Skip to content

Duck trail extended after positive response

Matt WeigoldDerby
News imageBBC A woman with black hair, a black shirt and a black apron is holding a pint of lager aloft. She is stood beside a giant painted duck win a town square. The duck is blue, with an orange beak with flowers and bees painted on it. There are shops, benches, a tree and flower beds in the background.BBC
Della Smith, chef at Mustard in Heanor, said the Ay Up Me Duck trail had been a "brilliant" way of getting customers into the town centre

A duck sculpture trail in Derbyshire will continue through the half-term break, with business owners saying it has helped people discover shops, restaurants and pubs.

The Ay Up Me Duck trail began in February and saw fibreglass sculptures positioned across the towns of Alfreton, Belper, Heanor and Ripley and smaller ducks positioned and painted in shop windows.

Amber Valley Borough Council said there had been more than 2,600 downloads of the app and digital map and it had been “overwhelmed by the positive response” to the ducks.

The trail will now be available until the 1 June and the giant ducks will remain in the valley after that date, the council has confirmed.

News imageA giant duck sculpture sits outside a former bank building. The duck has a detailed drawing of badgers, a fox and birds over a countryside view of a mill beside a river. It's eyes are yellow.
News imageA giant duck sculpture sits in a cobbled square with old buildings and an old street lamp. The duck includes bright cartoons of a mill in Belper, a river, a rainbow, a swan, a swan, a Mr Potato Head and a mountain with a smiley face. It sits on a blue plinth with information printed on it.
Derwent Duck by Rebecca Morledge stood on the King Street/Bridge Street junction beside the benches and floral displays in Belper
AyUp Belper! by Carla Dee watched over Belper Market Place - the centre of a lively Friday and Saturday night in the town, according to Leanne Whysall

Neil Parkin-Hunt, the owner of Nordicana, a homeware and gift shop in Belper, said: "They've created a real buzz around town. Local people have also discovered shops they didn't know existed in their own town."

The trail launched on 14 February, with eight 1.5m-tall duck sculptures hand-painted by artists who were selected by a public vote.

Businesses like Swish Shoes & Fashion in Ripley, hid several small ducks in their shop windows for people to spot using the physical maps or trail app.

"I think it's fabulous. It's brought new customers to us, people that know we're here now, come and shop with us," said Val Jackson, who has helped her daughter run Swish for the past 12 years.

News imageA woman with long, blonde, curly hair, a maroon long-sleeved top and black leather trousers is holding a white cup of coffee and saucer. She stands in a town square beside a giant painted duck. The duck is decorated with images of birds, historic buildings and a sunset. There is a cafe/restaurant behind her with people sat outside drinking. There are office units above and two more adjoining shops.
Eva Theodorou says the duck sculptures are "marvellous" and "something that attracts people"

Mustard in Heanor, a relatively new cafe, bar and tapas restaurant, has also seen new customers through its doors by being part of the trail according to chef Della Smith.

Eva Theodorou, who has traded in Alfreton for 27 years, said it had been "marvellous" to see people enjoying the Amber Valley sunset duck outside her restaurant Naughty but Nice.

Leanne Whysall runs Stately Brides in Belper and agreed the trail had boosted civic pride, adding that "it puts a smile on your face when you walk past it".

News imageA giant duck sculpture sits outside a former bank building with a white wedding veil on its head. The duck has a detailed drawing of badgers, a fox and birds over a countryside view of a mill beside a river. It's eyes are yellow. A woman stands next to the sculpture win a black t-shirt, black trousers, black glasses with black hair. There is a wooden bench, flower pots, a set of traffic lights and a car in the background.
Leanne Whysall of Stately Brides in Belper said people "absolutely love" the ducks

The borough council said the ducks have attracted visitors from outside of the borough and residents have said they brightened up the towns.

“We look forward to sharing more details about their next locations very soon,” a spokesperson said.

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

More on this story
Related internet links