News
Conservation heroes given Marsh Award
Two unsung heroes of conservation were rewarded for their achievements today when they each received a Marsh Award for Wetland Conservation from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) in partnership with the Marsh Christian Trust. Colin Gray and Mark Smar
11 October 2018
Aviaries Assembled: Homes for world's rarest duck ready ahead of release
Final preparations have been made ahead of plans to release the world’s rarest duck, the Madagascar pochard, into the wild this autumn. In no mean feat, our conservation team have managed to erect floating aviaries on the remote Lake Sofia. They will s
11 October 2018
New WWT study reveals what captive flamingos get up to when the lights go out
Captive flamingos are as active as their wild counterparts at night despite their different lifestyles, according to latest research. Although the birds were provided with food and protected from predators, footage shows that flamingos at WWT Slimbridg
5 October 2018
Enfield schoolchildren see designs for new wetland nature reserve become reality
The Prince of Wales Open Space was unveiled to the public this week after undergoing a dramatic makeover with the help of local kids. The event was hosted by Enfield Borough Council, Thames Water and WWT who teamed up to breathe new life into the negle
1 October 2018
The Global Wetland Outlook: Wetlands disappearing three times faster than forests
Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than natural forests, warns the Ramsar Convention's report ahead of a global meeting on protecting the world’s wetlands in 2018. Wetlands are as essential for our water as forests are for our air.
27 September 2018
Sri Lankan Government announces wetland protection after WWT collaboration
Colombo’s citizens will reap the many benefits of healthy wetlands after the Sri Lankan government vowed to protect them. Thanks to WWT, and the local partners we work, with the capital’s wetlands have been formally recognised for the natural role th
6 September 2018
Bewick's cygnet numbers in Arctic early sign of bumper breeding season
Our experts made the exciting discovery during their annual 2000-mile trip to the Arctic to ring the critically endangered birds. After spotting just one cygnet last year, Conservation Scientist Kane Brides and Reserve Warden David Dinsley sighted 24 c
31 August 2018
Heatwave makes flamingos broody for first time in 15 years
The rare flock of Andean flamingos at WWT Slimbridge have become foster parents to chicks from their near-relatives, Chilean flamingos, after the hot spell triggered them to lay their first eggs since 2003. The record-breaking temperatures sparked six
9 August 2018
Exotic spider discovered during WWT species survey as part of Salt Hill Playday
A wasp spider – a species relatively new to the UK – was uncovered during a survey to discover local animals and plants as part of the Salt Hill event. The striking arachnid with yellow and black stripes was first recorded on the island in the 1920
7 August 2018
Rare plant with roots in south returns to Arundel after century's absence
A total of 400 triangular club-rushes have been planted over an area of 20 square metres which will be managed by WWT at Arundel Wetland Centre to reverse the hands of time and encourage the shrub to seed.
2 August 2018
Changes to UK farming unlikely to have affected Bewick's swans
Changes to UK farming practices probably didn’t cause a crash in the number of Bewick’s swans, according to new research from WWT. The Bewick’s swan population fell by nearly 40 per cent between 1995 and 2010. The swans feed largely in farmers’
31 July 2018
Think pink! WWT's Paul Rose tells us why his job is flamin-good
Famous for their flamboyancy, few can argue that the flamingo isn’t one of the most fascinating animals on earth. With their hot pink plumage, fabulous dancing skills, upside down beaks and one-legged stance, they make great birds to study. Our very ow
25 July 2018
Chris Packham's Caerlaverock visit unearths unusual discovery
A rare bug - never recorded in Scotland before – was discovered during Chris Packham’s Caerlaverock visit. Two rare saucer bugs, Ilyocoris cimicoides, were spotted by eagle-eyed local expert naturalist, Bob Merritt in a pond on the reserve. Up unti
24 July 2018
Cranes here to stay, new model predicts
The UK’s tallest bird – the common crane – is here to stay and we could have as many as 275 breeding pairs within 50 years, according to the latest population model from scientists at the University of Exeter, WWT and RSPB published in Animal Conser
17 July 2018
Making a splash! Pupils at Enfield's Prince of Wales Primary plant water garden
Year two schoolchildren helped create their very own living water feature by filling a small pool with wetland plants. They also got their hands muddy by making finishing touches to a nearby Mediterranean gravel garden, digging holes and filling them w
11 June 2018