News

Eggs mean fresh hope for spoon-billed sandpipers

Eggs mean fresh hope for spoon-billed sandpipers

One of the world’s rarest birds has a new hope: it’s laid eggs in captivity for the first time. Seven eggs have been laid so far by two spoon-billed sandpipers at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, UK. The flock wa

14 June 2016

Happy birthday Your Majesty

Happy birthday Your Majesty

Prince Harry chats with WWT supporters WWT supporters joined our Patron, Her Majesty the Queen, for an official birthday lunch in the Mall with supporters of all the charities who benefit from her support. At WWT we l

13 June 2016

Flamingo

Flamingo "school disco" research wins gold for WWT

It's beneficial for flamingos to scrap over their nesting area. It makes them feel possessive and gives them ownership of a nest mound. Research revealing the complex social life of the flamboyant flamingo has won a s

9 June 2016

People and wildlife to benefit from China/WWT agreement

People and wildlife to benefit from China/WWT agreement

British and Chinese wetlands could benefit from an agreement to share conservation expertise, signed today between the Chinese Government and UK charity the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). The agreement opens the door to share technology to design an

31 May 2016

Chewing gum cleaner used to weed wetland!

Chewing gum cleaner used to weed wetland!

No, we're not vacuuming, we're weeding! A wetland nature reserve has found a novel use for a machine that usually cleans chewing gum and graffiti from towns and streets. WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire is

18 May 2016

Meet the UK's newest birdwatching hide - it's got 16 sides!

Meet the UK's newest birdwatching hide - it's got 16 sides!

The interlocking roof means no pillars are needed Britain’s newest birdwatching hide is a 16-sided wooden gazebo with “surround sight” lagoon views, a close-up kingfisher pool, and a wildlife-friendly roof at th

16 May 2016

WWT welcomes Government's new homes flooding announcement

WWT welcomes Government's new homes flooding announcement

Rain runs off the roofs and parking spaces - into a wildlife-rich wetland Rules to stop new homes in England from causing flooding might not be working, so the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is welcoming a Government announcement to review them. New h

13 May 2016

Lost baby birds. What to do if you find one.

Lost baby birds. What to do if you find one.

Where's my mummy? Springtime is baby birds time. So what if you see one by itself, hopping around without its mum? As worrying as it seems, this is actually quite normal for all birds. Mum is usually not far away, and

4 May 2016

Europe politicians support our shared swans

Europe politicians support our shared swans

Sacha arrives in Brussels to meet MEPs Politicians from across northern Europe have come together to support the continent’s smallest and most threatened swan species – as well as a lone woman who will break recor

29 April 2016

MPs hear multiple benefits of using nature to manage floods

MPs hear multiple benefits of using nature to manage floods

Kevin Peberdy gives evidence to the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee Using plants and soil to slow down rainwater flows can protect us from flooding and much more besides, environmental groups have told MPs. It can also improve water quality

27 April 2016

Celebrities lead support for first ever lone female expedition to save swans

Celebrities lead support for first ever lone female expedition to save swans

Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir David Attenborough head a list of hundreds of businesses, charities and individual supporters throughout Europe and Russia who are getting behind a unique expedition to save Europe’s smallest swan from disapp

26 April 2016

Sustainable drainage - Lords win Bill amendment

Sustainable drainage - Lords win Bill amendment

Rain runs off the roofs and parking spaces - into a wildlife-rich wetland New and existing homes could be better protected from flooding, after the House of Lords voted to stop new houses being automatically connected to overloaded drains. If the amend

25 April 2016

Water experts urge Lords to fight for flood resilient homes in affordable houses debate

Water experts urge Lords to fight for flood resilient homes in affordable houses debate

Why not divert your rain to a water feature, rather than into already overloaded drains? Leading civil engineers, environmental scientists, water experts, water companies and architects have appealed to the Lords to e

22 April 2016

WWT birthday season begins

WWT birthday season begins

Llanelli is the first of four WWT wetland centres to celebrate a milestone birthday this year – WWT’s 70 anniversary year. Our youngest reserve - Steart Marshes It’s a silver anniversary for Llanelli, who opene

15 April 2016

Volunteers chosen for unique wildlife expedition

Volunteers chosen for unique wildlife expedition

Three volunteers have been chosen to join a unique wildlife expedition after being put through their paces at Kate Humble’s Wye Valley Farm. Twelve hopefuls attended the selection weekend for a place in the ground crew for Flight of the Swans – a pa

1 April 2016