Amersham Together July August 2023

COMMUNITY NEWS
Mallard duck
adopts!
A female mallard duck has “adopted” a
clutch of tufted ducklings and is helping their
tufted duck mother raise them at Arundel
Wetland Centre.
The two wild ducks hatched clutches of eggs
on the same day, on the same pond. Sadly the
mallard ducklings were lost to predators, as can
happen in the wild. The mallard female started
following the tufted duck mum and her brood,
getting closer and now is often in the middle
of the tumble of ducklings, shepherding them
around on the water.
Arundel Wetland Centre’s Head Keeper Sam
McKinlay said, “The female tufted duck permits
the mallard to help look after the ducklings,
sometimes while she has a nap on the bank!
The tufted ducklings are learning to dive now
Winners of Proud
of Bucks Award
On Friday 9 June 2023, Chalfont St Giles
Village Show Committee were awarded a
Proud Of Bucks Award for best Community
Group Contribution in the Denham, Gerrards
Cross and Chalfonts Community Board area.
The award was given to the committee who
run the Village Show and Street Party events,
the latest event being the Coronation Street
Party which attracted Princesses Eugenie and
Beatrice as well as thousands of residents from
the village.
and will disappear before popping back to
the surface of the water like corks – they are a
handful - it’s a lot for the mallard to keep her
eye on!”
Male and female mallard and tufted duck pairs
do not raise their ducklings together so these
co-parenting twosome are a rare sight!
There are many other wild families to see at
Arundel Wetland Centre his June. This week
a family of gadwall ducklings have hatched on
the pond near the Willow Sphere and mute
swan cygnets are on the water with both
parents at the Ramsar hide.
For more information about Arundel Wetland
Centre search WWT Arundel.
The Professional delivery of the Street Party
and Village Show inspires many individuals to
become more involved in their local community
by volunteering to join the committees or to
join the smaller groups that benefit from the
monies distributed.
The events are professional in their delivery
even though they are run by volunteers. The
funds raised at these events are distributed to
village groups and charities.
Over the years there has been over £100,000
distributed to over 50 different organisations
and good causes within the village and
surrounding area.
Throughout the year the team work tirelessly to
bring together a professional show which belies
the size of the village itself.
Chalfont St Giles Parish Councillor Grant
Kirkby who is treasurer for the Village Show
Committee accepted the award on behalf of
the group at the community event in Gerrards
Cross.
10 Amersham & Chalfonts Together is part of Community Together