Working with Hungerford Town Council, we are asking local people to help improve the diet of the town's ducks and swans by feeding them natural treats such as leafy greens, sweetcorn, oats and vegetables.
Feeding the ducks is a popular pastime and research shows that people are happier and healthier just by being next to water. The waterside in Hungerford is great for families wanting to spend some quality time together but solely feeding bread to ducks can be bad for their health. Any leftover bread attracts vermin to the area and having too many birds in one place creates an excess of bird droppings.
Caroline Robson, from the Trust, said: "Our canals are fantastic places to visit and we want people to come and see for themselves how lovely they are. Getting up close to the wildlife on our waterways is one of the simple joys of being on the canal and feeding the ducks is a great family activity.
"Instead of just heading to the town's wharf, take a short waterside stroll and share the love by feeding ducks further along the canal. Also, maybe think about feeding the ducks something healthier. Ducks need a varied diet and feeding them bread is a bit like giving them a pizza everyday which isn't good for their health."
Helen Simpson, Mayor of Hungerford Town Council, said: "Hungerford Wharf is a really popular spot with families visiting the canals however we have noticed that left over bread has been attracting vermin which isn't nice for the people that visit. By making some small adjustments to what we feed the ducks our wildlife not only gets to enjoy a much healthier diet, but we also reduce the problem of having left over bits of bread and food at the wharf area."
