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WWT Report and Financial Statements 2012/13
Public benefit statement
This statement complies with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to
have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission.
Sir Peter Scott founded WWT in 1946 to bring people
and wildlife together, and to engage and inspire them
to enjoy and take an interest in the natural world. He
established four pillars as the foundation of WWT’s
conservation work – scientific research, ‘on the ground’
conservation action, education and recreation. These
have been the core elements of WWT’s work throughout
its 67 years and remain central to its future plans.
Conservation research and action
WWT manages nine wetland centres with 2,600 hectares
of important nature reserves, eight of which carry a
national and/or international designation. We have a
substantial public responsibility for the management
and conservation of these important wildlife habitats and
the species they support, including threatened species
such as Bewick’s swan, natterjack toad and water vole.
Our work on these reserves contributes to many local,
regional and national Biodiversity Action Plan targets.
WWT has a longstanding and respected history of
monitoring and research, particularly in the fields of
migration and population studies of key waterbird
species, in bird diseases, and more recently in the field
of constructed wetlands for improving water quality and
enhancing biodiversity. This research informs our own
conservation action, and is used to inform and influence
others responsible for the management of wetlands and
their species.
Our knowledge and expertise are increasingly used
outside our centres, both in the UK and overseas, to
help in restoring and recreating wetland habitats for the
benefit of wildlife, landscape and amenity value and
local human livelihoods.
WWT’s international work is growing steadily and
includes conservation of wetland habitats to benefit local
communities as well as biodiversity, and conservation
breeding and reintroduction programmes to help prevent
the extinction of some of the world’s rarest and most
endangered species. This builds on the pioneering
conservation breeding work of Sir Peter Scott that saved
the Hawaiian goose (nene) from extinction 50 years ago.
Education
Since its inception WWT has been well known for its
educational work at its wetland centres – both formal
learning programmes for visiting schools and youth
groups, and informal interaction with visitors of all ages.
Many schools make repeat visits each year.
WWT’s advocacy work seeks to influence policy and
decision making to achieve better understanding
of the importance of wetland habitats and enhance
the conservation of the precious biodiversity of the
UK. Major examples have been its continuing work
to promote the importance of, and need for, out of
classroom learning for young people, working with
government and other NGOs to inform the feasibility
assessment of the River Severn for tidal energy
generation, and WWT’s significant input into government
policy making in respect of avian influenza.
Through its Wetland Link International network WWT
encourages and facilitates exchange of expertise,
experience and best practice between member wetland
centres across the world.
Recreation & engagement
WWT’s wetland centres provide more than 800,000
people with the opportunity to enjoy and be close to
nature each year. Whilst a charge is made for admission
in order to fund the operation and maintenance of
the wetland centres, there are concessionary rates for
people over the age of 65, for unemployed people and
for students. Entry to all nine wetland centres is free to
members and membership is open to everyone. Each
wetland centre is accessible to all with paths suitable for
wheelchairs and for people with other disabilities.
We offer a wide range of opportunities for volunteers
and value their considerable contribution to our work.
Approximately 700 people volunteer at our wetland
centres each year. WWT also has strong links with
communities and local organisations close to our
wetland centres, for example the scouts who meet at
Slimbridge, which encourage young people to get closer
to nature. Our membership continues to grow, enabling
us to engage directly with more people on wetland and
environmental issues. WWT’s growing involvement with
the corporate sector has resulted in increasing staff
volunteering days at our wetland centres.
