News - Washington
Happy Mother's Day to our wetland superstar mams
Where would the natural world be without mothers? Without their protective instincts, their self-sacrifice, their love? This Mother’s Day we pay homage to some wetland superstar mams and of course, give thanks to the ultimate maternal figure looking
17 March 2023
More to mud than meets the eye - a b(l)og
Mud is a miracle.Bugs and mini-beasts live in it. Birds and insects make their homes and eat from it. And at WWT Washington’s ALL NEW Mudfest event this February half-term, families across the North East can find out just how much fun they can have with
16 February 2023
Seriously squelchy fun at Mudfest this February half-term
Mud is a miracle. Bugs and mini-beasts live in it. Birds and insects make their homes from it. And at WWT Washington’s ALL NEW Mudfest this February half-term, families across the North East can find out just how much fun they can have with it! Come
2 February 2023
Willow tit citizen science project needs YOUR help
Washington Wetland Centre is asking the public to be its ‘eyes and ears’ as it works to help protect the red-listed willow tit...Citizen scientists are needed to help WWT Washington save the UK’s fastest declining resident bird species. Our team
26 January 2023
Tales from the Heron Hedge
By Kate Ferguson, reserve warden A prehistoric-sounding squawk echoes across the river as a large shadow flies overhead, stick in beak, and scattering lapwing everywhere. It’s a majestic grey heron, returning from a trip to gather nesting material fr
19 January 2023
Unwind and soak in wetland nature this winter
Winter truly is a most wonderful time of year for wetlands. They are dramatic and changeable. Wild, watery and full of life. There’s no better place to soak in nature. So after the bustle of the festive period and with a new year sretching out ahead,
8 January 2023
Elf Academy graduates donate Christmas gifts to North East children
More than 150 children across the North East will receive an extra special festive gift this year, thanks to WWT Washington’s Elf Academy graduates. The donated presents form part of the wetland centre’s annual Christmas event, which sees youngster
20 December 2022
Top 5 things to do over the festive holidays
Getting out and about in nature can be particularly rewarding after a busy few weeks of Christmas shopping, parties and family gatherings - so don't forget to plan in your down-time! Here's our 'top 5' things to do during a visit to Washington Wetland C
18 December 2022
Recovering Chilean flamingo defies odds
A Chilean flamingo from the flock at Washington Wetland Centre has defied odds after undergoing medical procedure. Our team of keepers alongside WWT veterinarian, Julian Keleş, noticed during a routine check that 'TAX', a 40 year old Chilean flamingo, h
13 December 2022
Wader Lake project reaching new depths
A project designed to bring wetland wildlife and people closer together is reaching new depths out on WWT Washington’s reserve. Wader Lake, one of our site’s best wildlife hotspots, has been the focus of desilting works for more than a year, with a
1 December 2022
Soak in the wild at WWT Washington this winter
Winter truly is a most wonderful time of year for wetlands. They are dramatic and changeable. Wild, watery and full of life. There’s no better place to soak in nature.So why not visit WWT Washington this season and enjoy a wild winter adventure as you d
24 November 2022
Fantastic fungi and where to find them
Fungi can be found all throughout the year, but as temperatures cool and dampness creeps in, fungi becomes more prominent. Here at Washington, we get a fantastic array of different shapes, sizes and colours of fungi. Here are our most common fungi with t
10 November 2022
Seasonal species highlights - autumn hints and tips
Autumn this year has proved to be great so far, with lots of bird species being spotted on our reserve. Many visitors ask us for species highlights to look out for during a visit, so bearded tits aside (these were spotted around our saline lagoon on Sat
4 November 2022
Top 5 things to do this October half term
Visiting our wetlands in autumn can be truly amazing. But it's great to have an idea when visiting with family and friends of the best things to do while you're here. With this in mind, we wanted to share our TOP 5 things to do this half term week! 1
17 October 2022
Because you know we're all about the bats...
When you wander around Washington WWT you’ll see a lot of bird boxes up in the trees, but there are other boxes that look a little different with the entrance at the bottom. These have been designed to provide roosts for bats rather than birds. Becau
8 October 2022