Looking Back at The Big Walsall Waddle
In August 2025, 21 giant rubber ducks took over Walsall to mark RicNic’s 21st birthday. Hosted across parks, libraries, community hubs and public spaces across Walsall, each duck was designed and decorated by a local group, organisation or business, transforming the town into an open‑air gallery that families could explore throughout the summer.
The project was made possible through the support of partners across Walsall. The Canal & River Trust came on board as headline sponsor, helping to highlight the borough’s rich canal heritage and the communities that live alongside it, with a variety of local organisations hosting ducks in libraries, leisure centres and other public venues to ensure the trail was accessible to families in every corner of the borough.
Every sculpture had its own story, brought to life by the groups who designed them. Some of the summer’s favourites included:
- F(eathe)red Astaire, RicNic’s own theatrical superstar, celebrating two decades of youth‑led creativity.
- Dizzy D, created by The Getting Fit Company, championing movement and wellbeing.
- Diversity Duck, proudly representing inclusion and positivity in Willenhall
- Ozzy, a rock‑inspired creation from the Walsall Wheelbarrow Company’s fourth generation.
- Flora, the Family Hubs duck, who became a familiar face at early‑years activities.
Alongside the trail, a number of pop-up activities took place: children were invited to design their own duck or write a duck‑themed story; duck-decorating workshops took place; and we held a raft day in Walsall Arboretum. This culminated in a celebration of the project, with all the ducks displayed at Walsall MakerFest and the winning ducks announced.