One of key principles we work by here at WWT Caerlaverock is that, where possible, nothing goes to waste.
We compost our coffee and tea bags, we recycle our paper, and even clean our human waste with plants, creating valuable habitats for wildlife in the process. To celebrate Zero Waste Week (Monday 7th to Friday 11th September), I've compiled a showcase of some of our favourite pieces of repurposed junk.
Taking a walk around our site is therefore not only a peaceful, educational experience, but also a chance to discover our creative exhibition, where repurposed materials have been given a new lease of life.
Benches
Every bench on our site is made with sustainable materials. A handful are made from recycled plastic, but my favourites are the ones made with wood found right here on the reserve.
Take this bench (above), for example. It was crudely crafted from a tree felled along our Peter Scott Trail and placed in the same area where the tree once grew. We’re also collecting rocks from the reserve to create a beautiful stone bench for our courtyard.
Bicycle trailers
Our wardens sometimes use bikes to get around the reserve – or, in the case of our site manager, to race off and see a rare bird at the drop of a hat! Naturally, they need to take some bits and bobs with them.
How do they do that? With our handmade bicycle trailers, of course! These are made from old fish boxes that were washed up on the saltmarsh.
Touch Table
In our Visitor Centre, our Touch Table set up giving visitors the opportunity to get up close with nature. Skulls, claws, eggs, nests, bugs, wings, and more have been found on our reserve.
Things that have served their purpose in the wild now have a new purpose: helping people learn and connect with nature.
Mini Wetlands
Our courtyard is home to several rainwater gardens and mini wetlands; many made from repurposed items. My personal favourite is the old hard hat, now providing homes for water mosses and water forget-me-nots. Alongside this, we also have containers from old kitchen sinks and cattle feed and drinking troughs. The largest one is a drinking trough we found on the Merse.
Insect homes
Bee hotels, bug B&Bs, bird boxes, and bee posts – we’ve got these all over the reserve, especially in our Wildlife Gardens.
These are handmade from materials sourced on our land, providing shelter for the littlest of creatures who play a super important role in pollinating our plants and feeding our birds.
Wetland Word Chest
Possibly the most creative of all our creative inventions is the Wetland Word Chest. Created by our very own site manager, David Pickett, this chest encourages visitors to stop, take a seat, enjoy their surroundings, and channel their creative inspiration.
Inside, you’ll find a notebook, pens, and pencils, giving you the chance to get creative yourself. Maybe you want to draw the butterfly you’ve just seen or share your thoughts about the surroundings. The box itself has been created from driftwood, an old cabinet door, and the base of an old wardrobe from the Farmhouse.
By reusing materials, we are reducing our reliance on single-use items, harnessing our creative drives, creating a better environment for visitors, and improving the homes for our wildlife.
What else can you find on our reserve that have been brought together by creative juices, resourcefulness, and innovation?
By Georgia Pope, Engagement Officer
