News
Mad as a hornet!
We spotted this European hornet furiously struggling to get out of this web and clear of this (brave) spider. The drama took place outside the windows of the Castle Meeting Room on the second floor of WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. The hornet eventually bro
18 June 2023
Gadwall, pochard and tufty duckling
A female gadwall was on the pond from the Willow Sphere with 7 ducklings, the first gadwall chicks we have seen onsite in a few years. A pair of mute swans have hatched 6 cygnets. This swan family have been spotted on the water from Ramsar hide and along
10 June 2023
Mallard & Tufted duck co-parent ducklings
A female mallard duck has “adopted” a clutch of tufted ducklings and is helping their tufted duck mother raise them on Pelican Cove at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. Ten days ago the two wild ducks hatched clutches of eggs on the same day, on the sam
7 June 2023
Changing places toilet opens Sat 27 May
Our new Changing Places Toilet (CPT) has opened in time for the half term holidays. A Changing Places Toilets is larger than standard accessible toilets with extra features and more space. They are generally designed for assisted use, for example with a
27 May 2023
Quentin Blake art draws people to WWT Arundel
A trail highlighting the best of the wetland nature opened at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre on 18 May as part of a year-long partnership between renowned illustrator Sir Quentin Blake and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. The Drawn to Water spring/summer trail
24 May 2023
Half term nature activities for families
Summer starts warm days of buzzing wetlands, full of hatching wildlife, leave loads for families to explore! Here are some suggestions to get the most from your family day out at Arundel Wetland Centre this summer half term (May 27-June 4) . Drawn t
16 May 2023
Sand martins & great crested grebe
At the Sand martin hide we are seeing about 20 sand martins at a go, hawking insects over the water and entering burrows on both ‘wings’ of the hide. A pair of oystercatchers seem to have settled there now, as in previous years - we haven't spotted a
16 May 2023
Watching our Wild Side
Many types of wetland wildlife are raising their young on the safety of our wetland reserve. Our team manages the ponds, wet meadows island and scrapes specifically for certain species, others appear as spring surprises. Here are this season's highlights.
14 May 2023
Newbies and nesters in our collection
Now that breeding season is well underway this June, Head Keeper Sam McKinlay and the Collection Team of Keepers are busy keeping a watchful eye on the birds in our WWT collection of threatened and endangered birds they care for at Arundel Wetland Centre.
14 May 2023
Lapwing chicks & a cuckoo calls
Kingfisher continue to be active around nest hole #5 in the artificial bank on the Arun Riverlife lagoon. Look out for the sand martins coming in and out of nest holes at the banks of the Sand martin hide. A cackling goose and a cackling barnacle cross se
9 May 2023
Dads go free this Fathers day
Treat your dad to a day out at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre and escape the everyday!On Sun 18 June dads get free admission to the centre when accompanied by a full paying child or adult. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust recognises all families are unique, so t
8 May 2023
Bird song bonanza, great crested grebe & sand piper
Lots of bird song in the air from the likes of this sedge warbler and a black cap both captured by Rob Collins on a recent visit. We’ve had a nightingale on the back of the car park wild area that borders the wet grassland of the Lapwing hide off and on
28 April 2023
Top 5 for Families this May
May is an beautiful time to discover the wonder of wetlands. Warmer weather and brighter days bring new life bursting forth in a green landscape. With wild flowers blooming, butterflies in the hedgerows and ducklings on the water it’s a memory-making
24 April 2023
Kingfishers nest in Arun Riverlife bank again
A kingfisher pair are back in hole 5 of the nesting bank on Arun Riverlife. They favour this hole and have nested here before - see Mike Jerome's photo above.We are not sure about the pair of kingfishers who nested in the Sand Martin Hide last year –
19 April 2023
What's Wild this Spring?
Despite cool weather continuing into April there has been enough sun and warm temperatures to launch new life on across the wetlands. Spring is definitely underway! Treat your senses to wildflowers blooming, insects buzzing and birdsong in the air as
17 April 2023