News

Conservation heroes given Marsh Award

Conservation heroes given Marsh Award

Two unsung heroes of conservation were rewarded for their achievements today when they each received a Marsh Award for Wetland Conservation from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) in partnership with the Marsh Christian Trust. Colin Gray and Mark Smar

11 October 2018

Aviaries Assembled: Homes for world's rarest duck ready ahead of release

Aviaries Assembled: Homes for world's rarest duck ready ahead of release

Final preparations have been made ahead of plans to release the world’s rarest duck, the Madagascar pochard, into the wild this autumn. In no mean feat, our conservation team have managed to erect floating aviaries on the remote Lake Sofia. They will s

11 October 2018

"Can do" Kate is a President for WWT's future

Kate Humble today became President of wetland conservation charity, WWT. At the charity’s annual general meeting she promised to be WWT’s most active and most vocal supporter. WWT creates and protects wetlands to help wildlife and people to thri

11 October 2018

Vote Cambodia! Help save precious wetlands

Vote Cambodia! Help save precious wetlands

The chance to help Cambodia’s endangered wetlands is open to a public vote. In just 15 years, half of Cambodia’s wetlands have disappeared. Bergans of Norway has kindly nominated WWT’s project to save two of the last natural seasonal wetlands in th

9 October 2018

New WWT study reveals what captive flamingos get up to when the lights go out

New WWT study reveals what captive flamingos get up to when the lights go out

Captive flamingos are as active as their wild counterparts at night despite their different lifestyles, according to latest research. Although the birds were provided with food and protected from predators, footage shows that flamingos at WWT Slimbridg

5 October 2018

Enfield schoolchildren see designs for new wetland nature reserve become reality

Enfield schoolchildren see designs for new wetland nature reserve become reality

The Prince of Wales Open Space was unveiled to the public this week after undergoing a dramatic makeover with the help of local kids. The event was hosted by Enfield Borough Council, Thames Water and WWT who teamed up to breathe new life into the negle

1 October 2018

The Global Wetland Outlook: Wetlands disappearing three times faster than forests

The Global Wetland Outlook: Wetlands disappearing three times faster than forests

Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than natural forests, warns the Ramsar Convention's report ahead of a global meeting on protecting the world’s wetlands in 2018. Wetlands are as essential for our water as forests are for our air.

27 September 2018

Fish and chips: Eels microchipped to track species on the brink

Fish and chips: Eels microchipped to track species on the brink

Wild eels are being microchipped, similar to the way people microchip their pets, in an attempt by conservationists from WWT to better understand their activity. The study at Slimbridge in South Gloucester will allow scientists to monitor how eels are

27 September 2018

Sri Lankan Government announces wetland protection after WWT collaboration

Sri Lankan Government announces wetland protection after WWT collaboration

Colombo’s citizens will reap the many benefits of healthy wetlands after the Sri Lankan government vowed to protect them. Thanks to WWT, and the local partners we work, with the capital’s wetlands have been formally recognised for the natural role th

6 September 2018

Bewick's cygnet numbers in Arctic early sign of bumper breeding season

Bewick's cygnet numbers in Arctic early sign of bumper breeding season

Our experts made the exciting discovery during their annual 2000-mile trip to the Arctic to ring the critically endangered birds. After spotting just one cygnet last year, Conservation Scientist Kane Brides and Reserve Warden David Dinsley sighted 24 c

31 August 2018

The Comeback Crane

The Comeback Crane

A total of three young cranes have been raised at a nature reserve in Gloucestershire marking the most successful so year of an ambitious re-introduction project. The youngsters have been practicing flying at WWT Slimbridge where 93 cranes were hand-re

30 August 2018

New Learning Zone website for teachers planning 'wild' trips

New Learning Zone website for teachers planning 'wild' trips

Teachers planning immersive, educational trips in the natural environment now have an invaluable resource at their fingertips, WWT’s new Learning Zone website. The new site is a one-stop shop of unique resources and ideas for all ages. Teachers can use

29 August 2018

Heatwave makes flamingos broody for first time in 15 years

Heatwave makes flamingos broody for first time in 15 years

The rare flock of Andean flamingos at WWT Slimbridge have become foster parents to chicks from their near-relatives, Chilean flamingos, after the hot spell triggered them to lay their first eggs since 2003. The record-breaking temperatures sparked six

9 August 2018

Exotic spider discovered during WWT species survey as part of Salt Hill Playday

Exotic spider discovered during WWT species survey as part of Salt Hill Playday

A wasp spider – a species relatively new to the UK – was uncovered during a survey to discover local animals and plants as part of the Salt Hill event. The striking arachnid with yellow and black stripes was first recorded on the island in the 1920

7 August 2018

WWT submits Environment Bill proposals

WWT submits Environment Bill proposals

WWT has urged the Government to give legal backing to its promise to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. Responding to the Government’s consultation on post-Brexit legal protections, we say a new Bill should contain strong

3 August 2018