Flood defences ruffle ducks' feathers (From Ledbury Reporter)

Fowl range further afield for food at Upton-upon-Severn

10:14am Monday 9th April 2012 in News

FLOOD defence work in Upton has sparked fears over feeding the ducks.

The work has restricted access to the riverside where ducks normally congregate to be fed by visitors.

David Harrison, Malvern Hills district councillor for nearby Kempsey, said he had noticed the ducks were getting a bit more “adventurous” in their “scavenging” because of a lack of food.

He said: “Nobody can see the ducks now as they are up at the far end of the Upton – so my plea is for people to go there, spend some money in the town and then feed the ducks.

“They are now right down between the Swan Hotel and the Ham alongside the river but they used to be gathering outside the King’s Head pub right in the middle.

“They are building the flood defences so the banks out of bounds. I noticed it. They are turning into scavengers as they are not getting fed.”

But Peter Webb, of the Upton Tourism Assocation, said he did not think there was a problem. He said access to the riverside was a temporary issue as heavy machinery was barring the way and is fenced off for safety reasons.

“In the meantime, the ducks can fly,” he said.

“They are probably flying over the flood defences to look for food but they can still get it.”

And group leader of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Worcester Frances Evans said food would not be an issue for ducks at this time of year.

“If they know food is available in certain places then they will go looking for it but people feeding them is secondary to their normal diet,” she said.

“At this time of year, it’s not a problem because things are growing.

“If people are not feeding them, they will still find food elsewhere.”