New development
Work has begun on a major new attraction: Wooded Wetlands at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.
The new attraction is a complete redevelopment of the North American area of the waterfall gardens and will ultimately include tepee encampment demonstrating how indigenous people lived sustainably in wetlands as a focal point for events and activities for children and adults. The attraction has been partly funded thanks to the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Grounds Manager, Steve Nasir, said: “The first stage of the project has been the
renovation of the waterfall pen and this is now almost complete. The pen is now home to a number of buffleheads, a diving sea duck. Part of the development has been to install a water filtration system so that the water is clear and you can see the diving ducks as they play and swim underwater – this is the first time we have been able to show this behaviour at Martin Mere and it should be a very popular attraction. There will also be a forest boardwalk, central lake and tepee encampment.”
The swamps and forests in North America form a continuous ring of wetland wilderness around the entire globe. They form the world’s largest biome and are the destination of choice for many breeding waterbirds. It’s experienced the biggest temperature change in the world over the last two decades and faces many threats. Many of the traditional ways of life are also under threat and visitors to Martin Mere’s wooded wetlands will learn about how local communities lived in tune with nature.
The 4 exhibits will showcase the iconic species which rely on this biome such as seaduck and those duck species that actually nest within the forest canopy.
The development is due to be complete later in 2016.
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9.30am to 6pm during summer months and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere/ to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight WWT Wetland Centres.
Thank you to Vince Ellis and Damien and Emma for these photographs.
