Everyone’s quackers about my collection of rubber duckies!
A MAN who started a “rubber duck sanctuary” during lockdown has told of his shock as hundreds of locals have flocked to visit the evergrowing collection of bath toys.
Mark Wilde started with one Christmas-themed rubber duck that got trapped in the ice in a trough facing his house.
The idea was sparked by Mark’s wife, Stephanie, and her teenage grandson, Elliot, who remembered a giant yellow rubber duck his grandma had at her house.
Elliot bought her a Santa and a reindeer rubber duck at Christmas as a tongue-incheek gift.
Mark put the Santa rubber duck in the trough and it got stuck in ice.
He documented the rubber duck’s “imminent freedom” as the ice melted on a local Facebook group for “a bit of fun” during lockdown.
The response prompted Mark to create his sanctuary and he has been blown away by the interest as hundreds of locals have flocked to visit, each leaving their own rubber ducks.
The most recent “head count” is 141, with varying designs from Elvis, to pink flamingos to sailors.
Mark said: “It was my wife Stephanie who said to pop the Santa duck in the trough, her 18-year-old grandson Elliot remembered when he was small she had a giant yellow duck when she lived in Marsden.
“So for last Christmas he bought her the Santa and reindeer ducks. After we’d met, about 10 years ago, she brought the giant duck here, and we put it in the trough and it was enjoyed by little toddlers for about six months before disappearing.
“The Santa duck got trapped in the ice, and so for a bit of fun during lockdown, I thought I’d post it, and update on its imminent freedom as the ice thawed. The fun feedback and likes I got prompted me to continue the rubber duckie story, as a bit of distraction for children, toddlers, parents and grandparents, from the Covid-19 situation. Simple, fresh air, no batteries required fun and sillyness I suppose. We knew the impact of lockdown could affect people’s mental health, so thought this would help a lot of people feel a bit happier and positive. Who doesn’t like a rubber duckie deep down?”
Mark added: “Every day seems to bring more visitors, a mixture of people walking with children and older people coming in cars to park up and take photos. Only Santa and reindeer were ours, the rest have been people dropping them off, Lamb Hall Road sanctuary have dropped a few off.
“I thought more satellite sanctuaries would have taken off from this, but its difficult finding spring troughs that are in a safe environment.”
Scarbottom Rubber Duck Sanctuary is on public land and can be found just off Britannia Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4QB.
Every day seems to bring more visitors, a
mixture of people walking with children
and older people.