The River Loddon in Hampshire, England, has long been the source of local folklore, particularly a legend that dates back to the 14th century. One of the most well-known local tales is that of the Swan Maiden. The story goes that a beautiful swan maiden was once captured by a local Lord in the surrounding woods of the river. He discovered her bathing and seized her shimmering robe of feathers, trapping her in human form. Unable to return to her avian guise without her feather dress, she was compelled to marry him. Together, they bore several children. Despite a seeming idyllic familial life, the maiden was left longing for the freedom she once enjoyed as a swan, always casting despairing glances towards the river. One day, the youngest child discovered the feather dress the father had carefully hidden and brought it to his mother. Once she received her robe, she turned into a swan and flew away, never to be seen again. However, it is said her ethereal voice still can be heard along the river Loddon, around the dusk, singing a mournful song. This tale has become an integral part of the area’s identity. Some people still claim that the Loddon swans are unusually placid and friendly towards humans, perhaps watching for the return of their lost sister. This legend serves as a poignant reminder of the untamed spirit of nature that refuses to be bound, embodied in the form of the Swan Maiden of the Loddon River.