News

David Attenborough here to launch Big Butterfly Count

David Attenborough here to launch Big Butterfly Count

Sir David launches Big Butterfly Count at London Wetland Centre “Citizen science is a great thing. The results of Big Butterfly Count build year on year and they’re invaluable. Not only is it useful, it’s fun!

18 July 2014

Sand martin nest bank reopens

Sand martin nest bank reopens

We have opened our sand martin nest bank again, now that the birds have reared their first broods. We kept it closed for a few weeks this year to see if the reduction in noise increased the number of pairs nesting, but it doesn't seem to h

6 June 2014

Chris and Bill come to Barnes

Chris and Bill come to Barnes

Chris Packham and Bill Oddie were here recently for an interview in this week's Radio Times to launch Springwatch. It's a fascinating article, covering the highs and lows of conservation. Luckily they both claimed London Wetland Centre as one of the main

28 May 2014

Pond dipping for adults

Pond dipping for adults

On Monday we start our popular pond dipping sessions for adults again. You may find a diving beetle, a newt or a caddisfly larvae and our team will be on hand to tell you about the creatures' behaviours and habitats. No previous knowledge is required, the

27 May 2014

What animals will you encounter?

What animals will you encounter?

Our Animal Encounters week kicks off tomorrow and we're aiming to show you some of the weird and wonderful wildlife that lives here which is a bit harder to spot than the ducks and other birds.  Join us and who knows, you might see a stag beetle like thi

23 May 2014

Animal Encounters

Animal Encounters

Animal Encounters at WWT London Wetland Centre Meet some of our mysterious wildlife – flying pink elephants and mini-dragons! Did you know that hidden here at WWT London Wetland Centre there are flying pink elephants?  It’s easy to spot the ducks whi

22 May 2014

Nick Baker and Tony Juniper podcast

Nick Baker and Tony Juniper podcast

Nick Baker, naturalist and TV presenter, introduces some easy animal tracking tips. Learning more about animal tracking can greatly enhance your enjoyment of the natural world. And Tony Juniper, eco-campaigner and writer, explains the importance of wetlan

12 September 2013

London Wetland Centre home to deadly duel in the undergrowth

London Wetland Centre home to deadly duel in the undergrowth

Conehead cricket being stalked across southern England by a spider with a cavalier attitude to lunch On the surface all seems calm at this tranquil nature reserve but down in the grass a dramatic battle is raging between two fascinating animals, a bright

28 August 2013

Nick Baker, nature tracker

Nick Baker, nature tracker

Nick Baker   Wildlife watching talk, Sunday 1 September Springwatch presenter Nick Baker will be giving a special talk at WWT London Wetland Centre on tracking wildlife: how to find out what animals are up to even when they can’t be seen! Every

22 August 2013

Perfect Pond Season - 3

Perfect Pond Season - 3

Guest blog by Nick Oliver The Perfect Pond Season was our way of marking the British Ecological Society’s Festival of Ecology. For seven weeks we went wild about all things pond. From fresh water sampling and reedbed walks for older children and adults,

15 August 2013

Wetlands in bloom: record orchid display on the reserve

Wetlands in bloom: record orchid display on the reserve

It’s been another good year for orchids on the reserve with best counts yet so far for Southern Marsh Orchid, Bee Orchid and Pyramidal Orchid. This chart (click to enlarge) shows how well they’re doing. The Dactylorhiza x grandis in the chart refers

8 August 2013

Shovelers breed at WWT London Wetland Centre for the first time

Shovelers breed at WWT London Wetland Centre for the first time

You wait for 13 years... then 3 come along at once! Shoveler brood - Mike Caiden Visitors at WWT London Wetland Centre have been enjoying watching Shoveler ducklings out on the reserve’s lakes this summer.

30 July 2013

Perfect Pond Season - 2

Perfect Pond Season - 2

Guest blog by Nick Oliver Four weeks into the Perfect Pond Season and not much has changed with our pond succession experiment. The basin, up on the bank in Pond Zone, was dug back in April and filled with rain water collected in a water butt, and left

24 July 2013

Perfect Pond Season - 1

Perfect Pond Season - 1

Guest blog by Nick Oliver We’re two weeks into our Perfect Pond Season, part of the British Ecological Society’s Festival of Ecology, which marks their centenary year. Visitors have enjoyed the opportunity to join in with our freshwater surveys across

4 July 2013

Record breakers: WWT London Wetland Centre’s First Eleven

Record breakers: WWT London Wetland Centre’s First Eleven

Mute Swan with 11 cygnets - Lee Smith A pair of mute swans at WWT London Wetland Centre has broken a record by hatching 12 cygnets. In our 13 year history this is the highest number of cygnets recorded for one pair of

22 June 2013