Volunteers unite to help gaggle of geese after their swimming lake is filled in

17 June 2023 , 18:40

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North London residents have been taking care of two families of geese (Image: Reach Commissioned/Steve Bainbridge)

Why did the geese cross the road? To get to the paddling pool, of course…

This lucky gaggle have been gifted their own temporary spa bath after losing their previous swimming spot.

Residents were worried about what would happen to the Canada geese – who visit the same place every year – after the lake they loved was filled in during work to build 1,600 homes.

So after contacting the developer to express their concerns, they set up a kids’ paddling pool and a rota of volunteer lollipop ladies to help the geese get to the water.

The volunteers stop the traffic in Barnet, North London, to let the geese reach the paddling pool (Reach Commissioned/Steve Bainbridge)

Among them is Julie Vohmann. She said: “We always look forward to the geese arriving.

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"Most people have been patient, and lots have been bringing their children down to see them splashing in the pool.”

Developer Comer Homes said the lake will be rebuilt in a different location on the former North London Business Park in Barnet. A spokesman said it was working closely with an ecologist about the site, which will also have “multiple large public parks and wild habitats”.

Barnet Council said it would be monitoring the situation.

Nicola Small