New park feeder is best for ducks and protects the environment

The Feed Ducks Initiative is working with South Kesteven District Council to provide the solar powered, contactless, self-contained duck food dispenser.

The new equipment, at Grantham's award-winning Wyndham Park, is in place between the white bridge and the wooden bridge.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Cllr Rhys Baker, said: "We all have great memories of feeding ducks at the ponds with our families and friends. But using the wrong food is bad for the birds.

“Bread doesn’t have the right nutrition for ducks and is like feeding them junk food. Without the right diet, they will not be able to grow or make the right feathers to keep warm.

“Uneaten bird food pollutes our waterways, increases algae growth and can cause a build-up of silt, creating ideal conditions for diseases that threaten biodiversity in our rivers.

“This dispenser will allow residents to keep making those memories while making sure our ducks, birds and wildfowl stay healthy."

Ten per cent of the proceeds from the £1-per-portion feed goes back to the park, in this case the volunteers organised by Wyndham Park Forum.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Paul Stokes, who is also Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "We're pleased to be able to bring this new cash-free facility for visitors to our park, at no cost to SKDC whatsoever.

"It's very robust at almost half a tonne and dispenses food with no packaging, which means less chance of litter in the duck feeding area.

"I'm very much looking forward to seeing people sharing healthy feed with the birds during the better weather ahead as they enjoy all the other facilities our fabulous park has to offer."

A spokesperson for the Feed Ducks initiative said: "On average, we prevent over 3.9 tonnes of waste feed per park from being dumped into the water and left to decay.

"As a result, the phosphate and nitrite levels in the water have declined in duck feeding areas where we provide this facility, reducing these key factors that contribute to blue algae growth.

"There is also a reduction in bread Feeding and overfeeding - and successfully reducing the volume of feed has subsequently reduced vermin populations in duck feeding areas."