Blog

11 Feb 2020

'I would love more people to see the amazing world below the surface of wetlands' - My Wild Life with Hannah Robson

Dr Hannah Robson, WWT's Wetland Science Manager, talks catching ducks in your pants, why she loves invertebrates and studying poo in the name of scientific research. ...

04 Feb 2020

'I want to make wetlands healthier for people and wildlife' - My Wild Life with Dr Ruth Cromie

Dr Ruth Cromie shares with Waterlife how she finds hope, good health and inspiration in nature and young people, and how WWT is creating ‘nearby nature’ by putting wetlands into the landscape. ...

02 Feb 2020

World Wetlands Day: Protecting biodiversity

Life thrives in wetlands and by creating and managing habitats, we can improve an area's biodiversity. One of our shining examples of how we can do this on a grand scale is the Steart Marshes, a huge salt marsh reserve created in 2014...

28 Jan 2020

Why don’t birds get frozen feet? And other amazing avian adaptations

When you see waterbirds standing around in cold water, or wandering across the ice, you might wonder why they don’t get frostbite in their feet. So how do ducks, geese and swans cope with the cold weather in the winter? ...

09 Jan 2020

Photography competition 2019 - the winners

The winner, runner ups and commended photos from the 2019 Waterlife photography competition...

30 Dec 2019

How birdwatching helped me through a cancer diagnosis: An interview with Waltraud Englefield

We caught up with Waltraud Englefield, birdwatcher, nature lover and cancer survivor, to find out more about how immersing herself in nature helped her to deal with her news and improved her health and wellbeing. ...

30 Dec 2019

Winter photography tips: taking pictures when things get icy

Advice from a wildlife photographer on how to make the most of the scarce but great quality winter light, what wildlife are about, and photography techniques that enhance a winter scene. ...

30 Dec 2019

10 things to do with the kids in wetlands

Want to sell the idea of a family walk to the kids? Here are our 10 tips to whip up some enthusiasm! ...

27 Dec 2019

Why children are spending less time outside - and what we can do about it

According to a 2016 survey, 75% of children in the UK are getting less time outside than prison inmates. WWT's learning manager Mark Stead looks at why this is, and how we can get our children outside...

20 Dec 2019

Bird watching for beginners: advice for a first-time birder

To help you get the most out of your first bird watching experience, we asked Sam Walker, who recently got into birding, what advice he has for newbies. ...

19 Dec 2019

Q&A with Reserve Manager, Dave Paynter

I’ve worked at Slimbridge for 38 years. Over the last few decades there has been a shift away from focussing on just a couple of species into managing many more, broader species at our reserves. More people are now aware of conservation and the ...

09 Dec 2019

Ten fascinating facts about WWT founder Sir Peter Scott

Discover the fascinating story of Sir Peter Scott's life and learn about some of his more unusual achievements and passions, from his interest with the Loch Ness monster to the fish that shares his name...

20 Nov 2019

Which swan's which? How to tell the difference between swan species

Did you know there are 3 species of swan who live in the UK at least some of the year? The UK is home to three types of swan: mute, Bewick’s and whooper. Learn to identify the difference between the migratory swan species. ...

07 Nov 2019

Why WWT Slimbridge is called the birthplace of modern conservation

On a bright December morning in 1945 two men watched a large flock of geese feeding on the banks of the river Severn in Gloucestershire. As they watched they noticed that the flock contained several different species of geese. ...

28 Oct 2019

Which animals hibernate in the UK? And how you can help them

Find out how and why animals hibernate, how hibernation actually works, and which wetland animals use hibernation as a survival technique during winter in the UK. ...