Pond dipping for adults
Springtime pond safaris at WWT London Wetland Centre
At WWT London Wetland Centre pond dipping has proved popular with families for over a decade, but now adults are being given the chance to roll up their sleeves and take part in the fun. Nets and knowledge are supplied by the Centre; you just need to turn up and join in!
Pond dipping involves using a net to scoop aquatic creatures from a pond so that they can be looked at in more detail. At WWT London Wetland Centre a huge variety of animals live in the reserve’s special raised ponds, from water fleas to newts.
Shayna Barby, the Centre’s Learning Manager, said “We realised that adults enjoyed our pond dipping sessions just as much as the children did. So in these special sessions we can go into more depth and really help to strengthen people’s appreciation and understanding of the wealth of life beneath the surface of the water.”
On these pond safaris you may find anything from a diving beetle to a caddisfly larva and the London Wetland Centre team will be on hand to tell you about the creatures' behaviours, lifecycles and habitats. The world of the freshwater pond contains many surprises. Did you know that caddisfly larvae clothe themselves in pieces of gravel and the shells of aquatic snails? Or that the water boatman is the loudest animal on earth relative to its body size?
Pond dipping for adults at WWT London Wetland Centre runs every Monday in March at 12 noon and 3pm. No previous knowledge of pondlife is required and there’s no need to book. Taking part is free with paid admission to the Centre.
