For the past eight decades, we’ve been the loudest voice speaking up for wetlands and inspiring others to take action to protect and restore these diverse habitats. But none of this is possible without the people behind WWT.
Over the past 80 years, we’ve seen the power of creating a global community of nature lovers. Without people like you, WWT just wouldn’t be able to inspire and action change.
As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, let’s hear it for all the people – staff, volunteers, members, partners, trustees and donors – who have and continue to make WWT an incredible and impactful charity, doing good for wetlands and for the planet.
The staff at WWT
Everyone who works for us has an important role to play. We’re facing new challenges for our wetlands every day, and we’ve got some of the very best people on the case. From introducing visitors to the wonders of wetlands to leading ground-breaking research, every single person at WWT helps to continue Sir Peter Scott’s legacy across our wetland sites. Let’s meet some of them.
Lizzie Bruce, Site Manager at WWT Welney
“My favourite thing about working at Welney is being able to deliver conservation and working with the team to inspire our visitors. What WWT means to me, particularly here, is that we have a real sense of purpose in what we want to try to achieve and we do that together; we’ve built a really lovely community. Over the next 80 years, I hope that WWT continues to inspire people to value wetlands and take action, and we’ll have a world rich in nature.”
Louise Greenwood, Reserve Manager at WWT Martin Mere
“I’m really lucky, I’ve actually worked at three WWT wetlands. My favourite thing about my role at WWT Martin Mere is being able to see the difference that I make. Whether I put up a tawny owl box and the next year see the chicks inside, or the new wetland scrape that we’ve been making to then see those lapwing chicks enjoying them. I love working at WWT, I feel part of a family.”
The role of volunteers at WWT
Every year, nearly 1,000 people give their time and passion to support WWT. Their contribution is invaluable; without our volunteers we couldn’t exist. These phenomenal people give thousands of hours annually to support conservation, maintain habitats and guide visitors at our 10 wetland centres; many will be familiar faces to you on your visits. Let’s meet some of them.
Ben, volunteer at WWT Steart Marshes
“I love nature. I love the quietness. I love the sound of birds. But it's the people who make me smile every time.”
Chris, volunteer at WWT Martin Mere
“When my late husband became poorly, we started to come [here] little bit more often. It was a bit of a sanctuary. After he passed away, I carried on coming to WWT Martin Mere fairly regularly. Basically, coming here and volunteering gave me my life back.”
Volunteers have helped shaped WWT over the past 80 years and we’d like to say a huge thank you to each and every person who has been part of our story or continues to be part of WWT’s future. You’re all amazing! If you have some spare time and want to help support WWT’s vital wetland conservation work, you can find out more about volunteering here.
How supporters help WWT
We’re grateful to all the people who choose WWT as their charity. You’re doing a great thing; every penny you raise or donate goes towards helping us create, restore and protect more wetland habits. Whether you decide to fundraise, adopt an animal, give us a one-off donation or leave a gift in your will, you’re contributing to a powerful legacy of conservation. Thank you all for your continued support.
WWT’s corporate partners
Our brilliant and engaged corporate partners also help us make a difference to wetlands. They each play a crucial role in driving WWT’s work forward, from Aviva’s funding of two groundbreaking projects; one to bring wetlands back into our urban communities, and another to restore saltmarshes in the UK, to Glengoyne’s support repairing and improving bird hides at WWT Caerlaverock.
We’ve been partnering with the Postcode Lottery for over a decade now and to date, players have raised over £8.1million in support of our work. Since 2015, players have supported our work; from looking after the wetland wildlife we love, to bringing people closer to wetlands at our sites, to building advocates in our supporters, staff, and volunteers.
Who are WWT’s Patron and Presidents?
Thank you to our fantastic Patron and Presidents, who use their platforms to raise the profile of wetlands and their wildlife.
We’re honoured to have HRH King Charles III as Patron of WWT since 2016. He’s an incredible advocate for wetlands, and we’re grateful for His Royal Highness’ support and his deep commitment to restoring the natural world.
We’re also very proud to have writer and broadcaster Kate Humble as President of WWT since 2018. As a proactive, passionate wetland champion, Kate is the perfect person to help people fall in love with wetlands and we’re thankful for her support. Alongside our Vice Presidents Mark Cawardine, Mike Dilger, David Lindo, Chris Packham CBE and Dr Dafila Scott, our President and Patron believe in the power of wetlands and the work of WWT.
Meet our WWT ambassadors
We want to put wetland conservation at the top of the agenda, and WWT’s Ambassadors are key to spreading the word and encouraging conversation around our work.
Through the support and platform of people like birdwatching collective Flock Together, writer and environmentalist Dara McAnulty, wildlife presenter Lucy Hodson (aka Lucy Lapwing) and Academy Award winning actor Sir Mark Rylance, we’re connecting people to conservation and making the wonderful world of wetlands feel more accessible.
Another of our WWT Ambassadors is musician David Gray, who has been an integral part of WWT for years, actively fundraising and raising the profile of wetlands for us through the music industry. “I am excited by the driving ambition of WWT to create 100,000 more hectares of wetlands over the coming years,” he says. “Selling the wonders of vast untamed expanses of mud and water is perhaps not the easiest job, but it’s a challenge that I’m more than happy to accept.”
The importance of WWT members
At the heart of our vital work are our WWT members. With our natural world in crisis, today more than ever before over our 80-year history, we need your support. As a WWT member, you are part of the solution.
Money from membership makes a tangible difference to WWT, enabling us to do more – restore more wetlands, create more wetlands, protect vanishing species like curlews and black-tailed godwits, and tackle the climate emergency. So, thank you to all our members who make up over 80,000 memberships, including nearly 5,000 Life members. You’re keeping our wetlands thriving and, with your help, our work continues for another 80 years.
Share your ‘Members Memories’
We want to hear from you. Do you have a stand-out moment from a visit to one of our WWT wetland centres? Perhaps it’s an unforgettable wildlife experience handfeeding the nenes, or dragonfly spotting on a family canoe safari? We’re asking you to share your ‘Member Memories’ with us to celebrate our 80th anniversary.
Either email your ‘Member Memories’ into supporter@wwt.org.uk or on your next visit to your local site, you can share something with a member of staff.
