News
WWT reaction to proposed goose shoot ban
A proposed ban on shooting one of England’s rarest birds is welcome, but a fundamental change in policy is needed if other vulnerable birds are to recover, says WWT.
7 March 2019
Nature springs into action early as unseasonal temperatures soar
Impatient spring weather has played havoc with the routines of our wetland wildlife. Our wintering visitors have all but left for their breeding grounds and some of our summer residents have already popped up in their place. What is going on?
5 March 2019
Wetlands given cash injection by People’s Postcode Lottery players
Wetlands will receive a £600,000 boost this year thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The amazing players of People’s Postcode Lottery have provided WWT with more than £2 million of support over the past five years which have aided eve
7 February 2019
Rare dragonflies discovered at WWT reserve in Somerset
WWT Steart is home to rare species of dragonflies, a study has found. A host of species have been found at WWT Steart, including emerald, red-eyed and small red-eyed damselflies, brown hawker, scarce chaser and ruddy darter. Scarce chaser is Red Liste
5 February 2019
WWT Snapshot December 2018
Thank you to all our supporters for your time, passion and funding. Here is a snapshot of just some of the great conservation work you've helped WWT achieve in the last three months. Around the world In Madagascar, WWT and Durrell reintroduced
31 December 2018
History made as world's rarest bird released into the wild
21 Madagascar pochards, a duck thought to be extinct for 15 years, has been brought back from the brink and given a new home on a remote lake in Madagascar.
28 December 2018
Winter wildlife activities at WWT Wetland Centres
At WWT Wetland Centres this winter, discover amazing wildlife spectacles including swirling starling murmurations, the arrival of thousands of wild Bewick’s and whooper swans from Russia and Iceland and huge flocks of rare geese flying in to their over-
21 December 2018
Environment Bill brings mixed Christmas offerings
The Government has published its Environment Bill – just in time for Christmas! Over recent months WWT has been working to ensure vital environmental protections are stronger, not weaker, after we leave the EU. The importance of this was reflected in
21 December 2018
WWT takes Green Bill campaign to Westminster
WWT supporters have taken our Get Behind The Green Bill campaign to Westminster to push for better legal protection for air, water and wildlife after Brexit. The Government’s draft Environment Bill – or Green Bill – is expected to be part-publish
17 December 2018
Survey reveals record number of UK's tallest bird
2018 has been the most successful year for Britain’s tallest bird – the Eurasian crane – since the 17th Century, according to figures released today. A record 54 pairs produced 25 chicks, bringing the national total population up to around 180 bi
14 December 2018
WWT plays key role in Asia
WWT’s Chief Executive has been re-appointed to a group managing conservation efforts along the most threatened bird migration route on the planet. Martin Spray CBE will be one of only two NGO representatives on the Management Committee for the East A
12 December 2018
Welsh and English protection for declining geese
WWT welcomes decisions this week by the UK and Welsh governments to end the hunting of Greenland white-fronted geese. Annual counts show the population of Greenland white-fronted geese wintering in Britain and Ireland dropped by a third in the last dec
3 December 2018
A win for barnacle geese
Yesterday WWT called out a proposal being made to the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention to downgrade protection for barnacle geese in the UK and Europe, which would make it widely legal to kill them. We featured this photograph of a suitabl
27 November 2018
It could become legal to kill wild barnacle geese in the UK in the future
It could become legal to kill wild barnacle geese in the UK in the future, if a proposal by Norway to the EU is adopted. The reason is that the species has increased through conservation efforts to stop it sliding towards extinction. UK numbers of Sval
26 November 2018
Annual 'swanfall' begins as Slimbridge welcomes over 50 migratory Bewick's swans
The annual ‘swanfall’ at WWT Slimbridge has kicked off with a flurry of Bewick’s swans checking in for the winter. A total of 51 birds completed the final leg of their migration during the recent crisp nights. They join Indri, the first of the Be
20 November 2018