Castle Espie news

'Weaving' nature, heritage skills, and mental health for Inspiring Textiles project

Newtownards based social enterprise Inspiring Yarns has been awarded a £99,927 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to implement a project called Inspiring Textiles at WWT Castle Espie. Inspiring Textiles at WWT Castle Espie will significantly f

18 January 2024

Wrap up and enjoy the gift of WWT Castle Espie this winter

At WWT Castle Espie we're getting ready to welcome in winter 2023 and everyone is invited to wrap up warm and take in the wonderous sights and sounds. From fantastic bird spectacles and winter woodland walks, to Elf Academy and beautiful nature illustrati

1 December 2023

7 signs of autumn at Castle Espie

October at Castle Espie means an explosion of autumnal colour and a chorus of quacks and honks from our winter arrivals. It’s the perfect time to pull your boots on, get outdoors, and experience all the awe-inspiring wildlife that wetlands have to offer

20 October 2023

Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake Exhibition Opens at WWT Castle Espie

WWT Castle Espie has officially opened the Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake exhibition in The Graffan Gallery, Ireland’s only environmental art space. WWT Castle Espie is among four WWT sites hosting the exhibition featuring some of Sir Quentin Blake’s w

18 October 2023

Uncover all things October at Castle Espie

October is a busy month here at Castle Espie, filled with wonderful wetland wildlife and truly eek!citing days out. With the light-bellied Brent geese already returning to Strangford Lough and spooky season creeping closer, here’s your complete round-up

29 September 2023

Get ready for The Big Brent Weekend at WWT Castle Espie this October

WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre is getting ready to welcome visitors to The Big Brent Weekend Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October, which celebrates one of its greatest wildlife spectacles of the year – the return of the light-bellied Brent Geese to the

22 September 2023

Call to clean up Lough Neagh

As a charity who campaigns for healthy wetlands, we are calling for immediate action to clean up Lough Neagh, one of the UK’s most important wetlands, providing 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water. Healthy wetlands, such as lakes, rivers a

22 September 2023

New EV charge points at WWT Castle Espie

There are now around 660,000 electric vehicles on the UK roads and 445,000 plug in hybrids. 1 in 6 new cars purchased in the UK in 2022 was an all electric. The RAC estimates that around 80% of electrical vehicle charging happens at home but public charge

6 September 2023

Fill your senses with the autumn season at WWT Castle Espie

Get ready, pull on your boots, and fill your senses with the autumn season with a range of events and activities celebrating the unique wetlands and wildlife at WWT Castle Espie. Every year in September and October around 25,000 light-bellied brent gee

1 September 2023

How to have an action-packed August at Castle Espie

The end of the school holidays may be on the horizon but there’s still plenty of time to enjoy our summer events programme this year! Make the most of August with a day well-spent at Castle Espie. Here’s what you don’t want to miss: Drawn to W

16 August 2023

'Eco' Poetry Jukebox helps visitors connect with WWT Castle Espie

Internationally renowned Poetry Jukebox has arrived at WWT Castle Espie. Located in the Lime Kiln Observatory, at the touch of a button visitors can listen to a poetry collection named FORAGE. The collection features 20 original ‘eco’ poems based on

9 August 2023

WWT Castle Espie calls on NI nature lovers to make a big splash for wildlife

From drainpipe wetlands to bogs in backyards, WWT Castle Espie is encouraging everyone in Northern Ireland to make a big splash for nature by building nature-rich mini-wetlands where they live, no matter how small or how built up the area. The charity is

27 July 2023

Your guide to a rainy-day adventure at Castle Espie

21 July 2023

Environmental management certification awarded to WWT Castle Espie

We are delighted to announce that Castle Espie are the first centre in the WWT to be awarded the prestigious ISO 14001 certification for Environmental Management.

13 July 2023

Step into Summer at Castle Espie

Signs of summer are all around. From the reserve to the lakes and ponds to the woodland paths to fantastic events to keep everyone entertained.

22 June 2023