Water difference for ducks
Ducks can look forward to a newly renovated swimming pool at an Ayr park.
The Rozelle duck pond has been completely emptied of water as part of efforts to spruce up their home.
It will be refilled by the end of March in time for our feathered friends’ breeding season.
Mum Diane Smith and her six- year- old son were shocked to see the beautiful pond empty and sodden with mud this week.
Teacher Diane, 36, said: “I’m glad the council are improving the environment for the birds here as it is such a beautiful park. Dylan loves coming along to see the ducks. We are so lucky to have such a wildlife haven in the middle of the town. It is such a wonderful picturesque setting for families.”
Herons and mallards are just some of the inhabitants of the watery attraction. Visitors flock to the site to enjoy the park life and feed the colourful fowl.
Park managers at South Ayrshire Council ordered the draining to better the water quality and clear the pond.
Councillor Bill Grant said: “It is about improving the habitat of the pond. They want to refresh the environment. This will benefit all of the wildlife in the pond. Workers have also been pruning trees and clearing the area.”
Rozelle is a magnet for twitchers who wait for hours to capture shots of unusual birds.
The Nuthatch, which can march down trees headfirst, has made Rozelle its home.
Mike Newall, South Ayrshire Council’s head of neighbourhood services, said: “Work to transform this area of the park started back in December, with an intensive period of pruning revealing the duck pond to the public for the first time in several years.
“We’ve now drained the upper section and are currently clearing the area of rotten and excessive vegetation, before refilling the pond, ahead of the start of the breeding bird season.
“This will be completed by the end of March, with a period of replanting in cleared areas to follow, paving the way for the pond to come back into full use in the years ahead.”