‘Widowed’ gander needs mate

Wanted: a feathered friend for a lonely goose who is seeking love and companionship this Valentine’s Day.

Must like: countryside walks to beat the winter blues and cosy nights in a pen. Colin, a Shropshire goose, lost his beloved “wife” to a fox several years ago. Now he’s on the look out for a new partner - just in time for February 14.

The friendly gander needs a mature female goose to go and live with him at the Whispering Trees Stables, in Highley.

Dave Fulton, from Hazelwells Road in Highley, is appealing for anyone who might want to help Colin find love to get in touch.

He said: “My daughter’s horse is at the stables and I have been going down there recently to help her out.

“I tend to see a lot of Colin the goose when I’m there and he always appears to be extremely lonely, so I’ve decided to help find him a partner.”

He said Colin had once been among 12 other geese who lived at the stables, but they had all been killed by foxes a few years ago.

He added that although Colin has made friends with the sheep at the farm, it’s not the same as having a friend or a partner of the same species.

Mr Fulton said: “He has been on his own since his ‘wife’ and friends were killed several years ago. He has made friends with the sheep but I think it would be nice for him to find a friend who is just like him.

“Anyone who knows of a female goose who loves walks in the countryside and cosy evenings in the pen should get in touch and come and be his Valentine,” he added.

Anyone who can help find Colin a partner should contact Mr Fulton on 07774 734533.

Geese usually mate for life, though a small number will remate. They tend to lay a smaller number of eggs than ducks but both parents protect the nest and young, which usually results in a higher survival rate for the goslings.

By Rachael Lowe and Anwen Evans