Mother duck found in hanging basket
08 Jun 10
A mother duck is aiming high as she broods over her clutch of eggs - hanging precariously in a basket eight feet off the ground.
Hoisin chose a basket at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden at Wisley, Surrey, when she laid her eggs about a fortnight ago and has now become a popular feature at the plant centre.
An audience of 120 people who attended a book signing at Adrian Bloom last weekend got a chance to see her as she flew over their heads.
Plant centre manager Nigel Eaton said: "This is certainly the most unusual nesting site for a duck that I have ever seen.
"Hoisin had set up nest before we realised it and then we felt we couldn't remove her. She laid 10 eggs about two weeks ago and I believe they will hatch in about a week."
Staff are gearing up for the new additions by planning a padded landing mat out of tables covered in dense foliage plants to save any ducklings in case they fall from the nest.
Hoisin will also have help at hand as she takes the duckings out for their first swim.
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http://www.rhs.org.uk/ (Royal Horticultural Society)
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