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MIDSOMER NORTON LIFE 21<br />
Duck update<br />
B<br />
ack last Summer we received a call from<br />
a resident advising us that several<br />
ducklings were stuck in the grate on the River<br />
Somer.<br />
The mother duck was obviously very distressed<br />
at not being able to reach her ducklings, which in<br />
turn was upsetting for the resident who contacted<br />
us. At this time, our Town Warden was fortunately<br />
able to install some wooden planks to enable the<br />
ducklings to climb out and be happily reunited<br />
with their mum! However, these wooden planks<br />
were not a long-term solution to the issue.<br />
The issue arose again earlier in the summer, with<br />
several very upset residents reporting stuck<br />
ducklings to us. We immediately reported this<br />
matter to the RSPCA (as redirected by the RSPB)<br />
who can be contacted on 0300 1234 999. After<br />
rescuing the ducklings from the area, the RSPCA<br />
advised us that they could not move the duck<br />
and ducklings up stream, as this was their nesting<br />
ground, and they would eventually make their way<br />
back to it.<br />
We, therefore, contacted the Environment Agency<br />
and explained the situation to them. After a visit<br />
to the area, they came up with a plan to install a<br />
ramp with small pieces of wood all the way up.<br />
This would enable the ducklings to make their<br />
way out without sliding back down to the place<br />
where they were getting trapped. We would<br />
like to thank the residents for alerting this to us,<br />
the RSPCA for carrying out their rescue and the<br />
Environment Agency for installing the ramp and,<br />
hopefully, preventing any further incidents.<br />
DROP-IN COVID Vaccinations<br />
A<br />
s part of the NHS Covid-19 vaccination<br />
programme, Bath & North East Somerset<br />
Council offered mobile drop-in vaccination<br />
appointments at various locations in B&NES<br />
throughout May, June, July and August <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
The vaccination bus parked in the Town Park<br />
spaces near the Somer Centre. They targeted<br />
areas where there was a relatively lower uptake of<br />
vaccinations, and to rural areas where accessing<br />
a large vaccination clinic may have been harder.<br />
The vaccine bus operated as a drop-in service<br />
so people didn’t have to book; they could just<br />
turn up and have their vaccine, and there was no<br />
requirement to be registered with a doctor. The<br />
bus also operated as a space where people could<br />
come to find out more about the vaccine without<br />
having to actually have it. It was very difficult to<br />
predict what the uptake would be: they had the<br />
capacity to provide up to 200 vaccines per day.
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