STAFF at St Richard’s Hospice can tell spring is well and truly here, with the arrival of two ducks and approximately 20 ducklings in the central courtyard.

Hospice facilities manager Louise Clive, said: “Everyone loves the ducklings. For about the last four years the ducks have flown from our big pond in the garden, over the In-patient Unit roof and hatched their eggs in the central courtyard which is walled on all sides.

“We look after the ducklings then when they are big enough to look after themselves we have to shepherd them through the hospice building and back round to their new home on the pond.

“Our ducks and ducklings are loved by our patients who can look out of their bedroom windows onto the lake and watch their antics. They are a small part of what makes St Richard’s a very special place.”