Duck Pond on Victoria Road West

As you approach Cleveleys on the main road from the motorway network, you’ll pass the pretty little duck pond on Victoria West. Also known locally as the Swan Pond, it’s one of a network of small ponds in this area.

Just past Morrisons, on your left is the ‘Welcome to Cleveleys’ wrought iron sign. Next on your right is a quaint old cabin for the bus stop. Just behind the bus stop you’ll see the duck pond – that’s if you don’t see the ducks first!

Duck Pond on Victoria Road West

The bus stop cabin sits among a small public garden. Behind the decorative railings which keep toddlers safe from a soaking, is the duck pond itself.

It’s a fairly large pond, home to a wide variety of local wildlife, including mallards and the white ‘Jemima Puddle ducks’ with orange beak and legs. They’re all very tame and expect a meal from everyone who pays a visit. They sunbathe on the grass, waddling about quacking, and they’ll come to you asking for food.

If you’re going to feed the ducks it’s best not to give them (white) bread. It’s the equivalent of us eating junk food, plus it pollutes their water and attracts vermin. Instead, please feed them with wild bird food, or you could buy duck food for them. They’ll also enjoy chopped up green vegetables, frozen peas or lettuce. It’s much better for them! But if all you’ve got is (brown) bread that’s definitely better than no food at all.

There’s usually other opportunistic birds there too. Of course some seagulls, the resident starlings and other small garden birds.

What else lives in the Duck Pond?

Terrapins

People have always said that terrapins live in the lake, one of which is quite huge. Have you seen any?

In April 2020, Peter Airton and his wife Val were taking their regular daily walk through the Towers, which is near to their home. They did see one of the terrapins – here’s what they said: “We noticed a terrapin resting on the edge of the large duck pond. Swimming close by was a duck with several ducklings. This seemed a risky situation for the ducklings and we assume that someone has abandoned the terrapin to do its worst!”

After the Mutant Ninja film in the 1980’s there was a craze for pet turtles. But they take quite a bit of care – and they grow! As owners tired of their aquatic pets, many released them into the wild. After suggesting Peter might be able to capture them for the record, he very kindly sent in this shot –

And here’s an unsuspecting moorhen who’s nesting nearby!

Mandarin Duck

Have you seen the Mandarin Duck, swimming happily amongst the resident Mallards and Moorhens? It has a strikingly exotic appearance, with vibrant orange plumes on the cheeks with orange ‘sails’ to their side. A broad white eye stripe gives a wonderful contrast to the head colours.

The Mandarin Duck was introduced to Britain from the Far East. They’re thought to have escaped or been deliberately released from private collections, many years ago. Their population in the Far East is now in decline, as their habitat slowly shrinks. The British collection is thought to be a useful ‘reservoir’ for the species in the future. Thanks to Ken Harcombe for sending us this information.

Cleveleys Duck Pond backs onto The Towers. That’s the small wooded urban retreat right in the centre of Cleveleys. There’s another pond in The Towers, and a whole host of wildlife to watch. Find out more about The Towers here.

History of the Duck Pond

Information about the origins of Cleveleys Duck Pond is thin on the ground. One source thinks that it was originally a ‘Dub’.

There were old settlements around this area going back to the time of the Domesday book. In olden times, houses were built with Wattle and Daub – the daub included muddy clay and usually manure. After the clay was dug from the ground, it left holes or ‘Dubs’ behind that filled with water. It’s also the origin of the pond at Wray Green – still nicknamed ‘The Dub’.

Thornton Cleveleys Past Facebook Group kindly provided these old photos. Sadly there isn’t a date on them, but looking at the people, probably date back to the early 1900’s.

Do you know any more?

Do you know anything more about the past of the Duck Pond?

• why was it built?
• who built it, or
• did it have a specific use?

If you do, please get in touch. We’d like to add your comments to this article. If you’ve got any more photos from the past it would be great to share them too. All credit given to the source. Just email jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk