News
Today's sightings
Mute swan Whooper swan Bewick's swan Greylag Shelduck Mallard Shoveler Wigeon Pintail Pochard Tufted duck
2 January 2018
Twelve months of Christmas
As 2017 wraps up, we’ve picked out our favourite highlights of the year to celebrate 12 months of Christmas. What an absolute cracker! January Work to save the Salt Hill Stream in Slough got underway as dozens of local volunteers stepped up to re
29 December 2017
WWT Snapshot December 2017
Thank you for your support. Here’s a look at just some of the things WWT has been up to in the last three months to help wetlands, wildlife and people. At our wetland centres A survey of 500 visiting schoolchildren showed 9 out of 10 said they learned
22 December 2017
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fit! Bird 'fitness tracker' reveals all
Greenland white fronted geese make a 6000km round trip each year to overwinter in Scotland but not every bird finds it a breeze, according to new research from Wildflowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). Specially designed ‘bird fitness trackers’ have revea
22 December 2017
Oldest living member of Slimbridge swan dynasty has arrived from the Arctic
Croupier, the 26-year-old leader of one of the biggest Bewick’s swan families ever studied at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s famous Swan Lake at Slimbridge, arrived on Wednesday to the excitement of researchers. The ‘cobfather’ was sadly minus his
20 December 2017
Watery reflections, environmental action and toothpaste
"Badgers do not move goalposts, people do"
19 December 2017
Thank you: the stage is set for a new Environment Act
At WWT, we’re campaigning for a new Environment Act as part of a strong 25 year environment plan. In our Nature’s Way report, we recommended that an Act should: Set clear, legally-binding objectives: for wildlife, water, air and natural assets. Estab
7 December 2017
Global agreement on ocean plastic pollution
WWT is delighted global governments have agreed the world should stop putting plastic waste into our oceans. At a United Nations conference in Kenya, international environment ministers agreed the wording to a Resolution which, while not legally binding,
5 December 2017
Global award for WWT "human swan"
WWT conservationist and "human swan" Sacha Dench has won a global award for her record-breaking paramotor expedition from Russia to the UK. Sacha flew the Bewick’s swans’ 7,000km migration route to experience the dangers this declining species faces
29 November 2017
Wildlife crime report
WWT along with 20 other wildlife-related NGOs has published a report on wildlife crime in England and Wales. The report suggests gaps in how crimes are recorded could be hampering police investigations. Wildlife crime covers all illegal harm to wild anima
27 November 2017
Pessimistic Budget brings some optimism
The Budget had plenty of headlines. Like revised pessimistic economic forecasts and reduced Stamp Duty. But for me there was one, huge historic moment. When Philip Hammond said this: “We can’t keep our promise to the next generation to build an econom
22 November 2017
Government creating gaping Brexit environmental legal loopholes warn charities
WWT and a major coalition of 28 environment and wildlife organisations are today warning that despite welcome commitments on environmental protections, the UK Government could still create loopholes in environmental law as part of the Brexit transition.
15 November 2017
Future looks bright for our North East flamingos
Our supporters across the North East have helped us secure funding to create Europe’s first solar-powered flamingo house at Washington Wetland Centre, which won the public vote. The project to install Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels, UV lighting and heat
13 November 2017
Swan late! The first Bewick's swan has finally landed at WWT Slimbridge
After a long wait, the Bewick’s swan has finally arrived in Gloucestershire after an epic journey from the Arctic. The bird - so iconic to Slimbridge - has kept staff and volunteers on the edge of their seats; the late autumn weather delaying their migr
10 November 2017
Maisie's epic migration
As winter closes over the Arctic tundra and the temperatures drop to well below freezing, a swan takes flight. Maisie is leaving her summer breeding ground late this year but with the cold now gently nudging her on her way she has no choice but to begin h
6 November 2017