News
Ballast convention reduces mitten crab threat, but it’s not the end of the story
The risk to UK wildlife from invasive Chinese mitten crabs will be significantly reduced once the Government follows through on its commitment to treat ballast water from ships coming into UK waters. However, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) has jo
27 March 2017
Prince of Wales and Sir David Attenborough celebrate support of lottery players
WWT’s new Patron, Prince Charles joined WWT Vice-President Sir David Attenborough and Chief Executive Martin Spray at the 2017 People’s Postcode Lottery annual Charity Gala earlier this week, where it was announced that £66.3 million was awarded to c
27 January 2017
Lottery focus on 'incredible journey' learning experience
A share of the £225,000 gifted to the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) via the support of players of the People’s Postcode Lottery is now helping school pupils understand the incredible journeys of migratory species of bird.
28 November 2016
“Swan woman” flying again after injury but heartbroken by news of swan death
“Human swan” conservationist Sacha Dench from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is flying again after being injured while following rare Bewick’s swans on their migration from Russia. She fitted wheels to her paramotor to take pressure off he
11 November 2016
'Spoonies' take starring role in new C4 documentary
The Critically Endangered spoon-billed sandpiper will be stepping into the limelight this week when the first programme in a new C4 documentary series is broadcast at 7pm on Saturday. China: Between Clouds and Dreams is a new five-part series which aims t
4 November 2016
Human swan injured on migration
Conservationist Sacha Dench has dislocated her kneecap whilst following the migration of Bewick’s swans in a paramotor. Ms Dench is tracking the swans for 7000km from Arctic Russia to the UK as part of a project by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT
11 October 2016
Recent Sightings
Great White Egret cr. Rob Werran British Steel Hide Great White Egret 2 Curlew Sandpiper 11 Black-tailed Godwit 406 Bar-tailed Godwit 3 Lapwing 40 Redshank 11 Spotted Redshank 2 Ruff 2 Dunlin 7 Wigeon 51 Marsh Harrier 1 Peregrine 1 Mil
16 September 2016
Lead poisoning - Government announces decision
The Government has rejected a stakeholder group’s recommendation that lead ammunition should be phased out on account of its risk to wildlife and human health. A key aspect for WWT is that wildfowl often ingest poisonous lead pellets, left on the groun
14 July 2016
Award for Schools Environment Project
Hollickwood Primary School children get planting![/caption] A project in which schoolchildren help to reduce flooding and pollution, while learning about wildlife, has won a major national environmental award. The project was run across 10 schools in N
7 July 2016
WWT becomes a formal partner on the Ramsar Convention
WWT became a formal partner of the global convention for wetlands – the Ramsar Convention – earlier this month. WWT Chief Executive Martin Spray joined Acting Secretary General of Ramsar, Ania Grobicki, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that plac
28 June 2016
Cranes pushed to the edge by floods on the Somerset Levels
A flock of cranes that ended up at the centre of a once-in-200-year flood has given researchers a rare insight into how wildlife copes with extreme weather. The cranes’ progress was being tracked by researchers from the University of Exeter, the Wildfo
27 June 2016
WWT welcomes Government's new homes flooding announcement
Rain runs off the roofs and parking spaces - into a wildlife-rich wetland Rules to stop new homes in England from causing flooding might not be working, so the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is welcoming a Government announcement to review them. New h
13 May 2016
MPs hear multiple benefits of using nature to manage floods
Kevin Peberdy gives evidence to the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee Using plants and soil to slow down rainwater flows can protect us from flooding and much more besides, environmental groups have told MPs. It can also improve water quality
27 April 2016
Sustainable drainage - Lords win Bill amendment
Rain runs off the roofs and parking spaces - into a wildlife-rich wetland New and existing homes could be better protected from flooding, after the House of Lords voted to stop new houses being automatically connected to overloaded drains. If the amend
25 April 2016
Higher risk to swans from lead poisoning
The health of swans in Britain is being affected by lead poisoning at lower doses than previously recognised, suggests new research by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) and the University of Exeter. The study investigated levels of lead in the blood
1 April 2016