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Canal charity calls on
Merseysiders to feed the ducks responsibly
EVERY year 6 million loaves of bread
are being thrown into canals and rivers in England and Wales; potentially
polluting the water and damaging hundreds of thousands of ducks' homes.
Last year 74% of people in Merseyside fed the ducks, 80% of them admitting to
feeding our feathered friends with bread.
Uneaten soggy bread can cause a build up of bad nutrients which can lead to
greater algae growth, spread disease and encourage pests such as rats.
This week, ahead of the official start of spring and duckling hatching season, the
Canal and River Trust is calling on people across Merseyside to make a few simple
changes to how they feed the ducks.
Becki Anderson, senior ecologist for the Canal and River Trust, said:-
"Please come and feed the ducks but do it sensibly so your children and future
generations can enjoy it too. The charity is asking the public to make a few
simple changes. Bread's not great for a duck's health as it's nothing like their
natural diet so don't over feed them with large quantities of it. Try to vary
what you give them and swap it for healthier more natural treats like oats, corn
or defrosted frozen peas. And exercise portion control!
Don't follow the crowds, spread the love, and visit a new family of ducks to
prevent large quantities of the starchy duck 'junk food'
from clogging up the same places and potentially damaging the environment."
The charity provides an important home to hundreds of thousands of ducks and
other waterfowl and takes its responsibility of keeping their homes safe very
seriously.
Throwing bread into a canal or river can create overcrowding of bird
populations, as the birds will flock to the same location in search of their
starchy treat.
Too many ducks or waterfowl in one place can stress the birds and lead to their
habitats being damaged. It also creates excessive amounts of bird poo which
along with being smelly and slippery underfoot, can have a negative effect on
water quality and create harmful algae which can clog the waterway.
A public poll, carried out on behalf of the charity, found more than 15 million
people fed the ducks with their family or friends last year, 12 million of them
admitting to feeding our feathered friends with bread.
Londoners were the least likely to take a trip out to feed the ducks with 60%
admitting to never feeding our feathered friends. The survey also found more
women (80%) feed the ducks than men (68%), and northerners feed the ducks more
often than southerners (78% v 69%).
The charity has created a free booklet packed with tips on the right food to
feed the ducks which includes lots of activities for children. To receive this,
along with your free Quack Snack pouch to store your healthy duck treats, text
DUCKS to 70060.
For more information on the campaign visit click on
here.
Can you help find the Ozgur Altuntas next of
kin? THE Liverpool Corner's
Office are appealing to the public for help in finding the family of a Turkish
man who was found dead in his Clubmoor home this week. Ozgur Altuntas was found
in his house in Worcester Drive on Tuesday, 17 March 2015. He was 35 years old
old and there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. It is not
known exactly where Mr Altuntas was born or where he might have surviving
family. Anyone able to offer any further information is to contact the Coroner's
officer Clair Crilly on:- 0151 225 5064 or email then via:-
Coroner@Liverpool.Gov.UK.
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Freedom of the City for St
Paul's Eye Unit
LIVERPOOL'S St. Paul's Eye Unit, based
in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, has been awarded the:- 'Freedom of the
City
of Liverpool', at a special ceremony that took place on Wednesday, 18 March 2015.
Representatives from the Eye Unit where formally
presented with the:- 'Freedom Scroll' at Liverpool Town Hall, in the company of
guests including staff and former patients who have benefited from the knowledge
and skills of those working at the unit.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Erica Kemp CBE said:- "St. Paul's
forms an important part of the fabric of our City's health heritage.
It's consistent, long standing reputation for world class excellence in both
care and research deserves to be promoted and recognised. I am delighted that
St. Paul's has been awarded Freedom of the City status."
The ceremony was the highlight of a programme of events St. Paul's Eye Unit that
has been
running throughout the week, to mark the centre's awarding of the:- 'Freedom of the
City'. The event included:- "Eyes Revealed" that was a special exhibition where members of the public
where able to experience a
wide range of interactive demonstrations designed to showcase the workings of
the eye and exciting new treatments.
St. Paul's Eye Unit's origins date back to 1871. In 1992 it moved from Old Hall
Street to its new site within the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Now St.
Paul's provides a world renowned ophthalmic service. It has strong links with
the Department of Eye and Vision Science at the University of Liverpool and is
regarded globally as a centre of excellence for care, research and education.
Over 100,000 patients visit St. Paul's Eye Unit each year.
Professor Simon Harding, Chair Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, St. Paul's
Eye Unit said:- "We are thrilled with this recognition which is testament
to the dedication and talent of our staff today and all those who have supported
and worked with St. Paul's over the past 100 years. It is a highly prestigious
accolade and one we are extremely proud to receive."
Former Lord Mayor of Liverpool and Alderman of the City, Roger Johnston
nominated St. Paul's for the award and will be speaking at the ceremony and at
an Extraordinary Council Meeting held in January 2014, and a unanimous 'yes'
vote was secured.
As a Type 2 diabetic, Mr Johnston has experienced St. Paul's pioneering
treatment himself. He was invited to attend a routine eye screening three years
ago held in his local GP surgery organised with the help of St. Paul's. Shortly
before retiring from his role as a long serving Liverpool City Councillor he
discovered that the test results diagnosed diabetic retinopathy - a condition
involving damage to the retina which leads to blindness if left untreated. Mr
Johnston was advised that if nothing was done he would lose his sight within 18
months. Amongst a range of options, he was invited to participate in a clinical
trial at the Clinical Eye Research Centre. A course of injections was
administered over the next year and a half to stabilise his diabetic maculaopthy
and allow subsequent successful removal of cataracts from both eyes.
"The result was nothing short of amazing. After the operation I remember watching the squirrels running about on Woolton
Golf Course from my window and noticing just how vivid the colour of their fur
was. I was also delighted to be able to spot different bird species and identify
between a robin and a green finch which I couldn't do before. Everything seemed
so much brighter, more vibrant and clearer. Previously I hadn't had the
confidence to drive at night but, now that I had my sight restored, my quality
of life had been completely transformed. The only downside of my new found sharp
vision was that I ended up paying a big bill for re decorating the entire house
once I could see just how much needed doing!
The staff at St. Paul's were incredible and I really felt that I received 5 star
treatment from world class professionals. If I hadn't attended the screening
appointment and benefited from the clinical trial I would now be blind and not a
day goes by when I don't appreciate the quality of care and treatment I was
given. They thoroughly deserve to be awarded Freedom of the City." says Mr Johnston. |
