News
Buzzing bee hives
You can now see two honey bee hives from the United Utilities Hide. We have been waiting for some time to get the hives and now they are here I think it will be a fantastic new edition to the nature trail. We will hopefully be doing summer events for
5 June 2012
Video footage of play area
Below is a link to some video footage of Luke Marsden coming to have a go on the play area dressed as a duck. It is very funny to watch and I am really pleased with how it looks. [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dae_orve8Mc&feature=youtu.
1 June 2012
Sheep shearing for summer
Today our sheep had their summer haircut! Before... We keep two breeds of sheep here: Hebridean and grey-faced Dartmoor. They keep the grass from growing too high and their dung attracts insects which in turn feed the
31 May 2012
The opening of the new play area
We are all on course for opening the new play area on Saturday 2 June. It is looking really good and I even got to try out some of the slides and waterplay yesterday. We are doing a promotion with Rock Fm and Luke Marsden will be here today to record some
31 May 2012
Egg number 1.
The Caribbean flamingos are sitting on their first egg! Well, currently it's a wooden one, with the actual specimen being tucked away safely in an incubator in the Duckery; away from the prying eyes of hungry sea gulls. The bird currently sitting has the
30 May 2012
Temmincks Stint and honey bees drop in
The 2 Temminck's Stint visited us over the weekend, showing well from Ron Barker hide with 11 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin and by late Sunday afternoon the stints were joined by a 3rd Temminck's Stint! I am also pleased to say that we now have honey bees
28 May 2012
How many chicks?
The greater flamingo colony is as productive as ever, and visitors negotiating around the building work for the new flamingo exhibit in this part of the grounds will be rewarded with the sight of numerous cute, grey bundles scurrying around the feet of pr
27 May 2012
Flamingo podcast
We have recorded a new podcast so that you can hear lots of fun facts and information about flamingos. The link is below - I hope you enjoy listening. http://soundcloud.com/wwtmartinmere-1/sets/flamingos-at-wwt-martin-mere [yframe url='']
27 May 2012
Here come the girls (and boys!).
A quick update from the gloriously sunny grounds of WWT Slimbridge. The dancing has really taken off in the South American Pen this morning, with all of the Chilean flamingo and all of the Andean flamingos joining in together for some top-class marching
25 May 2012
Finger crossed for the lesser's nest building.
Just a quick post to highlight the exciting happens in the world of Slimbridge's lesser flamingos! The sunshine is certainly working its magic at Slimbridge currently. The hard work that Phil has put in with the lesser flamingos has yielded spectacular re
23 May 2012
Spring might have sprung?
Even though it is nearly summer, spring has definitely been in the air of late and the birds are relishing the warmth and sunshine that we are all enjoying too. There has been a sudden burst of activity in the Caribbean and Andean flamingos involving nes
22 May 2012
Trading meetings
I have been at Slimbridge for a series of trading meetings. Every 4 months the retail, catering and centre managers come together to discuss a variety of issues relating to training and share best practice. We discussed visual merchandising , brand stan
22 May 2012
Picking a desirable residence for the year.
The Caribbean flamingos (find them opposite the restaurant) at WWT Slimbridge have been thrown a little by the weird and slightly uninspiring weather that's made up most of Spring 2012 so far. These flamingos like it best with the odd day of rain and then
20 May 2012
Parent rearing geese.
We are doing rather well parent rearing goose species at the moment. After her early first nest was lost, the female Greater Magellan sat down on 7 more eggs in April producing these gorgeous humbugs just 28 days later. With a 7 out of 7 record in their f
19 May 2012
The bird from the high Andes.
The last species of flamingo to introduce to you at WWT Slimbridge is the multi-coloured Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus). A very special group of birds and another Slimbridge "highlight" as this is the largest flock of this species on display in
18 May 2012