Wetland Exploring Whatever the Weather
Rain can be refreshing, so pop a brolly in your bag and don't miss a day out in nature!
A wet weather forecast on your day out may seem to be off-putting, but rain is big part of an English weather and essential to wetlands.
If you have already booked tickets to visit WWT Arundel don’t let a damp forecast put you off. With lots of things to see, feel, and listen out for, there's so much to explore in our wetlands - it can actually make for a perfect rainy day adventure!
If you're planning a visit when the forecast is mixed, or if you are already here and the heavens open, see it as an opportunity to try spots and wildlife hides you haven’t been to before. Slow down your day, listening for wildlife, counting birds, leaves and sounds.
Scheduled activities are go
Our activities are weatherproof – they will run even during rain showers. Pond Dipping sessions are on every day of August and on weekends in September, just pop up your brolly to enjoy hunting for dragonfly nymphs at the Raised Pond. Book at the admissions desk.
Reveal dragonfly superpowers along the Journey of a Dragonfly trail boards, each with a dragonfly challenge for your friends and family. Try our Outdoor Dragonfly games in the wildlife garden. Take a turn at Dragonfly Dominoes, Lily Pad Rest bean bag toss, and the giant Dragonfly Topple Tower.
Wildlife and nature activities
The Discovery Hide is designed for families. Facing the Arun Riverlife lagoon, the hide has welcoming colours, a viewing scope, and soft furnishings with plenty of bird information signs to help your crew discover wetland wildlife.
Just across the pathway, our WWT Keepers introduce you to Rogue, Storm, Logan and Odin the Dalmatian Pelican each afternoon at a 2 pm talk. At noon each day, watch the sea ducks dive for fish at the nearby Coastal Creek aviary talk.
Further down the path, drop by the Incubation and Rearing Rooms to say hi to young ducklings in the rearing tanks. If you get caught in a shower, pop into the Woodland Lodge hide in the Woodland Loop. Further along the Reedbed boardwalk is the Reedbed shelter, a special spot to wait out the rain or for an impromptu picnic.
The Scrape hide and the Ramsar hid are great (dry) spots to look out for the cattle egrets, cormorants and wading great white egrets. These large water birds are easy to identify from afar. Rent a pair of binoculars at the Gift Shop in the visitor centre if you want a closer look at these and other birds. At the Scrape hide watch for marsh harriers onsite.
Photography
Along the ponds and ditches try your hand at photography, looking for ripples in the water and reflections that give your work an edge or even during those heavy downpours, the blur of the rain often giving another dimension to your work. Don't miss the Reedbed Willow Sphere as a perfects spot for moody rainy day photography. Please share your photos with us by tagging us on social media @WWTarundel ...we'd love to see them!
Ready to Visit?
If you've been inspired to visit WWT Arundel in the rain (or at any time) find out more and book your visit online to save 10%.
Plan your visit
