The first wigeon have been recorded on 38 hectares of specially created wetland habitat next to the WWT Welney Wetland Centre, thanks to the combined efforts of Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), WWT Consulting and the Environment Agency (EA), who funded the project.

Since receiving planning permission in January 2008, the WWT at Welney have transformed this farmland into wet grassland by digging a system of ditches, channels and scrapes, inserting a waterproof liner to protect surrounding farmland and seeding it with native grasses. The first 100 wigeon were recorded on the new wetland in the first week of December with 114 teal, 29 mallard and 15 pintail. Other sightings on the land include eight snipe, over 200 golden plover, more than 100 lapwing, a short-eared owl and 200 whooper swans roosting on the scrapes.

“We started to wet-up the site for the first time at the beginning of November and already it is being used by good numbers of birds,” said Emma Hutchins, head of reserves management for WWT. “The site is still in an establishment phase (the last area of grass was only seeded in October) but already it is attracting the desired wildlife.”

Back in 2006, the EA purchased the former agricultural land, known as Lady Fen Farm, to establish wet grassland for wigeon as part of the compensatory habitat creation for flood defence work carried out on the Middle Level Barrier Bank of the Ouse Washes. This involved protecting sections of the Barrier Bank from erosion by installing concrete panels along the foot of bank. The land is also a part of the Environment Agency’s wider biodiversity action plan.

Dr Geoff Brighty, area manager for the Environment Agency said: “The purchase of Lady Fen has enabled us to get the best of both Environment Agency worlds – to help us protect local communities from flooding while creating a wildlife habitat which is good for birds. We are delighted that WWT are managing Lady Fen on our behalf and we look forward to it attracting even more wildlife.”

WWT Welney holds internationally important wintering populations of wigeon. The Ouse Washes form the largest example of internationally important washland in Britain, and is the most important area of lowland wet grassland for birds in Britain

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas at Slimbridge without Crinkly, the much loved Bewick’s swan with the crinkly neck.

Just over three weeks ago, she had touched down on the reserve at the end of another gruelling migration, but hadn’t been seen here since. So this morning, with just over two weeks to go until the big day, it was excitement all round as Crinkly was spotted proudly feeding in front of the main Peng Observatory.

Crinkly has become a firm Slimbridge favourite after first arriving here in 2004 as a cygnet with parents Lucius and Coletta. She has a kink in her neck which makes her very distinctive from the other swans, and against all of the odds, has survived ten journeys, clocking up over 30,000 km! It is thought that Crinkly was born with this birth defect and, although is not as aerodynamic as the others, seems to cope very well!

She does not appear to have a mate, although a partner that is new to the reserve may be initially hesitant in coming on to the main lake so we will have to wait and see what Santa brings….

Visitors to the centre should be able to recognise Crinkly’s distinctive neck at the popular daily commentated swan feeds.

In a meeting today at Newport Wetlands in Gwent, WWT and other environmental charities will present a joint statement to climate change minister Mike O’Brien. The statement outlines fears that less environmentally damaging options for harnessing the power of the Severn Estuary will be dropped.

The government is currently reviewing ten options for generating renewable energy in the Severn Estuary. This month they are due to choose a shortlist to review in more detail. WWT is concerned that options based on newer technology will be discarded at this stage because they are less developed than older schemes such as the Cardiff-Weston barrage. However, some newer proposals have taken environmental concerns into account from the outset and it is hoped that they can create clean energy with much less damage to the estuary.

Dr Debbie Pain, WWT’s director of conservation, says: “The government has set admirable targets to increase renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions. We just need to make sure that we achieve these with minimal environmental damage. It is acknowledged that the Cardiff-Weston barrage would fundamentally alter the nature of the Severn Estuary. Surely now is not the time to rule out other schemes which could be much less damaging.”

The Severn Power Feasibility Study was set up in January this year. Initially the study was hosted by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. The study was moved to the newly created Department for Energy and Climate Change under Ed Milliband. Minister Mike O’Brien has responsibility for Severn tidal power. He is today visiting Newport Wetlands on the Welsh side of the estuary to see the wildlife of the estuary for himself.

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