The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Holbeach family’s lockdown hobby of looking after ducks has now turned in to a full time operation.
Cheryl Potts and her daughters Willow (12) and Rowan Ravenscroft (11) first helped a duck called Waddles their pet cat brought to their Hallgate home last year.
But it’s grown incredibly since then and at the time of writing they are looking after 22 ducklings and two adult ducks.
So far around 60 ducks and birds have been looked after by the family.
It’s gone so well they’ve officially set up Waddles Rescue, named after the initial duck the family taught to fly by running up and down Holbeach Cemetery.
The pond bought for Waddles now sits alongside more permanent homes for the many varieties of feathered friends.
And Cheryl and the family are receiving assistance from the community with donations of food and they’ve been boosted by a cheque for £500 from the charity Chosen and £100 worth of private donations go towards any vet bills, feed, bedding and upkeep of the ducks.
“It’s going really well,” said Cheryl. “I’ve had loads of donations from people of sheds, coops, feed, bedding and cages.
“A huge thank you to everyone who has donated anything to us to help us get started up so that we can do what we do for the ducks, ducklings and birds, all is greatly appreciated.
“We have set ourselves up as a non-profit organisation to start with and will hopefully look to getting registered as a charity as we progress further.
“I wouldn’t say we’re experts as there is always something new to learn, I used to keep chickens and ducks many years ago so I do have knowledge of how to look after them.
“I have also been in touch with other rescues and rehabilitators and gained lots of valuable knowledge and information from them to ensure that we’re always giving the best care to any animal brought into us.
“The children have always loved animals, we have had many pets over the years, and they both enjoy helping out with feeding and looking after them.
“Eventually I would love for Waddles Rescue to expand so we can help many more animals. I may need a house move for that one though.”
To keep people up-to-date with all the birds they’re caring for, the family have set up a Facebook page. The Waddles Rescue page will also have details of how you can donate or buy items from the Amazon Wish List.
Pictures are courtesy of Kayleigh Jones Photography.
