New Tudor style duck house unveiled at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in memory of Michael

Southsea

A striking new Tudor style duck house has been unveiled at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice after being handcrafted and donated in memory of local man, Michael (Mike) Raybone.

The blue roofed structure was launched on Monday 16 March by Sue Ryder, where staff, volunteers and members of Mike’s family came together. The duck house now sits on the pond within the hospice grounds, providing a safe nesting space for ducks and moorhens each spring.

The idea for the project began during Mike’s stay at the hospice, when he noticed the existing duck house had become worn. His daughter, Leah Rose, said: “Dad adored nature and being outside. He took many trips in his wheelchair around the pond during his stay, and he took great comfort from those warm, quiet evenings last summer, watching the wildlife on the water and being surrounded by trees.

“Dad noticed the duck house looking tired and worn, and said to me, ‘Oh, that won’t do. I think that’s had its day and we can do better than that.’”

Mike shared the idea with his close friend and carpenter, Andrew Holmes, who pledged to build a replacement that would complement the historic Tudor manor house at the heart of the hospice site.
Andrew completed the build over winter, incorporating several personal touches. The duck house features Sue Ryder blue paintwork, gravel grip strips handmade from naturally sourced Pembrokeshire materials – a place special to Mike – and a unique ‘semi detached’ layout allowing two families of birds to nest at once. A generous platform offers space for birds to rest, and aquatic iris planting, donated by Ade of Huntley Aquatics, will bring colour to the pond in late spring and summer.

The duck house was installed and tethered in place by hospice staff and volunteers to ensure it remains secure throughout the year. Mike’s family attended the launch event, including his wife, Carla Raybone, daughter, Leah Rose, and grandsons, Ed and Tom.

Leah added: “Seeing Dad’s idea become something real, and knowing it will bring moments of calm to other families, means a great deal to us. We’re so grateful to Andrew for creating something so thoughtful, and to the hospice team for helping make it part of the grounds Dad loved.”

Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice hopes the new duck house will enhance the natural environment for wildlife and offer moments of peace and enjoyment for patients, visitors and staff for years to come.

For more information about Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, visit www.sueryder.org/leckhamptoncourt

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