Washington news
Washington warden joins international effort to save swan species
Catching and ringing Bewick’s swans on the Russian tundra is no normal business trip. The birds are truly wild and as such favour the remote. Our reserve warden David Dinsley spent two weeks alongside these iconic birds in August as part of Expedition B
4 September 2018
Essential work on Wader Lake in September
After another breeding season on Wader Lake, it's time to get the area in top condition for the arrival of autumn and winter wading birds. This September, our reserve management team along with a group of dedicated volunteers will be doing some work to
3 September 2018
Wish us luck as you wave us goodbye
WWT Washington's Asian short-clawed otter family (image by Ian Henderson) Lots of our visitors will be aware that our family of Asian short-clawed otters are part of a global species studbook, aimed at conserving hea
17 August 2018
Kestrel thriving after 10 year hiatus
Kestrel juveniles by Ian Hamilton Kestrel are thriving at Washington Wetland Centre for the first time in more than a decade, thanks to funding to improve key meadow habitat. The Making Meadows project was awar
15 July 2018
Solar-powered flamingo house nears completion
Remember back in autumn 2017 when we made a bid to the Marks and Spencer Energy Fund to install solar panels to our flamingo house? And after a huge wave of support following an online campaign (which saw local landmark Penshaw Monument turn pink!) we onl
4 July 2018
Join us for a summer of wild adventure
Dusty Duck is back for another adventure-packed summer of outdoor fun with Dusty’s Wildlife Rangers at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. Children can grab their FREE Wildlife Ranger logbook on arrival throughout the holidays and take on loads of exciting c
21 June 2018
Future architects create homes for wildlife
Students from Newcastle University have worked alongside our staff to create exciting new habitats for the wildlife we protect on site. The third year Architecture degree students have collectively produced an experimental nature trail as an invitation fo
14 May 2018
Downy Duckling Days are here again
Downy Duckling Days are here again at WWT Washington Wetland Centre… Join us this May half-term (Saturday 26 May-Sunday 3 June) to see the latest fluffy arrivals and go behind-the-scenes at our specialist duckery. Daily talks will give you a unique ins
25 April 2018
Celebrity Dusty Ducks - they're kind of a big thing!
A very different flock of ducks is landing at Washington Wetland Centre this Easter – and they’re kind of a big thing! The 14 celebrity-designed GIANT Dusty Ducks will be brightening up our wonderful wetlands from Thursday 29 March-Sunday 15 April, e
26 March 2018
Otter family update
As part of an important wider conservation breeding programme, all Asian short-clawed otter cubs born here at WWT Washington could potentially move on to other animal collections one day. And as followers of #JuBY will know, Mimi and Musa’s first-born c
20 February 2018
Dusty's Puddle Jumping Championships - splashtastic half-term fun!
Wellies at the ready this February half-term as WWT Washington hosts the third annual Dusty’s Puddle Jumping Championships; a splashtastic way to get rid of those winter cobwebs! Bring your friends and family and see who can record the quickest time rou
25 January 2018
Build it and they will come!
Grey Heron With grey heron numbers starting to increase along the river and here on site, our reserve team is busy working on Wader Lake this week in the last available window before these magnificent birds begin to s
16 January 2018
Otter enclosure improvements
We will be carrying out some maintenance work in our otter exhibit to make some fantastic improvements that will hugely benefit our cheeky family of Asian short-clawed otters. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week (8, 9 and 10 January 2018),
8 January 2018
Meet our volunteer photographers
A day in the life of a WWT volunteer photographer. We're very fortunate to have four fantastic photographers here at Washington Wetland Centre, all from different backgrounds and with varied experiences. They play a vital role in helping us share
28 November 2017
Success for flamingo solar power bid
Oh wow. You’ve only gone and done it! Our bid for vital M&S funding to install solar power to our flamingo house has been successful and we quite literally couldn’t have won it without you! The public response to our rallying cry for votes was sim
15 November 2017