Accessibility during autumn and winter

During the colder months, the reserve can be wet and muddy so waterproof footwear is recommended. Those with limited mobility or using push wheelchairs may find traversing the Avenue and Saltcot Loaning unsuitable. Please call us on 01387 770200 for more info.

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 Who needs fences? Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no.3

Who needs fences? Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no.3

As a part of The Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Project (supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot), we have an exciting opportunity this summer to use Nofence collars on some of the cattle grazing on the reserve

29 May 2024

Wetland Word of the Week 13

Wetland Word of the Week 13

This week, our wetland word is...... natterjack, our favourite kind of toad. They are identified by the distinctive yellow stripe going along their back and have a croaking mating call that you can hear through the spring months. Natterjack toads are a pa

27 May 2024

The rain isn't deterring the wildlife

The rain isn't deterring the wildlife

After some lovely sunny weather, it has become rainy at Caerlaverock again. The wildlife hasn’t been discouraged though. Around the Peter Scott Trail, tree sparrows, goldfinch and greenfinch have been seen on the feeders. In the foliage, the first br

25 May 2024

Enjoying gorse close up... carefully

Enjoying gorse close up... carefully

Gorse is a plant that we have a bit of a mixed relationship with on the reserve. Sometimes there is too much of it - it spreads and covers lots of other plants so we work hard to clear it in some places. It is unbelievably prickly and each prickle that pi

23 May 2024

Wetland Word of the Week 12

Wetland Word of the Week 12

Our wetland word of the week is... ... Solway. This is the firth that our reserve is situated on. It forms the border between Scotland and England on the west coast. It stretches from the Mull of Galloway in the north to just south of Whitehaven. There ar

20 May 2024

Welcome to the flock!

Welcome to the flock!

Hi, everyone. My name is Charlie and I’m proud to be the new reserve warden at WWT Caerlaverock!My journey into conservation began five years ago back in Northern Ireland when I decided to change career because I wanted to make positive environmental ch

14 May 2024

Wetland Word of the Week 11

Wetland Word of the Week 11

The wetland words this week is...... mavis. In Southwest Scotland, mavis refers to a mistle thrush while in other areas it is used for a song thrush. So what is a song thrush called here? A throstle - two wetland words for the price of one this week!Our f

13 May 2024

Dragonflies galore

Dragonflies galore

With summer approaching, invertebrates are becoming more abundant on the reserve each day. A particular group of invertebrates that I’m excited to see is Ordonata (the team here may even say that I’m a bit obsessed!) which is made up dragonflies and d

8 May 2024

Wetland Word of the Week 10

Wetland Word of the Week 10

This week's wetland word is...... deluge which is a severe flood or a heavy fall of rain. It can also be employed as a verb meaning to overwhelm with a flood. If you are the poetic sort, you could also put it to use as a metaphor: "I've got a deluge of em

6 May 2024

The Walk on the Wild Side is back!

The Walk on the Wild Side is back!

The Walk on the Wild Side takes a meandering route through the wildflower meadow and along the Lochar Water. If insects are your thing, this is a spot you cannot miss. Below are some of our favourites.The azure damselfly is quite a common species and has

2 May 2024

Wetland Word of the Week 9

Wetland Word of the Week 9

This week's wetland word is...soggy meaning wet and soft. It comes from an old English dialect word, 'sog' meaning swamp or an obsolete verb meaning to become soaked. Either way, when it rains here at Caerlaverock, wellies are definitely needed to avoid g

29 April 2024

Finally it feels like spring!

Finally it feels like spring!

As we near the end of April, we are finally feeling the spring weather! It is getting warmer here and the sky stays blue for more than a few hours. There is even warmth when the sun goes behind the clouds.The Peter Scott Trail is alive with birdsong: the

28 April 2024

Reminiscent Reflections

Reminiscent Reflections

As I wander out onto our wild side meadow trail, I have mixed emotions and reflect on my time working here. Passing the now vacant Whooper Pond, where we fed the swans and I saw my first wild otters, I continue along the path. It follows the Back Pond,

28 April 2024

Spring explosion on the Peter Scott Trail: The Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no.2

Spring explosion on the Peter Scott Trail: The Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no.2

Working on The Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock project can be varied at times. Sometimes I’m working large amounts of the site all day to prepare future project work. Other times I’m sat at my desk working on maps, contracts and other admin based work. It

25 April 2024

Wetland Word of the Week 8

Wetland Word of the Week 8

This week's word is... ... fen. A fen is the kind of wetland that is characterised by having alkaline or neutral water and peaty soil. They have lots of dissolved minerals. What we know as 'the Fens', an area of East Anglia, has largely been drained for a

22 April 2024