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The birthplace of modern conservation, Slimbridge Wetland Centre is set within 325 hectares against a spectacular Severn Estuary backdrop. Land Rover rides and canoe safaris guarantee close encounters with a dazzling array of wetland life and there’s lots for our young visitors to enjoy, including the welly boot land play area.
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A Great Day Out
Slimbridge is home to an astounding array of wildlife including the world's largest collection of swans, geese, and ducks.
A year round programme of walks, arts, events, workshops, talks and spectacular wildlife encounters are a fantastic way for everyone to connect to their natural surroundings.
Slimbridge is the vision of naturalist and artist Sir Peter Scott and holds international significance as the headquarters of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). It is here that the world renowned experts of WWT Consulting and Species Conservation are based.
The Grounds
The grounds are a safe home for the world’s largest collection of swans, ducks, flamingos and geese. Many of the species you’ll see are rare or endangered. WWT is involved in breeding and conservation programmes to protect these species and the places they live around the world.
Take a Canoe Safari to see wildlife from a new perspective, visit the heated tropical house where birds from the tropics fly freely. Your trip, here in Gloucestershire, will take you to see birds from around the world as well as wildlife native to these shores and unique to this area.
The grounds are also used by visiting birds who enjoy the safety provided by our fox proof fence and the regular feeding rounds by Slimbridge’s wardens (and visitors!).
HIGHLIGHTS
Feed the rarest goose in the world
We are justifyably proud of WWT's work to bring the nene (Hawaiian Goose) back from the brink of extinction. The plight of the nenes was recognised by our founder Sir Peter Scott back in the sixties. At one point levels of these beautiful birds dipped as low as 30. Thanks to our work comparatively healthy levels of this goose are around today both in the wild and in collections such as at WWT Slimbridge. Meet some of the tame ones which live in our grounds. Buy a bag of grain from the desk in the visitor centre and they will gently feed from your hand.
Welly Boot Land
Splash, stomp and wade through the water in your wellies at our wet play area for children. Build dams, pump and change the flow of the water, wind round the willow maze and spy from the crow's nest.
The popular outdoor wetland playground allows children to have fun with water in a safe environment. Open daily.
Pond zone
To experience the science of nature first hand head on down to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre’s newest attraction: pond zone.
Families can discover the world of ponds through a range of interactive activities
Pond zone room
The new pond room has a soft play area where you can turn yourself into a caddis fly, ride a fish, build a bug and have a go at a virtual pond dip.
Pond lab and ponds
We have a series of beautifully planted raised ponds where families get the chance to dip for nymphs, water boatmen and water fleas using nets and trays provided at timed sessions. There are handy identification charts next to each pond so you can put a name to all your watery critters. However, some of the miniature underwater world can be hard to see so join us in the pond zone laboratory equipped with a special microscope.
Be inspired by our stunning new wildlife pond which comes with handy tips on how to build your own at home.
If you don’t fancy taking the plunge take the chance to lose yourself for a moment in this area of tranquillity as you enjoy the sight of dragonflies dancing over the water.
Over the summer holidays there will be pond dipping sessions every day organised by Slimbridge's education team. We provide all the equipment for free for the pond dipping sessions. Visitors are not permitted to bring their own nets and equipment onto site to ensure the welfare of the creatures.
Canoe Safari*
Grab a paddle and sail the watery passages of our Canoe Safari trail. Cruise down our kilometre long trail in a canoe which can take up to three people.
Sit back and relax as you look out for wildlife along the way such as water voles, dragon flies, warblers and ducks.
NEW at the canoe safari - CORACLES*
Test your skills to the limit as you try to paddle in a coracle. The ancient one-man boats are an important part of the heritage of the River Severn. The lightweight circular boats are notoriously unstable so can leave you in a bit of a spin! For infomation and dates of our coracle training sessions visit our events page.
*Extra charge applies
Puddleduck Corner
A team of domestic ducks have set up home at WWT Slimbridge. Meet call ducks, Indian runners, rouens and khaki Campbells living at Puddleduck Corner. These tame birds will feed from your hand. Watch them follow the feeder and hear a special talk on the history of ducks and farming. Find out the talk times at the visitor centre.
Back from the Brink
Meet our family of playful otters at the Back from the Brink exhibit. This attraction opened last year to highlight the pressures which have faced wetland mammals through predation and habitat destruction.
Toad Hall
Get up close to and even handle amphibians at our exhibit Toad Hall. Learn about what species of newt and frog are native to the UK and how some introduced species have upset the balance. Handle these fascinating creatures at daily talks.
Hides
Our 13 hides look out onto the Reserve and offer you the best spots to see the wildlife of the Severn Estuary. Thousands of birds visit us throughout the year. Check what sightings our expert wardens have seen that day before you leave the visitor centre. Be sure to pay a visit to our new kingfisher hide.
