News
Less hibernation, more sensation
In the sometimes bleak Scottish winter, it can be tempting to become a homebody and shelter from the elements. Whilst it is good to rest at any time of year, it is important to keep getting out and spend time connecting with nature when possible.Making th
28 December 2023
Has Caerlaverock cracked the secret to achieving New Year's resolutions?
We have had a busy year at WWT Caerlaverock. As with any year, there has been ups and downs. The team has said goodbye to some valued staff as well as welcoming Dawn, Rhona, Rosie, Annie and our new placement students Meg and Ed to Caerlaverock. Overall w
23 December 2023
The joy of mammals
It’s been almost four months since starting my placement here yet the dynamism of the reserve surprises me every day. I am noticing more and more as the weeks go by and my appreciation for Caerlaverock grows by the day. One of the best parts of the job
15 December 2023
A moment of quiet and calm
Sitting on a bench, you begin to feel the damp seeping through your trosuers and seemigly into your bones. There is still a little snow on the ground but it’s turning to ice now. It’s chilly out today and it will shortly be time to go in for a cup of
12 December 2023
Whooper Swan Update!
The weather is cold and snowy, the sky is grey and the air is filled with the sounds of whooper swans. Every day we feed the swans a barrow full of barely and count them. At the beginning of the season there are maybe 20 but the numbers trickle in steadil
9 December 2023
The Compost Queen
I have recently taken over maintaining the Caerlaverock compost pile from the last work placement student - a very exciting responsibility... Composting is vital since it reduces organic waste that ends up at landfill sites, meaning less methane is relea
6 December 2023
A sunrise soundscape
I’ve just done a grey goose count which is basically where I go out and count all the pink-footed and greylag geese that come over my section of the merse. It’s another early start so I got into position at 6:45am but it turned into a really exception
3 December 2023
Building a pond
Since the placement students and I moved into the cottages on the reserve, our garden has changed a lot. We arrived in September to an overgrown, slightly chaotic, wildlife paradise. Frogs, slugs, birds - you name it - had made their homes in this grassla
1 December 2023
A wonderful morning
It might have been a cold and early start but honestly, it was such a wonderful morning. We got really lucky: before long, the dark gloom lifted to reveal a glorious bright pink sunrise. As wildlife media students, the reason behind our visit was to learn
27 November 2023
Weeding - is it like marmite?
Excited for another day working on the reserve, I practically run onto site. But then I see the list of jobs and immediately regret my enthusiasm: weeding is at the top, a rather monotonous task. Having done my fair share of weeding since arriving at Cae
20 November 2023
Checking the sheep
We own 12 sheep at Caerlaverock. They are our natterjack toad habitat managers, keeping the grass short around the best breeding ponds used by these rare amphibians. We check on them every day, usually first thing, to make sure they are fit and healthy, s
17 November 2023
Reincarnating unwanted wood as conservation joy
Tree sparrows are a red listed species that struggle mainly because of the changes in farming practices and land management that have happened in recent decades. At WWT Caerlvaerock, we’ve been running a farmland bird project for a number of years and c
13 November 2023
Fungi and why you should leave dead wood in your garden
It’s amazing what can be spotted hidden amongst the fallen leaves, perfectly camouflaged and easily unnoticed.The fruiting bodies of a fascinating and valuable organism: fungi. They play a crucial role in our ecosystem, breaking down organic matter and
10 November 2023
Wild Goose Festival round up
The geese are ever-present in the colder months at Caerlaverock, but never quite as much as during the Wild Goose Festival. This year we hosted many events over the eleven days, connecting people with nature and celebrating the incredible migration
7 November 2023
Are sparrowhawks boring?
As I wander around the reserve in the early morning, preparing the site for the day, I get the privilege of seeing all sorts of amazing wildlife. A highlight is the female sparrowhawk that like clockwork, zips in front of the Peter Scott Observatory and d
4 November 2023