Wetlands are amazing

Together with singer-songwriter David Gray, WWT, the charity for wetlands and wildlife, is on a mission to create and restore 100,000 hectares of wetlands in the UK.

Wetlands are weapons of mass creation, offering a solution to both the climate and nature crises. These magical habitats soak up carbon from the atmosphere, protect communities from flooding, boost our moods and provide homes for 40% of the world’s wildlife and plants.

Your donation today will contribute directly to projects that will create and restore wetland habitats in local communities in the UK.

Fighting climate change at Steart Marshes

WWT Steart Marshes sits within the Steart peninsula on Bridgwater Bay, which is a site of specific scientific interest (SSSI) and home to a stunning array of wading birds, fish, mammals, insects and amphibians.

The site is a mosaic of fresh and saltwater wetlands, including a large area of saltmarsh. Saltmarshes are flooded and drained with the tides, and act like giant sponges, soaking up carbon from the atmosphere at a rate 40 times faster than rainforests. They also soak up tidal surges, protecting local communities from flooding.

Due to rising temperatures because of climate change, important areas of grazing marsh land at WWT Steart Marshes are drying up, risking the future of the wildlife that use it for feeding and breeding.

WWT plans to introduce a new system to hold on to and regulate the flow of water in these grazing marsh land areas. By adding water in the right way, we can make sure these precious habitats remain a haven for wildlife to prosper for decades to come.

Futureproofing refuges for Welsh wildlife

WWT Llanelli sits adjacent to the Tir Morfa coastline, within the wider Burry Inlet Special Protection Area and the Carmarthenshire Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The site is home to a variety of saline and freshwater lagoons, which are some of Wales’ mostsignificant wetland ecosystems that support a diverse population of wading birds, including a large proportion of Wales’ wintering Curlew population.

WWT plans to restore the saline lagoons at the site, to protect and enhance the site that is a refuge for large populations of waterbirds and other wildlife. The lagoons also offer a rare opportunity for tens of thousands of visitors annually to experience close-up views of spectacular wildlife. Adjacent to the site, WWT also plans to create new wetland habitats to offer new spaces for wetland birds to feed, roost and nest.

This work will benefit both wildlife and people, futureproofing this important wetland ecosystem against the increasing threats of climate change.