Real life explorer swoops into Washington Wetland Centre
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s (WWT) Sacha Dench, leader of the first ever lone female paramotor expedition to follow Europe’s smallest swan on migration, swooped into Wearside nature reserve, WWT Washington Wetland Centre today in advance of her gruelling journey.
Her expedition, the Flight of the Swans is the first ever attempt to follow the migration of the Bewick’s swan from the air to find out why their numbers are declining so dramatically. The Bewick’s swan was named after Northumberland born engraver and wildlife author Thomas Bewick, who produced many fine drawings of this beautiful bird during his lifetime.
Setting off this September, Sacha will fly her paramotor from the Bewick’s swan’s breeding ground in arctic Russia 7,500 km across 11 countries before finishing at the swan’s final destination in the UK.
The paramotor is simply a wing of fabric, from which Sacha will dangle with a propeller strapped to her back. Flying at the same speed and height as the swans she will experience the wonders and dangers the swans face including heavy storms, sea crossings and extreme cold. She will share their view with the world in real time using the latest digital camera technology and satellite communication.
Sacha is also WWT’s 2016 Nature Explorer and landed at the beautiful wetland centre in Tyne and Wear to highlight how local children can follow in her footsteps by becoming Nature Explorers themselves. They can do this by picking up a Nature Explorers passport at WWT Washington and completing various challenges throughout the summer holidays.
Sacha Dench says, “It’s great to be visiting the fantastic wetlands of WWT Washington before I head off following the migrating Bewick’s swans for real in two months time. My thirst for adventure began by exploring nature locally, so I’m really happy to be also highlighting how children in Tyne and Wear can do the same by taking part in the fantastic Nature Explorers activities being held this summer at WWT Washington.”
WWT Washington centre manager Gill Pipes said: “Visitors to our centre will know that conservation is seldom easy or straightforward and Sacha’s expedition demonstrates just this. It’s a privilege knowing that the support we gain here at WWT Washington from our visitors and members funds such cutting edge (and, if we’re honest, a little bit scary) projects to take care of the most vulnerable of our wildlife. What Sacha learns about the challenges the swans face on this perilous journey will provide vital information to the team researching the factors affecting them. What an exciting and valuable project!
To find out about Nature Explorers at WWT Washington visit wwt.org.uk/washington/natureexplorers. To find out more about Flight of the Swans visit www.flightoftheswans.org.
