Tag: Ducks

Visit: St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital (14.4.2022)

Indeed, St Tiggywinkles is premised upon the origin foundation of the British ‘National Health Service’ (founded in 1948), which has provided free at the point of us medical care for the human population. Although paid for through collective taxation – since 1979 (a year after St Tiggywinles was Founded) the NHS has been steadily ‘privatised’ step by step – and has become a third-rate and shambolic ‘ghost’ of what it once was! At least St Tiggywinkles has stayed true to the founding principles of its excellent hospital!

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Torquay: King’s Gardens – Opened 1904 (Visited 14.4.2019)

King’s Gardens appears to have been the result of slum clearing in Torquay with a place called ‘Rotton Row’ being demolished for new houses (King’s Drive) in 1877. We only hope that the people once living in ‘Rotton Row’ were re-housed and not left homeless (as happens far too often today). Originally called ‘Alexandra Gardens’, it was re-named just after opening in 1904 as ‘King’s Gardens’ after Edward VII. When driving into Torquay on numerous of our visits from London, we have often seen free-roaming swans on a patch of ornate and picturesque landscape to the right of Abbey Grounds (separated by a small road). We finally got round to visiting this area yesterday – despite the howling wind and freezing rain! We did try to ‘walk’ from the house to this area, but the waves were coming over the wall and we had to retreat to the safety of the car and slowly drive through the storm of rain and sea-spray… The children – who are strong-willed and usually wanting to press-on – decided that a tactical retreat to the relative safety of the car was in order!

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Bourne Hall – Ewell East (25.2.2018)

I was told that the dog statue was made to remember a local hound that jumped into the lake to save the life of a drowning child sometime in the 19th century. The dog pulled the child to the bank, but the exertion led to the death of the dog. The rich owner had the ‘Dog Gate’ built to forever remember the bravery and selflessness of this family pet.

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Tamar Otter & Wildlife Centre – North Cornwall – 1.8.15

The Tamar Otter & Wildlife Centre has Wallabies, Peacocks, Fallow Deer, Muntjac Deer, various species of owls, and many different types of ducks and birds roaming free. This assortment includes Giant British Rabbits, and of course, Asian and British Otters – the Asian Otters particularly make a tremendous noise and are very playful around mealtimes! Sometimes, the Fallow Deer, (which are led by a magnificent stag), wander over to visitors and are happy to be hand-fed with food available for purchase from the Centre. Obviously the nearer to opening time, the more willing the hungry Deer are to come close.

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