Ducks need your plant donations
WWT Arundel is asking gardeners to donate plants this spring to replace those lost during the winter floods. Heavy rains created minor floods on parts of the reserve, turning areas to mud and drowning plants. The birds of the WWT collection and the wild birds on the reserve use these plants as cover from predators, shelter from the elements and as nesting material. Some plants are themselves a food source for the birds or attract insects for birds to eat.
Sam Halpin, grounds supervisor said: “In the exhibit areas the larger shrubs and plants act as natural divide which lessen the aggression between dominant birds, like our magpie geese.’’
The World Wetlands area was particularly hard hit by high water this winter and there are almost no small plants left. This large exhibit area is home to Argentine red shovelers, Australian wood ducks and Cape shelducks and 20 other species – a total of 244 ducks, geese and swans.
Gardeners getting their yards and ponds ready for spring can donate any low growing willow herb, juniper, bronze flax and sedges to the wetland reserve. The horticulture team also needs clumping or low-growing bamboo, cotoneaster horizontalis, ornamental flowering cherry and thorny Russian olive shrubs.
Sam Halpin, grounds supervisor also said: “We had a great response to our plea for lavender plants last year so we are hopeful that we will be able to replant this exhibit area soon with the generous donations from gardeners who love wildlife.”
If you can spare any plants mentioned here to help the birds and wildfowl at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre call Sam Halpin on 10903 881529 to arrange a time to bring in your plants.
