Wetland visitor centres play a crucial role in giving people access to wildlife, and information about 
conservation. Centres can be defined as 'a focal point that brings people into contact with wildlife'. This embraces built centres with thousands of visitors per year, to small structures such as a bird-hide with some infomation panels, to a community group that runs guided tours at a specific wetland site.
Visitor centres may also have a range of activities such as fishing and hunting, recreational activities, catering and cafe, retail opportunities, and of course CEPA activities. Each one will be designed according to local needs and limitations, and depend upon funding not only for construction but to run the centre. For more advice, please check our 'Making a splash' guidance, showing how different approaches work for wetland centres.
The concept of a wetland centre is not familiar to many people. We understand the words 'nature reserve', 'national park', 'botanic garden', 'museum' and 'zoo'. They invoke distinct images. But what is 
a wetland centre?
This online manual attempts to answer the question. Further it outlines some of the philosophy, thinking and questions to be considered when developing and running a wetland centre. The emphasis is on CEPA (Communications, Education and Public Awareness) - the 'people' aspects of creating and running a wetland centre. You can download our publication 'How to develop a visitor centre'. The manual is available in the following languages:
- How to develop a visitor centre - English
- How to develop a visitor centre - French
- How to develop a visitor centre - Spanish
- How to develop a visitor centre - Chinese
- How to develop a visitor centre - Portuguese