Appeal to stop feeding bread to ducks but give them oats, corn, carrots and frozen peas instead

Every year over six million loaves of bread, equal to the size of 20 double decker buses, are thrown into British canals and rivers by well-intentioned people feeding the ducks.
However, this bread isn't great for them or their habitats and so the Canal & River Trust are asking people to swap the bread for healthy snacks and to exercise some portion control. Throwing bread into a canal or river can create overcrowding of bird populations, as the birds will flock to the same location in search of their starchy treat.

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Too many ducks or waterfowl in one place can stress the birds and lead to their habitats being damaged. It also creates excessive amounts of bird poo, which can impair water quality and create harmful algae which can clog the waterway. So the next time you’re heading out to feed the ducks try to avoid the crowds. Go and find a new flock and spread the love.

Instead of feeding ducks large quantities of white bread think about feeding them healthier snacks and less of them. It’s simply kinder to them. Peter Birch, national environment manager for the Canal & River Trust explains: "Bread’s not great for a duck’s health as it’s nothing like their natural diet so don’t over feed them with large quantities of it. Try to vary what you give them and swap it for healthier more natural treats like oats, corn, or defrosted frozen peas. And exercise portion control."