Baffins Pond's beloved geese remembered with sculpture

A sculpture of two of Baffins Pond’s best-known geese has been installed by Portsmouth City Council.

The artwork depicts Snowy and their companion, affectionately known by many local residents as “The Odd Couple”.

The project was launched in response to calls from residents and councillors for a lasting tribute to two of the ward’s best-loved residents.

Council leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “Snowy and their companion became a familiar part of Baffins Pond and are still remembered by many local residents who enjoyed seeing them during visits to the park.

“This sculpture is a response to a community idea and provides a permanent reminder of two birds that became part of the local area’s story. It also helps draw attention to the wider wildlife at Baffins Pond and the importance of protecting and valuing our natural spaces.”

The sculpture depicts both geese and is accompanied by an interpretation panel highlighting the wildlife found at Baffins Pond.

The council said the project celebrates the bond between local people and one of the city’s best-loved green spaces, recognising the role wildlife can play in community life.

Following Snowy’s death last year, the Baffins Pond Association said the goose had lived a “very long life” of 20 years or more and spent its time between the pond and Farlington Marshes “together with her Barnacle Goose partner”.

“Snowy led a charmed life, compared to most farmland geese, well fed and appreciated by the residents around the pond, excursions to Farlington, a constant attentive companion.

“A long, and if I may say such a thing about a goose, a happy life.”