Reserve Update
Wednesday 7th May
Water levels on the reserve have been dropping in recent weeks. The A1101 between Welney village and Suspension Bridge is open. The main Observatory and wing hides are open as are Buxton and Lyle hides; the work being carried out on the ramp behind the main observatory is now complete. Allport and Friends hides are also open but wellies are advised when the weather has been wet.
The spring migration is well under way with many migrants passing through and arriving everyday. Check Wildlife Sightings for any interesting sightings.
If you have any questions related to these updates, please do not hesitate to contact the centre using the below contact information, where a member of staff will be happy to help.
Opening times
Open 7 days a week, except 25 December
Summer
9.30am to 5.00pm - Visitor Centre, Shop, Reserve and Observatory
9.30am to 4.30pm - Wigeon Cafe
Last admissions are at 4.30pm
Winter (Mon 3 November 2008 - Sun 1 March 2009)
Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays
10.00am to 5.00pm - Visitor centre/shop/reserve (Wigeon café closes at 4.30pm)
Thursdays - Sundays
10.00am to 8.00pm – Visitor centre/shop/reserve (Wigeon café closes at 7.30pm)
Late night last admission at 6.30pm.
Occasionally, during the winter months, the A1101 between Welney village and Suspension bridge is flooded. This flooding can also affect access to some parts of the reserve. At these times, regular updates will be posted on the website. In times when there is no flooding, no further notice will be posted. If you are unsure about the current conditions, or would like further information, please call the centre on 01353 860711 before you leave home.
Daytime Wild Swan Feeds – Winter 2008/2009
Sat 25 October 2008 to Sun 15 March 2009
Monday – Sunday at 3.30pm
Fri 26 December 2008 to Sun 1 March 2009
Monday - Sunday 12 noon
Thu 6 November 2008 - Sun 1 March 2009
Thursday - Sunday 6.30pm
Additonal swan feeds are available on Wednesday evenings for group bookings only. Please see groups
Gift Aid admission prices
Our prices are as follows:
Free to WWT members
Adult: £5.95
Concession: £4.50 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)
Child: £2.95 (4 -16 years)
Family: £16.00 (2 adults & 2 children, 4 - 16 years)
The Gift Aid admission price includes a voluntary donation, which enables us to claim the tax back as part of the Government's Gift Aid scheme.
If you choose not to pay the Gift Aid price, these are the prices excluding the voluntary donation.
Adult: £5.39
Concession: £4.06 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)
Child: £2.68 (4 -16 years)
Family: £14.53 (2 adults & 2 children, 4 - 16 years)
Facilities
Eating
The fully Licensed Wigeon Café offers a delicious selection of hot and cold food, a variety of coffees and chilled drinks, and tempting home-made cakes. From healthy vegetarian salads to hearty meat dishes, all can be enjoyed overlooking the beautiful wetlands.
Hot food served between 12noon and 2.30pm.
We do offer Senior Citizens Lunches on Tuesdays with a discount of 10% on meals, teas and coffees (does not include bottled drinks or packaged goods).
Click here if you would like to hire our venues.
Shopping
The gift shop stocks a wide range of wildlife books, outdoor clothing, bird feeders/boxes, postcards and stationary, children’s gifts and souvenirs of your visit to the centre, including a unique range of products featuring the artwork of WWT founder Sir Peter Scott.
A range binoculars and telescopes are sold in the gift shop with trained staff on hand to explain the different products. Furthermore In Focus optics hold sales events throughout the year. An expert is on hand to give advice and guidance whatever your budget plus a percentage of sales goes directly to the conservation work of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. Please contact the centre for upcoming dates.
Terms of entry
Visitors are asked to respect the habitats and wildlife of the Welney Wetland Centre by keeping to the paths at all times and not causing undue noise. It is especially important to remain quiet in the bird viewing hides.
No dogs are permitted on site, other than guide dogs.
Occasionally, the A1101 between Welney Village and Suspension Bridge floods and is closed to cars. Under such circumstances, access to WWT Welney is always possible from Ely or Downham Market, off the A10. Under exceptional circumstances, unfortunately WWT have to reserve the right to cancel an evening floodlit feed to due to severe weather or, for example, a power cut.
Accessibility
- The centre and reserve has tarmac or hard-surfaced paths on main routes.
- Low-level viewing windows in bird hides. Heated bird-watching in main observatory.
- Lift access to upper floors of visitor centre and bridge to reserve.
- Free wheelchair loan (including one electric wheelchair which should be booked in advance).
- Fixed hearing loops in education area and in observatory.
- Guide dogs only. No other dogs permitted.
- Accessible toilets on both floors of the visitor centre
- Free car parking on site. Tarmac surface and reserved bays for disabled visitors.
Reasons to visit
Spring
Rare wading birds arrive with the breeding season. Guided walks give you closer views of Avocet, Lapwing, Snipe, Common Tern and Little Ringed Plover on their nests and raising chicks.
Summer
Discover over 40% of all British wetland plant and flower species alive with butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. The Summer Walk takes you to parts of the Washes only accessible for 3 months of the year.
Autumn
En route to warmer areas, a range of birds stop-off on the Washes including ruff, Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint. Dazzling sunsets ripple on the flooded lagoons.
Winter
Watch from our centrally-heated observatory as 3,000 Whooper swans from Iceland join over 4,500 Bewick’s swans arriving from Arctic Russia to take refuge amongst thousands of ducks, geese and other waterbirds. Enjoy daily swan feeds.
Accommodation
Listed below are details of the local tourist information centres:
Kings Lynn
The Custom House, Purfleet Quay, Norfolk PE30 1HP
T: 01553 763044 (24 hours)
E: kings-lynn.tic@west-norfolk.gov.uk
Downham Market CIC
The Priory Centre, Priory Road, Downham Market, Norfolk PE38 9JS
T: 01366 383287 (24 hours)
E: downham-market.tic@west-norfolk.gov.uk
Ely
Oliver Cromwell`s House, 29 St. Mary`s Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4HF.
T: 01353 662062
E: tic@eastcambs.gov.uk
Cambridge
Wheeler Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England CB2 3QB
T: 08712 268 006
F: 01223 457 549
E: tourism@cambridge.gov.uk
Contact information
WWT Welney Wetland Centre
Hundred Foot Bank, Welney
Nr. Wisbech, PE14 9TN
T: 01353 860711
F: 01353 863524
E: info.welney@wwt.org.uk