Welney
WWT Welney takes in the northernmost part of the Ouse Washes – Britain’s largest area of seasonally-flooded land and a place protected for the importance and interest of its biodiversity by a suite of internationally-recognised laws and designations.
The reserve covers 420 hectares with natural wonders at every turn. In winter, it welcomes more than 6,000 Whooper and Bewick’s swans, many of which come close to the Welney observatory every evening to be hand-fed under floodlights, creating a wildlife spectacle that’s hard to beat anywhere in the world.
Many other bird species can be seen from the reserve’s hides, paths and board walks however, including significant numbers of pintail, avocet, shoveler, pochard, wigeon and ruff, and breeding populations of redshank, snipe, little ringed plover, marsh harrier, gadwall, garganey, teal, skylark, yellow wagtail and reed bunting.
The site is also an internationally important breeding ground for the black-tailed godwit and special measures are being taken to help them to cope better with flood risk.
But birds are by no means Welney’s only interesting wildlife. In summer, the reserve is carpeted with wildflowers, among them rarities such as the hair-like pondweed and greater water-parsnip. More than 300 species of moth have been recorded.
The scarce fish, spined loach, and Red Book-listed compressed mussel, are in the waterways, and there are three kinds of fly-killing snail. Grass snakes live in the reed bed while notable bats and dragonflies are often seen hunting overhead.
The reserve is well served by hides and paths, and by exhibitions which explain how the Ouse Washes were created in the 18th century to reduce flooding and free up fenland for agriculture. Now WWT is managing water levels to benefit native and migrant wildlife.
Don't miss...
- 1
- 1