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Fire service refills penguin pools after heatwave

James DiamondBBC Gloucestershire
Fire crew refills penguin enclosure after hot spell

Emergency services have stepped in to help refill a penguin enclosure after it dried up in the hot weather.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue and Thames Water joined forces to complete the refill on Tuesday 19 August, after an appeal for help from Birdland Park & Gardens at Bourton-on-the-Water.

Thames Water currently has a hosepipe ban in force in the GL postcode area.

Simon Cox, general manager for Birdland, said it was "incredibly grateful" for the support during the challenging weather conditions. The park is home to England's only group of King Penguins.

Gloucestershire County Council A firefighter holding a hose is shown pumping water into the penguin pool from a viewing platform. An old boat can be seen inside the pool, with trees in the distance. Gloucestershire County Council
Birdland Park & Gardens says water is "vital" for the penguins' wellbeing

Nathaniel Hooton, deputy chief fire officer for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We're always proud to support our local communities in any way we can."

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "We've recently seen the fourth heatwave of the year and conditions have been incredibly dry over the spring and summer months.

"We're really pleased to be able to help Birdland's penguin community by refilling their pool after the effects of prolonged dry weather and thank both Birdland and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service for their collaboration."

Gloucestershire County Council Two King Penguins are shown standing in their enclosure at Birdland Park and Gardens. A sign reading "Penguin Shore" can be seen in the background. Gloucestershire County Council
Birdland Park & Gardens boasts England's only group of King Penguins

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