The Reserve
Outside the fox proof fence lies a wild area of land managed by Slimbridge’s wardens. This huge area encompasses the grasslands to the shores of the Severn estuary and is a haven for wildlife.
Slimbridge’s reserve is a great place to see rare birds from all over the world. Take a Land Rover safari or visit one of our hides and you may see Hobby, Kingfishers, Redshank, Brown Hares, Dragonflies, wild Otters, grass snakes and wild Orchids. This spectacular reserve is also home to up to 35,000 wildfowl in the winter.
The reserve covers over 325 hectares and its wetlands have international protection including a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area.
The Visitor Centre
The award winning visitor centre, is the perfect place to relax and enjoy Slimbridge. Here you can take a trip to the top of the Sloane Tower for a magnificent 360 degree view of Slimbridge and the Severn Estuary, explore the Discovery Centre where you will discover Toad Hall, enjoy wildlife inspired films in the cinema and art in the gallery.
Take time to sample the home made locally sourced goodies in the Water's Edge restaurant overlooking the Caribbean Flamingos and find the perfect gift in the WWT shop.
Each day at Slimbridge
Here are some of the activities which take place at regular intervals throughout the year at WWT Slimbridge.
Floodlit Bird Feeds: from autumn to spring watch the magical spectacle of our daily commentated bird feeds as Bewick's swans return to Slimbridge after their long journey from Arctic Russia. You may see Crinkly our much-loved swan with a crooked neck or Dario and Dorcus, who are always among the first to return. The talks are given every day from the Peng Observatory at 4pm.
Back from the Brink: Meet our friendly family of Otters: Flo, Mo, Minnie and Ha Ha and hear a talk as they tuck into a tasty fish supper. Talks are at 11.30am and 3.15pm every day.
Land Rover Safari: Explore the depths of the wild reserve on a Land Rover Safari on selected days from May to October*
Guided Walk: Join our knowledgeable volunteers for a guided walk to discover the grounds of Slimbridge Wetland Centre and its many residents. (walk lasts roughly 1.5 hours). 11.15am and 2.15pm
Toad Hall: meet the frogs, talks and other amphibians in Toad Hall at 2.15pm weekdays and 2.15pm and 12.30pm during weekends and school holidays.
Tropical House talk: Take a walk to the heated Tropical House for a short talk on the amazing tropical wildlife to be found at slimbridge. Learn more about tropics throughout the world at the talk at 3pm from Tuesday to Saturday.
Wildlife art gallery: Enjoy a stroll through Slimbridge’s wildlife art gallery. You may even decide to make an investment!
Cinema: Wildlife inspired films are shown in Slimbridge’s purpose built cinema each day
Canoe Safari: take to the water to discover a wetland trail rich in native plant species and wildlife. Pick up a paddle and step into a canoe for a wonderful wetland adventure. The Canoe Safari will be open at weekends from the start of March and from Easter, it will be open every day until September (weather permitting) from 11am - 4pm. Open daily through the summer* (all under 17s to be accompanied by an adult and a minimum age of 5 allowed on the canoes).
*additional charge applies.
Times can vary so please check our what's on board when you arrive or ask a member of the Slimbridge team.
Enjoy panoramic views across the reserve and River Severn from this amazing vantage point which overlooks 325 hectares of internationally protected wetlands.
Your chance to get close to and interact with swans, geese and ducks. Fall in love with the Nenes, one of the tamest and rarest birds on the planet. WWT saved this wonderful species from extinction. Many of the birds can be hand fed and you can buy grain inside the centre.
A fascinating complex of deep water pools with shallow wader scrapes (wet mud). The heavy planting of this lake attracts a wide array of wildfowl & waders. There is always something to see. enjoy the amazing bird spectacles from one of the hides.
two of the six species of flamingo which live at Slimbridge - the smallers and the largest of their kind!
Learn all about them at a ?Meet the Flamingos? session. See if you can spot ?Hope?, the only Lesser Flamingo to be successfully bred at WWT Slimbridge in 60 years and meet Carlos and Fernando Slimbridge's famous same sex pair of Greater flamingos.
Come and enjoy our wonderful new family-friendly Kingfisher Hide, You can spot birds feeding all year round and see Kingfishers in the summer months. Or visit our other South Finger hides, great places to watch the wonderful birds and wildfowl, which visit or make their home at Slimbridge.
A beautiful walk open May through October. A short meander gives visitors a chance to sit on the shores of the estuary to watch the changing tides. From this peaceful point you can see a wide array of waders and gulls. Wildlife you may bump into along the way includes hares, butterflies, dragonflies, skylarks and a host of other birds.
A sight to behold from October to February when our Bewick?s Swans return to rest and feed. Get close and spot their individual bill patterns from the comfort of the heated Peng Observatory.
Compost capers, mini-beast hunts, autumn berries are all things to discover in the sustainable garden. Plus get tips for the development of your own garden.
Go behind the scenes from 24 May - 31 July for a tour of the Duckery to meet the youngsters who live there.