Boarstall Duck Decoy

The Boarstall Duck Decoy features a two-acre lake with pipe-cage tunnels extending from it, forming a specialized network for catching waterfowl without using ammunition.

Built in the early eighteenth century, this duck decoy represents one of only four remaining operational structures of its kind in England, reflecting traditional hunting methods.

The decoy demonstrates the methods British rural communities developed for sustainable wildfowl management, incorporating specialized skills passed through generations.

Currently closed for maintenance work until 2024, the site normally offers free parking facilities and permits dogs on leads throughout the thirteen acres of woodland grounds.

Research conducted at this location has tracked captured and ringed ducks traveling as far as Turkey, contributing to migration pattern studies.

Inception: 17 century

Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/boarstall-duck-decoy

GPS coordinates: 51.83110,-1.09667

Latest update: March 6, 2025 04:52