their parents.

Me feeding the baby swans

It’s amazing to see them grow each week.
All the time looked after by mum and dad.

Just a bit more

But even if you live a long way from Llanfairfechan (as most people do!) you can still join in the fun by making your own swan, from an apple!

You can make your own swan just like this!

First take a slice from the base of the apple, this is the only piece you do not need so you can eat it. Or feed it to a swan for modeling! Then make a second slice which you need to keep.

Cut two slices off the base

Now start making the wings by cutting a small ‘v’ shaped wedge from the top.

Cut a series of four “v” sections from the top

Then cut 3 more so there are 4 in total.
Spread them out as shown.

Cut 4 sections

 To do the wings you do the same on each side this time making 3 sections.

Do the same on each side

 Spread the sections out to make the wings.

Spread it out to make the wings

 To make the head and neck, carve this from the second section cut from the base.

The off-cut is now also available to eat.

Cut the shape of the head and neck

 To insert it into the body of the swan, cut a slot in the front. This needs to

be the right width so the neck goes in a tightly.

Cut out a section for the neck

Insert the neck piece, if it is a good fit it will stay in place.

Insert the neck

 Now it’s time to release my creation back into the wild!

and meet the other babies!

Getting to know the other baby swans