Welcome to Slimbridge Wetland Centre. It is here that you and your pupils can get closer to wetlands and wildlife
School groups can come face to face with a wealth of amazing wetland biodiversity at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge.
The first of Sir Peter Scott’s nine centres to be built in the UK, it offers a unique educational experience for groups of any age. Surrounded by the world’s largest collection of rare, exotic and endangered swans, ducks and geese, Slimbridge has over sixty years of cutting edge environmental educational expertise to offer young visitors and teachers alike.
Immersive, creative, participative experiences of nature are on offer throughout the year with curriculum linked programmes lead by specialist teachers. These hands-on, minds-on workshops offer children an exciting, real-life experience of nature, worlds apart from anything they can experience in the class room.
The WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre is one of nine centres operated by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), the only UK charity dedicated solely to wetland conservation for wildlife and people. WWT has an international reputation for producing world class, lively, interactive, child-centred environmental education for sustainability and citizenship.
The WWT education programme – Learning for Life - has components for Key Stages 1–4 and satisfies National Curriculum attainment targets in Science, English, Maths, Geography, History, PSHE and Citizenship.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre is a haven for birds, mammals, plants, amphibians and insects making it a joy to visit at any time of the year.
• Situated on the banks of the River Severn
• Home to the world's largest collection of ducks, geese, swans and flamingos surrounded by over 325 hectares of internationally protected wild reserve
• Multi-storey hides and Pond Zone with pond dipping areas
• Cinema and interactive interpretation in our Discovery Centre including amphibians in Toad Hall
• Welly Boot Land, a themed adventure area for 3-11 year olds
• Full public facilities, including restaurant, kiosks and shop
A dedicated part of the web site provides comprehensive teacher resources from lesson plans through to data sets, fact files, resources sheets and a dedicated kid’s zone specially designed for use by pupils. Free familiarisation visits for teachers make planning every aspect of a visit simple.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre has also been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, recognising it as a provider of quality, safely managed educational experiences for young people.
We offer the following range of learning sessions to visiting education groups. Most last approximately 45 minutes and some have follow up 'hands on' sessions. Programmes for Toddlers, Playgroups, pre-school and reception classes tend to last 20 or 30 minutes.
We can teach up to 60 pupils during any of the following programme times (the limit for the Pond Explorer Programme is 30 pupils): 10.15am, 11.00am, 11.45am, 12.30pm, and 1.15pm. Please note that you may book only one programme per visit.
The content of sessions described below is only a guideline. We are happy to accommodate individual class requirements, higher education and special needs groups also.
Toddlers (20 minutes)
'Felicity’s busy day'
Discover what life is like for the flamingos with this action based story.
Playgroup, Pre-school and Reception (30 minutes)
‘Do Like Duck Does' Join in the day to day life of our birds, do the mucky duck walk plus sing songs and listen to stories.
‘Tadpole Tales' Follow the story of Timothy the tiny tadpole as he grows into a handsome frog. Wriggle like a tadpole, jump to the froggy frolic and enjoy many action songs and rhymes.
Tommy Tadpole (Reception only)
What will Tommy be when he grows up? Everyone can be involved, becoming other pond creatures for Tommy to meet whilst he grows up. 15 minutes Pond Dipping follows.
MAIN FOCUS FOR PROGRAMS: KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD, COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Special Needs (20 minutes)
'Hands On' Session There are opportunities to handle feathers, eggs and other objects in a 'feelie' session. Other programmes can be arranged on request.
KS1
First Encounters (30 Minutes)
Discover the rich variety of the world's wildfowl. Discover their similarities and differences and how they are adapted to their wetland home.
MAIN FOCUS: LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, COMPARISON
NC links: SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
Pond Explorer (March - September) (45 Minutes)
In the cinema pupils will be introduced to the plants and animals which make up pond communities. Simple adaptations and food chains will be explored, followed by 15 minutes of Pond Dipping in the Pond Zone.
MAIN FOCUS: MINIBEASTS, HABITATS, FOOD CHAINS
NC links: SC1 (Scientific enquiry), SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
Close Encounters (1.5 hours)
If ducks went on holiday, where would they go? Join a family of ducks in exploring Slimbridge using all your senses. Some preparatory work is needed for this programme before the visit - ask for details.
MAIN FOCUS: Senses
NC links: SC1 (Scientific enquiry), SC2 (life processes and living things), Art and design, Citizenship
KS2/3 (45 minutes)
Discovering Wetland Wildlife
An exploration of wetlands, wildfowl and the inter-relationships which exist between plants, animals and ourselves.
MAIN FOCUS: LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION
NC links: SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Geography 5a & 5b, Citizenship
Designs for Living
Discover more about the adaptations of animals in their environment, looking at wildfowl and wetlands in particular, using a range of stimulating activities including handling real artefacts.
