Enjoying ducks and protecting ponds: Horsham Town has two new family-friendly Wildways Trails thanks to Horsham Green Spaces, and these are a wonderful way to explore nature, with both routes beginning and ending at picturesque ponds. Ponds are often home to ducks, and we are fortunate to have a newly restored, wildlife-friendly pond in Horsham Park, where swans and ducks are frequent visitors. Trail Two leads to the pond at Cootes Farm, where ducks and swans are often found.
For generations, feeding bread to ducks has been a traditional family activity, but with so much highly processed bread, it can pose problems for our local ponds. In areas where there are more people than ducks, it’s essential to educate families about the importance of caring for their natural wildlife areas. Uneaten bread can lead to harmful algae blooms, which choke the pond and make life difficult for fish, frogs, newts, and other wildlife. Additionally, leftover bread can attract unwanted pests like rats or foxes.
Why Bread is a No-Go – While feeding bread to ducks might seem harmless, it’s not a good choice. Bread, especially processed sliced white bread, offers little nutritional value and can cause ducks to bloat and even develop malnutrition. Instead, consider offering ducks healthier alternatives like wheat seeds, oat seeds, peas, corn off the cob (fresh or frozen), or specialized duck feed available at pet or farm supply stores. If you’re walking Trail Two, the family friendly, dog friendly Coot Café by the pond is open Wed-Sat 9am-2pm and Sundays 12-2pm. They currently offer small bags of duck food that children can throw onto the water, where it will float, allowing the ducks to feed naturally.
Some Eco-Friendly Tips for Pond Care
- Support Local Ecosystems Encourage the growth of natural vegetation around garden ponds. Native plants provide essential food and shelter for ducks and support a wide range of other wildlife.
- Engage in Community Conservation Support or join local conservation groups that work to protect wetlands and waterfowl habitats. Participating in clean-up events or habitat restoration projects is a great way to contribute.
- Promote Natural Foraging Rather than regularly feeding ducks, focus on creating an environment where they can thrive naturally. Clean water and minimal human interference help ducks rely on their natural food sources.
- Choose Sustainable Feed Opt for organic, locally sourced feed. Some bird food is imported from as far away as China; choosing local and organic helps support farmers and cuts down on transport carbon emissions.
- Respect Wildlife Habitats Avoid disturbing nesting sites and keep a respectful distance, particularly during the breeding season. This helps reduce stress on the birds.
- Keep Dogs Under Control During summer, birds are breeding, and ground-nesting birds are especially vulnerable. Keep your dog away from possible nest sites.
Do enjoy walking the Wildways Trails, spotting the knitted creatures along the way and enjoy feeding the ducks at the beginning or end. Happy duck watching!
By Morag Warrack
