Management and funding
WWT Caerlaverock is one of the nine UK Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) UK wetland centres - and the only one in Scotland.
WWT is funded by membership subscriptions and through visitor admission fees and secondary spend in the nine centres. Gifts, donations, legacies and grants provide extra support.
WWT Caerlaverock has an annual visitation of around 15,000 people.
For further details about WWT, see the WLI site profile, 'Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)'.
Founded/opened
WWT Caerlaverock was set up by the late Sir Peter Scott and opened to the public in the autumn of 1970.
Description
WWT Caerlaverock is a wetland nature reserve featuring saltmarshes, ponds and improved grassland covering 587 hectares (1400 acres). There are hides and observation towers linked by a network of screened approaches and seasonal nature trails. There is free parking.
The visitor building has a fair-trade coffee shop, natural history bookshop and binoculars and telescopes for sale. There are also binoculars for hire, a theatre/conference room, sheltered picnic area and self-catering farmhouse accommodation, and camping.
The centre is open every day except for Christmas Day from 10.00am to 17.00pm with occasional early and late opening for special events.
Key species/features
WWT Caerlaverock provides a winter sanctuary for the Barnacle Geese that return each October from the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to stay until April on the Solway's saltflats and marshes. Since the 1940s, this population has recovered from fewer than 500 birds to more than 25,000. Whooper Swans from Iceland spend the winter accompanied by wild ducks suchas Wigeons, Teals and Pintails from as far away as Arctic Russia. Wading birds such as Oystercatchers, Red Knots, Dunlins and Black-tailed Godwits, Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Hen Harriers, Barn Owls, Natterjack Toads and Badgers.
General
WWT Caerlaverock aims to conserve wetlands and their diversity by bringing people closer to wildlife at the centre with proframmes of formal and non-formal education.
Interpretation and exhibitry
Most interpretation is provided by people. There are also discovery trail boards and information boards.
Formal (school and university) learning
There are education programmes for all ages from pre-school to primary, secondary and university groups. A teacher information pack gives details of programmes. Further learning support is provided on this site.
Informal (general public) learning
There are daily wild swan feeds at 11.00am and 14.00pm (October to March). Free wildlife safaris (staffing levels permitting) take place every day at 11.30am and 14.30 pm. There is pond dipping and self-guided trails together with a programme of special events.
Professional
WWT Caerlaverock regularly hosts training sessions for teachers and staff of other related organisations.
Staffing
There are seven full-time members of staff and around 15 part-time volunteer wardens. Brian Morrell the full-time Learning Manager for CEPA activities.
Contacts
Brian Morrell, Learning Manager,
E: brian.morrell@wwt.org.uk