News - WWT

Help find the missing ducks this Easter

Help find the missing ducks this Easter

Children visiting WWT’s Wetland Centres this Easter are being asked to keep their eyes out for some rather special ducks. A number of GIANT yellow ducks have gone missing and WWT’s own Dusty Duck is asking children to help him in Dusty’s GIANT Duck

31 March 2017

Ballast convention reduces mitten crab threat, but it’s not the end of the story

Ballast convention reduces mitten crab threat, but it’s not the end of the story

The risk to UK wildlife from invasive Chinese mitten crabs will be significantly reduced once the Government follows through on its commitment to treat ballast water from ships coming into UK waters. However, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) has jo

27 March 2017

Evidence sought to make wetlands the number one solution

Evidence sought to make wetlands the number one solution

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is asking designers and managers of man-made wetlands to complete a short survey that will help gather evidence for natural solutions to become the number one option for water management. The survey is available at

14 March 2017

Scientists invite you to the pub (or to Steart Marshes)

Scientists invite you to the pub (or to Steart Marshes)

Somerset residents are being invited to the pub by a group of scientists who have come to the region from across the UK to study Steart Marshes. The scientists’ quest is to unlock the mysteries of man-made coastal wetlands, and they want to hear from th

7 March 2017

Pochard's last refuge gets international protection

Pochard's last refuge gets international protection

The world’s rarest duck is one waddle closer to safety after its wetland home was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, by the government of Madagascar. Bemanevika is series of secluded lakes in the remotest corner of the highlands of

6 March 2017

Swan woman has tea with the Russian Ambassador

Swan woman has tea with the Russian Ambassador

WWT’s ‘swan woman’ Sacha Dench had tea with Russian Ambassador, Alexander Yakovenko, yesterday, during which they discussed the protection of endangered wetland birds and possible future collaboration with Russian organisations. The invitation to Sa

3 March 2017

Avian Influenza - updated restrictions

Avian Influenza - updated restrictions

WWT is urging everyone who owns birds to keep supporting national efforts to reduce the spread of avian influenza. The H5N8 strain of the virus has never transferred to humans. But it has caused many deaths in wild and farmed birds across the UK in recent

28 February 2017

I.D. guides issued as swans migrate across Europe

I.D. guides issued as swans migrate across Europe

Simple guides to help people identify different swans are being issued across northern Europe ahead of the migration of the rare Bewick’s swan. The guides have been designed by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) after finding that few people know t

28 February 2017

Why new build houses are  a flood risk to existing homes

Why new build houses are a flood risk to existing homes

People’s homes will be at greater risk from flooding by 2020 because new homes will overwhelm existing drains, according to the biggest ever survey of building and flooding professionals. More sustainable drainage systems is the answer.

2 February 2017

Prince of Wales and Sir David Attenborough celebrate support of lottery players

Prince of Wales and Sir David Attenborough celebrate support of lottery players

WWT’s new Patron, Prince Charles joined WWT Vice-President Sir David Attenborough and Chief Executive Martin Spray at the 2017 People’s Postcode Lottery annual Charity Gala earlier this week, where it was announced that £66.3 million was awarded to c

27 January 2017

Residents clean up polluted stream

Residents clean up polluted stream

A local litter eyesore blighted by drug use and rough sleeping has a new lease of life after 25 local residents turned out over the weekend to clean it up. More than 40 bags of rubbish were cleared from the area opposite the Hindu Temple on Keel Drive. Al

17 January 2017

Gulls, mink and nutrients implicated in pochard decline

Gulls, mink and nutrients implicated in pochard decline

Reasons for the recent decline of common pochard are investigated for the very first time in the latest issue of Wildfowl, the international scientific journal of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). The number of common pochard migrating to the UK fo

16 January 2017

Avian influenza - help birds by keeping clean

Avian influenza - help birds by keeping clean

This winter, birds across Europe are catching bird flu. This strain has never transmitted to humans. But it is a very serious concern for all local birds including you or your neighbours’ poultry or pet birds at home or on the farm. After visiting anywh

6 January 2017

Sacha hands over swan petition at 10 Downing Street

Sacha hands over swan petition at 10 Downing Street

A petition asking the UK Government to help improve the environment for swans and people has been handed over to 10 Downing Street.

21 December 2016

WWT welcomes Royal patronage announcement

WWT welcomes Royal patronage announcement

His Royal Highness Prince Charles is to become the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s new Patron, taking over from Her Majesty The Queen. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s Chief Executive, Martin Spray CBE, said: “On behalf of everyone at WWT, I woul

20 December 2016