MAIN FOCUS: ADAPTATION
NC links: SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
Heading South/North (Oct - March)
Take a look at the amazing migratory journey that some wildfowl take each year. See the many birds that survive this journey in the wintering grounds at Slimbridge
MAIN FOCUS: MIGRATION,
NC links: SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
Family Life (March - July)
Discover the life cycle of a typical wildfowl - from courtship rituals and nesting to the amazing development of the embryo and the hatched downies struggle for survival.
MAIN FOCUS: LIFE CYCLES, COMPARISON
NC links: SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
Pond Explorer (March - September)
In the cinema pupils will be introduced to the plants and animals which make up pond communities. Simple adaptations and food chains will be explored, followed by 15 minutes of Pond Dipping in the Pond Zone.
MAIN FOCUS: MINIBEASTS, HABITATS, FOOD CHAINS
NC links: SC1 (Scientific enquiry), SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
Great Pond Safari (March - Sept)
(2 Hours)
A hands-on investigation of a pond habitat and aquatic adaptations. Join in pond dipping, pond olympics and involve yourself in the sensory zone.
MAIN FOCUS: HABITATS, ADAPTATIONS
NC links: SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
Feathers and flight
Explore concepts such as aerodynamics, feather types, bone structure and forces with an introduction to mechanics of flight.
MAIN FOCUS: FLIGHT
NC links: SC2 (life processes and living things), EN1 (speaking and listening), Citizenship
GCSE & A Level
Fieldwork Studies
An introduction to biodiversity through fieldwork, looking at species diversity, abundance and influencing factors. This session will generate data that can be used for follow up work back at school.
MAIN FOCUS: FIELDWORK TECHNIQUES, SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY, CONSERVATION
Leisure and Tourism
An introduction to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre as a centre dedicated to conservation, how we operate as a business and as a tourist attraction. This session will generate information that can be used for follow up work back at school.
MAIN FOCUS: INVESTIGATING A VISITOR ATTRACTION AND CONSERVATION CHARITY, MARKETING, CUSTOMER SERVICE
Pond ecology
A practical introduction to pond ecosystems, their zones, sense of communtiy, populations, pyramids of biomass followed by a pond dipping session.
MAIN FOCUS: POND ECOSYSTEMS,
Build your own
We are happy to create sessions in order to accommodate individual class requirements and special needs groups. The grounds provide an excellent resource for art, photography and design & technology. Your imagination is the limit! Please give us a call to discuss any ideas you may have.
Free Preliminary visits
We strongly recommend you make a preliminary visit to familiarise yourself with the facilities offered and to help you plan your visit more effectively.
How to book a visit
Advance booking is essential for all learning groups. Please contact the Bookings Officer to request an Education Information Pack, make a provisional booking or to check that your proposed date and time are available on 01453 891223.
To help us plan, please mention any specific learning requirements and special needs your group may have. Complete and return the booking form, then we will write to you with your final confirmation visit details. Why not avoid the busy summer term and consider visiting in the autumn and winter. The wildlife is varied and plentiful with an extra 20,000 migratory birds on site. Our hides and indoor Discovery Centre will offer shelter from the weather if necessary.
On the Day
On arrival at the centre please proceed to the Admissions area where a member of our Learning Team will meet you. They will give a brief welcome to the Centre for the whole group and then help with the following:
o Check in and payment at admissions. Payment can be made by credit/debit card, cash or cheque (made payable to WWT) To pay via an invoice must be agreed at the booking stage and on receipt of a completed payment details form.
o Arrange storage of bags if applicable
o Allocation of covered lunch areas in the event of bad weather
Booked sessions
If you have booked a learning session please make sure you leave enough time to return from the grounds to the teaching area as time slots can not always be reallocated.
Free time
When you are not having a learning session, you are free to investigate the site on a self-guided basis. Please make use of our free learning resources or ask the Bookings Officer what worksheets are also available.
Supervision
We will make every effort to make your visit enjoyable. You can help by making sure pupils are adequately supervised at all times. Behaviour and discipline of pupils on site is the responsibility of teachers and adult
supervisors. Please ensure all adults understand the aims of the visit and their role in supervising and supporting pupils in the group. Please agree with pupils on the following code of behaviour during your visit:
• observe signage and stay on footpaths
• treat wildlife kindly
• keep quiet when in hides
• walk, don’t run
• respect other visitors enjoying their visit
• dispose of litter in the bins provided
• stay with your group at all times
Shopping
When using the shop, we would be grateful if you could limit groups to no more than ten pupils at a time to avoid overcrowding. The school order form can be used ahead of your visit - please return to us at least 2 weeks prior to your Slimbridge trip. Payment can be made on the day or in advance.
For any further queries please telephone our Bookings Officer on 01453 891223.
Teacher resources
Children's checklist of birds (sample)
Welly Boot Land risk assessment