The mother duck that nests in the yew hedge at Norton Conyers every year decided to show off her latest brood yesterday, it was a lovely sight to see her parade her four ducklings up and down the main border, until Shandy got wind of possible easy pickings that is. Making a dash for them she succeeded in scattering them far and wide before Giles managed to restrain her, he then opened the bottom gate so they could escape the garden and once she had regained her equilibrium mother duck quickly exited with her brood in tow. Unfortunately in all the commotion one little chap got left behind, it was pitiful to listen to him peep, peep, peep for his mother, so Giles picked him up and strode across the estate searching under each likely tree looking for his lost family. Eventually though he had to admit defeat and brought the poor little thing back and popped him in the pond. That seemed like a good solution for a while as Shandy doesn't like water much, but inevitably the duckling strayed too close to the edge and quick as a flash was inside Shandy's mouth! Alison acted quickly and commanded her to drop it and to our amazement she obeyed, so Little Duck got scooped up again and is now residing in the peach house where it is warm and safe. That's quite a lot of adventures for such a small chap and we're not sure if he'll make it, but Giles has promised to bring him some food and if he does survive he could become quite a visitor attraction for the garden!
"Always behave like a duck, keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath"
Jacob Braude
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