New resident making a flap

There is a new resident making a flap at a Shropshire care home with his versions of the Simpsons and the McDonalds tune before declaring his love for anybody who passes.

Bodie the African Grey parrot is the new attraction at Bennett House residential home in Woodside, Telford, thanks to an appeal in the Shropshire Star.

Elderly residents clubbed together to buy a cage for a parrot or two as part of the Eden Alternative initiative.

After an appeal in the Shropshire Star, a woman came forward who had been left the parrot in a will but did not want it.

Staff say the five-year-old bird is now having a great time entertaining the residents.

Carla Kitson, senior care, said: “Somebody came forward after putting the appeal in the Shropshire Star.

“The lady doesn’t want to be named but she had it left to her in a will. Brodie says hello and I love you. He whistles the McDonald’s tune and does a bit of The Simpsons. He also does microwave and the phone noises.

“He’s quite talented. The residents love him. He’s kept in the passageway so there’s a lot of people passing and he spends the day in the day centre. He’s settled in really well.”

A vet from The Old Pound in Madeley has visited the new addition to the home to check him over.

Bodie has replaced a homemade papier mache parrot which children at the Woodentops Nursery in Woodside had made until a live replacement was found.

The Eden Alternative is a new initiative to help tackle feelings of loneliness, helplessness and boredom among older people.