It's the time of year to wrap up warm, get out in the fresh air and experience the magical spectacles nature has to offer at WWT wetland centres this winter.
Winter is a wonderful time to visit, with every centre offering visitors the chance to experience stunning scenery, breathtaking views, and face to face encounters with the world's most dramatic and rare wildlife, including the thousands of ducks, geese and swans who migrate thousands of miles to WWT centres.
Enjoy the stunning spectacle of up to 9,000 whooper and Bewick's swans at Welney, some 18,000 pink-footed geese at Martin Mere, more than 25,000 barnacle geese at Caerlaverock, and almost the entire population of light-bellied brent geese at Castle Espie. See these amazing winter visitors close-up at the regular commentated wild bird feeds at many centres, and look out for the Bewick's swans at Slimbridge, each of whom is named and individually
recognised by their own unique bill pattern.
Events at WWT centres throughout the winter months start with a host of festive activities in December, including Christmas arts and crafts, visits from Santa himself, and even a pantomime. In the New Year, work off those festive excesses by getting out and about in the fresh air at a WWT centre: perhaps improve your birding knowledge by signing up to one of our introduction to birdwatching courses, take part in 'tick and twitch' to see how many species you can identify, or just walk around the reserves and enjoy the scenery and amazing wildlife around you.
Each centre has excellent restaurants and gift shops and all have family friendly and disabled facilities including buggy access, manual wheelchairs and electric buggies for hire.
For more details on what is happening at each individual WWT centre, click on Visit Us, then choose the centre and look in the events section for a full list of activities and events this winter.