Management and funding
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre is managed by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).
WWT Slimbridge is operated as a visitor attraction with about 200,000 visitors per year. Income is from admission fees, WWT membership subscriptions and secondary spend in the restaurant, gallery and shop. There is a thriving and growing corporate and functions business. The Friends of Slimbridge is an organisation which raises money through events, which then goes on to support projects across the site. Slimbridge also benefits from legacies, donations, grants, corporate sponsorship, land rental and partnerships with other organisations. The centre operates at a profit, which as a charity, is wholly ploughed back into the centre and into WWT generally.
Founded/opened
On 16 December 1945, Peter Scott visited Slimbridge to test his theory that the rarely seen Lesser White-fronted Geese might have been undetected amongst the numerous White-fronted Geese which visited the Severn Estuary each winter. He saw two birds - the third recorded sighting of the species in the UK - as well as thousands of other geese. The experience inspired Peter to 'establish on the Severn estuary a centre for the scientific study, public display and conservation of the wildfowl of the world'.
WWT was founded as the Severn Wildfowl Trust by naturalist/painter Sir Peter Scott in 1946 at Slimbridge on the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, west England.
In 1966 Her Majesty the Queen opened the new Research and Education Centre at Slimbridge.
WWT was awarded money from the Millennium Commission towards the cost of a redevelopment of the Centre. The new Visitor Centre was opened in February 2000.
Description
The headquarters of WWT. Today with its award-winning visitor centre overlooking nationally and internationally protected wetlands, this world famous site is an important wintering area for migrating waterbirds such as Bewick's Swans as well as housing a large ex-situ wildfowl collection.
The centre is a mixture of conservation centre and visitor attraction incorporating elements of nature reserve, zoo and botanic garden exhibitry, reedbeds, interactive science centre, and sustainable garden.
Most of the 260 hectare (650 acre) site is a mosaic of wetlands including open water, reedbed, grazing marsh, ponds and pools, wader scrapes and riverside flooded meadow. The wild reserve is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar Site. The newest classification is a Special Area for Conservation (SAC). A number of single and a three-storey hide throughout the site bring visitors closer to nature and are interpreted accordingly.
Slimbridge has the world's largest collection of exotic, rare and endangered ducks, geese and swans in a reserve of international importance, unique to the southwest of England. Amble through 50 hectares of landscaped grounds which change through the seasons following the designated varying length paths through different continents. The Tropical House is open for visitors to enjoy the most wondrous birds, and from the South Finger watch Kingfishers raise their families during the spring.
Within the new Visitor Centre, there is the Hanson Discovery Centre, a cinema,art gallery, shop, restaurant and amazing views over the River Severn from the Sloane Observation Tower.
Key species/features
A network of various water control measures allows water levels to be manipulated. Levels may be lowered, for example, to expose mud for waders (shorebirds) to probe in for food, or elevated to, say, flood grazing meadows in winter for migratory waterbirds.
General
As part of the WWT family, WWT Slimbridge adheres to the WWT Curriculum, Learning for Life Policy, and Education Guidelines.
Interpretation and exhibitry
The exhibitry has been described above. Slimbridge was the first WWT centre to be designed from first principles as an interpretation-led centre. Stories are based on the five secrets of wetlands (that wetlands store water, clean and filter water, calm against the excesses of storms and floofs, produce numerous products, and are homes to biodiversity), the five secrets of ecology (energy, cycles, conditions, communities, change), and sustainability (reduce, reuse, recycle, renew our relations with the natural world, and the recreation of nature - literally rebuilding biodiversity).
Different levels of messages are aimed at different audiences and a variety of media are used from graphics and signage to touch screens and interactives. Human interpreters are also used (see below -Informal).
Formal (school and university) learning
School programmes are informed by the WWT Curriculum and are based on the slogan of WISE UP to Wetlands with the themes of water, ecology, biodiversity and sustainability (WEBS). They are tailored to the English National Curriculum and differentiated by age/ability. Slimbridge also provides tailored programmes for other syllabuses, tertiary students and special needs groups. Programmes include Animal Behavious, Leisure and Tourism, Customer Care and Environmental issues.
Schools may book direct contact sessions with centre educators. These make use of the whole site and avoid the formal classroom setting as much as possible. Sessions are interactive, child-centred, conceptually and educationally robust, but fun. Learning support materials are available through this website.
Schools are welcome to visit the centre just for an enjoyable day out as well if required. Slimbridge also offers sessions for Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, Watch groups and anyone else requiring an educationally themed visit. Along the road is a Youth Hostel which could be used as a base for visiting.
Informal (general public) learning
In addition to the interpretation and exhibitry, Slimbridge produces a Walkabout Guide giving background and information about the area where visitors are located. Appropriate publications are also sold in the shop.
There is an ever-changing programme of daily and seasonal events and activities. These range from daily art/craft activities and pond dips to Art Gallery exhibitions. Swan feeds during the winter, Landrover Safaris in the summer, themed holiday activities for children and families including trails and games, story tellers, Duckery Tours, Birdwatching beginners courses, early morning events giving participants the chance to watch early rising birds and enjoy a hearty breakfast, art workshops and much more.
Over 110 volunteers drawn from the local community and further afield assist with site management, research projects, office management as well as greeting visitors, answering questions, meeting and greeting groups, leading guided tours for the public, selling grain, attending exhibitions, arts and crafts plus much more.
Professional
Slimbridge also offers its many rooms for hire when conservation eetings, functions, Annual meetings, events and any other activities occur. It consistently holds meetings and conferences for environmental initiatives, launches and organisations at the local, regional, national and international levels. The centre welcomes numerous professionals from around the world from research organisations to senior advisors, policy makers and planners, as well as environmental educators, teachers and scientists at all levels of connection with wetlands from senior Government to grassroots levels.
Slimbridge is visited by several local and national environmental education training networks including those from Westonbirt Arboretum, Cotswold Water Park and Paignton Zoo.
Slimbridge is the winner of several awards including:
Animal Attraction of the Year 2000
British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow 2000
Heart of England Access for All 2001
English Tourism Council Access for All - Silver Award
Staffing
About 60 full-time staff work at Slimbridge, swelled by seasonal employees in the shop and restaurant as needed. The centre id headed by a Centre Operations Manager, directed by the WWT Managing Director who is based at WWT Headquarters.
The Education Department is led by the Learning Manager. There is an Education and Events Officer, one other fulltime teacher and two parttime teachers.
Contacts
Sue Porter
Learning Manager
E: sue.porter@wwt.org.uk