Big yellow duck named for little yellow duck fan
We name our new ducky mascot to highlight organ donors project
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre asked spring visitors to help name their new six foot tall, bright yellow inflatable duck. Archie, Quackers, Dizzee, Cuddles and Mr Aaron Dell were some of the names suggested by young visitors who posed with the big bird for Facebook ‘selfies’ during the Easter holidays. May half term is Downy Duckling Days at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre and it’s the perfect time to reveal that the name chosen for the wetland’s biggest ducky is - Clare.
Teddy Harris visited Arundel Wetland Centre with his mother Emma and asked that we name our giant yellow ducky Clare, after his godmother Clare Cruickshank. Clare was born with the genetic lung disease, cystic fibrosis. Clare adored yellow ducks and had an entire collection of everything yellow-duck related. By the age of 24, her lungs were so damaged that a transplant was her only hope of survival. Sadly a matching donor was never found and despite a long fight, she passed away on April 15th 2013 aged 26. Emma Harris set up The Little Yellow Duck Project in Clare’s memory. Project volunteers knit little yellow ducks and leave them in public spaces for people to find and take. Each of these little random acts of ducky kindness comes with a tag attached that mentions the need for donors and explains the project. Ducky adopters can log their finds on a world map on the project website http://thelittleyellowduckproject.org
Emma Harris said: “I set up The Little Yellow Duck Project to raise awareness of the need for more organ, blood and bone marrow donors. So far 3,646 ducks have been found with notes, raising awareness of the need for donors in 67 different countries.”
Pat Warren of WWT Arundel Wetland Centre said “We loved Teddy’s suggestion to name the duck after his godmother Clare. We think Clare, with her love of little yellow ducks, would have really appreciated her giant namesake.”
Visitors will be able to see giant yellow ducky Clare along with lots of little wild ducklings, goslings and cygnets at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre during Downy Duckling Days this May half term from May 23-31. The nature reserve has pond dipping, storytelling and craft sessions each day with free boat safaris running between 11am and 4:30pm. Grain can be purchased to hand feed the birds.
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is fully accessible, has comfortable hides, buggy and wheelchair friendly pathways, a fully stocked cafe and gift shop and disabled and parent & baby facilities. The centre is located at Mill Road, Arundel BN18 9PB and open from 9:30-5:30 seven days a week.
