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WWT Report and Financial Statements 2012/13
Objectives and activities
Wetland centres
Visitor engagement
In 2012/13 our nine wetland centres continued to provide
enjoyable, inspiring and interesting visits for adults and
families. Our ongoing research to understand better the
full range of motivations for visiting has led to a series of
new developments and changes in the way we interpret
our wetland centres. This work will continue over the next
few years and will include training for staff and volunteers
who work closely with visitors. We also continue to invest
in the maintenance and renewal of facilities across all
wetland centres.
The highlights of the new experiences and facilities
helping visitors to engage with wetland nature and our key
conservation messages are:
•
Following feedback from family visitors and social
groups which revealed that some are uneasy
about using bird hides, a new “discovery hide” was
developed at London. The hide has larger picture
windows, soft seating and coffee tables as well
as guides on how to watch and recognise wildlife.
Binoculars, scopes and bird guides are provided
to try out. Further discovery hides are planned at
Slimbridge and Arundel.
•
Completion of a new pond zone at Washington – a
series of raised ponds in a covered space, together
with pond dipping equipment and interpretation
designed for use by both formal learning groups and
other visitors.
•
A new natural play space at Martin Mere which
combines natural landscaping (sand, boardwalks
and rock features) with a number of play challenges
including a particularly popular wet play area.
•
Development of a new and dramatic greater
flamingo exhibit at Slimbridge in a formerly badly
eroded and silted area of the grounds. The new
flamingo lagoon features a large natural lake,
breeding and loafing islands and a sunken viewing
observatory which gives eye level views of and
interpretation of flamingos.
•
Development and planning for further exhibits in our
grounds – including the introduction of short-clawed
otters to London and a new Weird and Wonderful
exhibit at Martin Mere which celebrates the amazing
adaptations of wildfowl and includes a new aviary.
Photo: © WWT
