Wildlife
Swans
The Brayford Pool has long been a favourite place for mute swans. They breed upstream on the River Witham, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but are attracted down to the Brayford Pool area by food provided by passers-by. The number of swans usually peaks in the autumn and can be anything up to 130 birds.
Mute swans are one of the UK's largest birds and they can grow up to about 1.5m high. Although by definition the mute swans are usually silent, they do make a loud hissing noise when they are angry and young swans make a high pitched whistling noise.
Birds, insects & fish
Birds you might see around the Brayford include the pied wagtail, kingfishers, mallards, moorhens, coots and herons. There are at least five different types of dragonfly, whilst the fish in the Brayford include roach, common bream, tench and pike.
Plant Life
Plants that can be found along River Witham include common species such as reed sweet grass, branched bur-reed and red mace, the much rarer arrowhead and flowering rush along with great water dock, skull cap and wild celery. A common tree along the river bank is the Alder.
