News
Cranes here to stay, new model predicts
The UK’s tallest bird – the common crane – is here to stay and we could have as many as 275 breeding pairs within 50 years, according to the latest population model from scientists at the University of Exeter, WWT and RSPB published in Animal Conser
17 July 2018
Heart to tackle climate change
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre welcomed its local MP for afternoon tea as part of a national climate change awareness campaign. WWT is part of an umbrella group called the Climate Coalition who each year invite MPs to visit local groups to discuss climate
9 July 2018
Welcome to the world little ones
There are many reasons to love the spring and summer time; sunshine, flowers, butterflies and of course, plenty of fluffy ducklings and gorgeous goslings! Over the past three months, our Avic team have welcomed dozens of new arrivals into our newly renov
8 July 2018
Filming with the BBC
Over the past week, we've been delighted to welcome two separate BBC teams to Castle Espie. Avic Warden Kez and Reserve Manager Maurice spent time showing Ruth Sanderson and her team from 'Home Ground' around the site, explaining some of the vital works
5 July 2018
Join us for a summer of wetland adventures!
Dusty's Wildlife Rangers, Sun 1 July - Fri 31 August This is your chance to become a Wildlife Ranger. There are lots of exciting challenges waiting for you, from bug hunting to bird-feeding. You’re sure to have a quacking time! A great place to start y
25 June 2018
Mixed Brexit outlook for water, WWT tells MPs
Brexit could be both bad and good for the UK’s natural water resources, WWT has told a Committee of MPs. WWT was giving evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry into regulation of the water industry, as chair and spokesgroup on water policy for a national c
20 June 2018
Trapping moths with Ross and Karoline
Every Monday, Ross and Karoline from our reserve team record the numbers of moths caught in a specialist trap at Castle Espie Wetland Centre. The trap is set out on Sunday evening and offers the moths (plus other species), a safe and warm place to spend t
20 June 2018
A 'tail' of triumph! Hand-reared godwits survive odds to fly the nest
38 black-tailed godwits have been released in the Cambridgeshire Fens after being hand-reared by conservationists at WWT Welney. Many of the birds released were not expected to hatch due to the terrible condition of the eggs as a result of the late sprin
20 June 2018
It's your Tern
During May, our busy reserve team placed two new tern rafts on the main lake and saline lagoon at Castle Espie Wetland Centre. These are specially designed to provide an island habitat for terns, which is both safe from flooding and predation. To encoura
18 June 2018
New arrivals
Exciting news! This week we've welcomed two female Emperor goslings into our newly renovated Duckery. We're pleased to announce they are both doing really well under the watchful eye of mum and dad of course! Emperor geese are one of the favourite breeds
16 June 2018
Gulls just want to have fun
Every Spring hundreds of Black Headed Gulls check-in to Castle Espie to nest. So far, 2018 has been no different! This year our busy reserve team have recorded more than 650 nests on-site, with the lagoon surrounding the Crannog their favourite spot. Alth
14 June 2018
Making a splash! Pupils at Enfield's Prince of Wales Primary plant water garden
Year two schoolchildren helped create their very own living water feature by filling a small pool with wetland plants. They also got their hands muddy by making finishing touches to a nearby Mediterranean gravel garden, digging holes and filling them w
11 June 2018
Baby Baer's! First sighting of duck family confirms rare bird is breeding
A female Baer’s pochard and her young have been spotted at Hengshui Hu National Nature Reserve in China. It’s the only confirmed report from anywhere in the world this year of successful breeding by this Critically Endangered duck. Conservationists h
7 June 2018
A lead-free win-win
The challenge for UK shooters everywhere is whether they will continue to needlessly poison wildlife because of the myth that the evidence of their impact is in some strange way an “attack” on themselves, or switch to non-poisonous ammunition because the
29 May 2018
WWT response to LAG update report
The extent and cost of wildlife being poisoned by spent lead ammunition is higher than previously thought, according to figures in a new report by an expert advisory panel. Ducks, geese and swans are the main victims. They gobble up some of the 5,000 t
29 May 2018