Summer is an exciting time at WWT Wetland Centres, where there's so much to see and do. Get out and about in the sunshine (we hope!) and experience the very best of British wildlife on a wetland walk, talk or safari, or take part in a variety of fun activities for all the family.
Summer is an exciting time at WWT Wetland Centres, where there's so much to see and do. Get out and about in the sunshine (we hope!) and experience the very best of British wildlife on a wetland walk, talk or safari, or take part in a variety of fun activities for all the family.
Wetlands are a haven for wildlife so look out for water voles, hares, dragonflies and an array of rare flowers and plants. WWT's nine wetland centres across the UK are all different: from exciting interactive exhibits, canoe or bike safaris, discovery trails, fun, educational children's play areas and a full programme of summer activities and events.
Search for wild bats on a big batty walk in London, pick up a paddle at the canoe safari at Slimbridge (Gloucestershire), hop on a bike to discover the beautiful welsh wetlands at Llanelli (National Wetland Centre, Wales), watch badgers feeding just outside the observatory at Caerlaverock (Dumfriesshire), or go pond dipping and hunt for bugs and beasties at Martin Mere (Lancashire). Each centre introduces adults and children alike to the wonders of wetland wildlife and their habitats, with stunning scenery and nose-to-beak encounters with some of the world's most dramatic and rare birds, as well as exciting mammals and reptiles too. Every centre has excellent restaurants and gift shops and all have family friendly and disabled facilities.
And to make your money go further, if you've enjoyed your day and choose to become a member of WWT at the end of your visit, not only do you get your entrance fee refunded, but you get free entry to all nine centres for the rest of 2009. So you can bring the family back to any WWT centre as many times as you like over the year and throughout the school holidays for nothing! As well as free entry to WWT centres, members receive an exclusive quarterly magazine, Waterlife, which keeps you up to date on what's going on at all nine centres and WWT's conservation work around the world.
With over 200,000 birds and other wildlife at WWT Wetland Centres, there are literally thousands of reasons to visit this summer.
Events at WWT centres this summer include:
WWT Arundel T 01903 881530 West Sussex
Richard Durrant 'The Guitar Whisperer', 12 June, 6.30pm.
Traditional and modern classical guitar recital.£22.50, including drinks and canapes.
Evening bat walks, 4 June, 2 July, 6 Aug. £10 per person.
Sunrise safari, 14 June, 11 July, 15 August, 7am - 9am. A breathtaking boat ride with an expert to meet the wildlife face to face, followed by breakfast. £14.50 per person.
WWT Caerlaverock T 01387 770200 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Stars and stripes, 31 Aug - 6 Sept, 7.30pm. Watch wild badgers feeding just outside our comfortable observatory. Adults £7.50, Conc. £5, Children £2.50. Refreshments included. BE.
Merse walks 7 June, 5 July & 2 Aug, 2pm to 4.30pm, a guided walk with a warden to experience the unique flora and fauna of the Caerlaverock merse.
WWT Castle Espie T 028 9187 4146 County Down, Northern Ireland
Say I do to green, 28 June, 10am-6pm, Ireland's first green wedding fair providing a platform for locally sourced wedding supplies.
New arrivals, 10 -13 July, 2pm, daily duckling tours.
Courtyard sessions, 9 July, 12 noon, afternoon music and organic bbq.
The creative peninsula exhibition and sale, 3 -21 Aug.
Sparky's big book fair, 22 & 23 Aug. 11am-4.30pm, second hand books, CDs & DVDs.
WWT London T 020 8409 4400 Barnes
Love London recycled sculpture show, 4 June. See how talented artists have transformed everyday waste into innovative sculptures. On display until June 2010.
Big batty walks, 16, 23 & 30 July, 6, 13, 20 & 27 August. Explore the reserve with a bat detector to see and hear which species are swooping around. Times vary, £10.
WWT Martin Mere T 01704 895181 Lancashire
Summer holidays, July and August, activities include wetland croquet, duck races (£1 to sponsor a duck to win prizes), family crafts, pond dipping and bug hunts.
History week, 1 - 9 August. Live like a viking or a roman for a day in mere tun, our roundhouse village. Learn traditional crafts, take part in history talks or defend the village in the weapons training workshops.
WWT Slimbridge T 01453 891900 Gloucestershire
Downy duckling tours, daily at 12.30pm throughout June. A behind the scenes tour of our duckery.
Gulls with McGill, 21 July, 7pm. Study one of the biggest gull roosts in the South West. See up to seven species of gull and learn how to identify birds in different plumages through the seasons. £10.
Birdwatch morning (warblers), 8 & 22nd August. £15 including breakfast.
WWT Llanelli T 01554 741087 Carmarthenshire
Summer fun, 20 July - 4 Sept. Pond-dipping, canoe safaris, bike trails, walks, art & craft activities and more.
Flamingo Festival, 25 & 26 July. A celebration of flamingos in Llanelli and across the world.
High tide watch & bbq, 20 August. Amazing sights and sounds as the advancing tide pushes birds closer to the hides. 5.30pm. £10.
WWT Washington T 0191 416 5454 Tyne & Wear
Waterfowl nursery evening tour, 2 July, 7-9pm. Enjoy a guided tour of the duckery where our rare birds are hatched., £11.50 pp including buffet.
Back to nature, 18 July- 30 August. Unforgettable wildlife encounters and family activities all summer.
Bat watches, 31 August (7pm) & 5 Sept (6.45pm). Fascinating tour of our bat hot spots. £10 pp including supper.
WWT Welney T 01353 860711 Norfolk
Back to nature, 18 July -2 Sept. Family activities, including self-led trail and arts & crafts in our pond room.
Bats & barn owls, 24 July, 7 & 8 August, 9.30pm - 12 midnight. Listen to bats hunting around the reserve, explore the night time visitors to the moth traps. £12.
Family workshop, 4, 11 & 18 August, 2-4pm. Suitable for children aged 4-11, £4.
For full details on events and activities at WWT centres this summer, visit www.wwt.org.uk/summer.