News

"We have to relate" says WWT Chief Exec

People are both the biggest challenge and the biggest solution for the world’s wetlands, according to WWT’s Chief Executive Martin Spray CBE. Speaking at the Castle Debate on Working Wetlands – part of a series of environmental debates held at the

22 May 2018

Who is your wetland hero?

Who is your wetland hero?

David Hindle David is an author and naturalist from Lancashire. His books include birdwatching guides to Lancashire, Forest of Bowland and the Lake District as well as a history of his home village of Grimsargh, near Preston. He donates his royalties to

22 May 2018

WWT's Sacha Dench receives Britannia Trophy for Flight of the Swans

WWT's Sacha Dench receives Britannia Trophy for Flight of the Swans

Our very own ‘human swan’ was presented with the prestigious aviation award by the Duke of York HRH Prince Andrew at a special ceremony last night. Sacha earned the award – one of the most respected honours in aviation - in recognition of her lon

18 May 2018

Scheme helping thousands of schoolchildren access nature up for award

Scheme helping thousands of schoolchildren access nature up for award

A scheme that has given thousands of disadvantaged school children easy access to nature has been shortlisted for an award. WWT and HSBC’s ‘Inspiring Generations’ programme which aims to give pupils from poorer backgrounds the chance to experienc

14 May 2018

Rescue effort saves rare eggs after spring flooding

Rescue effort saves rare eggs after spring flooding

Unseasonal April downpours have forced tens of thousands of birds to nest away from the safety of the wetlands after their habitat in the Fens, East Anglia became submerged. Conservationists, trying to protect the rare black-tailed godwit, discovered c

10 May 2018

'Wetland cities' could be reality this year

'Wetland cities' could be reality this year

WWT Chief Executive Martin Spray has hinted that a new ‘wetland city’ accreditation scheme could be a reality by the end of this year. The news was included in a speech to the Ramsar Convention in Switzerland this week, which he delivered on behalf o

2 May 2018

New garden brings splash of Canadian colour

New garden brings splash of Canadian colour

The Royal Bank of Canada Garden from the 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been officially opened to visitors at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre. The garden, designed by Charlotte Harris, was awarded a Gold medal at the show last May. Martin Mere Wetland

26 April 2018

First hand-reared godwit returns to UK

First hand-reared godwit returns to UK

A black-tailed godwit has returned to The Fens in East Anglia where it was hand-reared after migrating as far as Portugal for the winter. The bird is one of 26 black-tailed godwits raised at WWT Welney and released into the wild last summer. The wader, a

24 April 2018

Cause for celebration over crane chicks

Cause for celebration over crane chicks

Spring has arrived along with the pitter patter of tiny feet at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, where the common crane has bred successfully for the first time. These scarce birds are shy and secretive during the breeding season, but to the delight of staff

19 April 2018

Once common duck now rarer than giant panda, experts reveal

Once common duck now rarer than giant panda, experts reveal

The Critically Endangered Baer’s pochard population is estimated at less than 1000, making them rarer than giant pandas. There are between 250 and 999 Baer’s pochard left in wild compared to 1864 giant pandas, according to the latest figures on the

11 April 2018

WWT Snapshot Jan-Mar 2018

WWT Snapshot Jan-Mar 2018

Thank you to almost a million of you who visited WWT's nine wetland centres in the 12 months to April 2018. You are supporting huge amounts of conservation work around the world. Here's just a sample of what you've helped to achieve in the last three mo

3 April 2018

Multi-billion pound bill from 'nature invaders' set to soar post-Brexit

Multi-billion pound bill from 'nature invaders' set to soar post-Brexit

WWT is warning that action is needed from the Government to tackle the potentially spiralling cost to the economy of invasive plant and animal species post-Brexit. The warning comes as a coalition of charities, coordinated by Wildlife and Countryside Link

27 March 2018

Vote online to help red-breasted geese

Vote online to help red-breasted geese

Pioneering work to resolve conflicts between farmers and vulnerable red-breasted geese in Bulgaria has been nominated for the EU Natura 2000 Citizens Award. Voting is open to the public until 22 April 2018. WWT is urging its supporters to vote online here

23 March 2018

Pensioner who made bucket list meets black swans at WWT Washington

Pensioner who made bucket list meets black swans at WWT Washington

Tommy Hagan’s dream came true at WWT Washington when he met two exotic black swans for the very first time. The beautiful birds, named Tommy and Gloria, in honour of their special visitor and his wife, greeted the 81-year-old. He was over the moon to ti

21 March 2018

WWT sets

WWT sets

(Main pic: WWT's Dr Richard Benwell arrives at Westminster to give evidence to an MPs' enquiry) WWT has set the Government a challenge to find a "magic missing metric" to underpin its plan for our environment's future. The challenge was set as WWT's Hea

20 March 2018