It’s lights, camera, action at the brand new Springwatch Experience at WWT London Wetland Centre this May

30 April 2019

This May sees the launch of a unique wildlife experience at London Wetland Centre, where visitors can try their hand at becoming a Springwatch Wildlife presenter.

Budding Michaela Strachans and Chris Packhams can test their presenting skills in a specially constructed set, based on the popular BBC Springwatch series, complete with cue cards, a TV screen and of course, a sofa.

This brand new licensed Springwatch Experience is exclusive to WWT, and is being launched on 25 May. Using an existing building at the London site, the ‘Lodge’ has been transformed into a Springwatch style set, complete with a comfy sofa and a TV screen showing footage from the BBC series. The monitors will also link to wildlife spectacles seen around WWT centres, ranging from sand martins at London to ospreys at Caerlaverock. Visitors of any age can choose the wildlife clips they want to talk about, learn from the information provided in the Lodge and make notes on special cue cards in readiness for their presenting debut. Using the modified camera, videos can be uploaded from smart phones and shared on social media. There are even special prizes on offer for the best presenters!

If presenting is not your thing, you can choose to be on the other side of the camera, by becoming a wildlife researcher. Every show needs someone to find the best wildlife stories so there’ll be a chance to do some research around the London site, learn about the fascinating wildlife and find some amazing stories.

Visitor Experience Manager at WWT London Wetland Centre, Matt Thorley explains;

“This is a fantastic opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a Springwatch presenter. Budding wildlife presenters of all ages will have lots of fun and the chance to share their videos with all their friends. We can’t wait to see what creations our visitors produce and it will be really exciting for them to be entered into a best presenter competition. Who knows, they could be the next wildlife sensation!”

The relationship between WWT and the BBC Watches programmes stems back to 2005, when part of the first ever Springwatch episode was filmed at London wetland centre, where peregrine falcons and red foxes were observed. Since then, there have been six further episodes filmed either in part, or hosted at one of the nine wetland centres across the UK.

Rosemary Edwards, Springwatch Executive Producer said;

“The whole remit of Springwatch is to inform and educate as well as entertain. The WWT Springwatch Experience is a chance for people to see wildlife at close quarters through the WWT wildlife cameras as well as revisit some of the show’s favourite characters. These experiences will help them to understand how valuable our UK wildlife species are as well as give them the opportunity to step into the presenters’ shoes.”