- Family of seven orphaned ducklings given residence at the Home of Rolls-Royce
- Rescued after being found by the site security team; cared for and raised to adulthood by staff at local Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital, Sidlesham
- Chauffeur-driven to Goodwood in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Released on lakes that form part of manufacturing plant’s sustainable cooling system
- Accompanied by a further eight ducks rescued locally and also adopted by the marque
“As a company, we are very conscious that it is a privilege to share our 42-acre site with a wealth of wildlife. We go to great lengths to provide safe habitats for plants, birds and animals; but occasionally, we’re given the chance to do something direct, practical and genuinely lifesaving,” said Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
“This story has touched the hearts of people across our business, and we’re delighted that it’s ended so happily. We’re immensely grateful to the wonderful team at Brent Lodge for their care and skill; and congratulations to James Caffrey and the security team, whose sharp eyes, quick thinking and compassion made rescuing these ducklings possible.”
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars welcomed some very special new residents to its 42-acre site at Goodwood, West Sussex – a group of 15 ducks, rescued and reared by a local wildlife hospital.
The new arrivals include a family of seven siblings. In April, they were found wandering the on‑site car park, without their mother, by security guard James Caffrey. The ducklings were monitored from afar over several hours, but the mother failed to return.
After taking professional advice, James and his colleagues went into action to ensure the orphans’ survival. Once carefully captured, the ducklings were transferred to Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital located in nearby Sidlesham, where they were successfully reared to adulthood.
The family, augmented by a further eight ducks also found and rescued locally, have now returned to the Home of Rolls-Royce. They have taken up residence on the lakes that form part of the manufacturing plant’s sustainable cooling system.
The ducks travelled from Brent Lodge to Goodwood in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, demonstrating the true breadth of the super-luxury SUV’s versatility. It has been suggested that Rolls-Royce designers, engineers and marketeers henceforth express Cullinan’s 560-litre luggage capacity using a unique new metric, litres/duck; the discussions continue.
“Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital works tirelessly to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. We take in over 3,500 animals and birds every year with the aim to treat, care for, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild where they belong. It is always an incredible feeling to see those animals go back into the wild and thrive in their natural environment. The lovely team at Rolls-Royce recently brought us seven tiny mallard ducklings (approximately 48 hours old) after they were found alone with no mum in sight,” told Emma Ashcroft, Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital, Chichester.
“After seeking our advice and monitoring the situation for a period of time, the decision was made that they would be safer here at Brent Lodge. Having reared them for several months and ensuring they were ready for release, Brent Lodge was able to return them (as well as a few extra friends) back to the pond where they were found. The pond and surrounding areas are a perfect place for these birds to start their new ‘wild adventure’ with plenty of natural food and cover. Watching all of the birds take their first flight around the pond and gardens that would be their new – and very exclusive – home really made our day, and makes all of the hard work worth it.”
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Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital brentlodge.org
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BMW Group and is a completely separate company from Rolls-Royce plc, the manufacturer of aircraft engines and propulsion systems. Over 2,000 skilled men and women are employed at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ head office and manufacturing plant at Goodwood, West Sussex, the only place in the world where the company’s super-luxury motor cars are hand-built.
