The eagle has landed!
Come face-to-face with our white-tailed eagle sculpture
Visitors to WWT Slimbridge in the coming months can't miss this magnificent white-tailed eagle lantern sculpture in our foyer. It is 2.2 times larger than the real-life bird and will be part of our Mystical Marsh Lantern Experience which returns in October.
A flagship wetland species, the white-tailed eagle is the UK’s largest bird of prey, with an incredible wingspan of up to 2.4 metres. These enormous wings have earned the eagle the nickname of a 'flying barn door'. Once found across Wales and much of the UK, this majestic bird disappeared from Britain in 1918.
Today, WWT is working together with Eagle Reintroduction Wales and Gwent Wildlife Trust, to bring white-tailed eagles back to the wetlands and skies of South-East Wales and the Severn Estuary. White-tailed eagles play an important role in keeping wetland habitats healthy. As top predators, they help keep a natural balance that supports a rich variety of wildlife. You can find out more about this project here.
The white-tailed eagle in our foyer is joining us ahead of the other sculptures from the Mystical Marsh Lantern Experience which will arrive in October. It was created by the Lantern Company in their Liverpool workshop. Their small team of artists hand make and paint the artworks. Inspired by real life wildlife, they work closely to study natural forms and translate feathers, scales and fur into beautiful light sculptures. Each lantern can take between 100 - 200 hours to complete and the models are up to five metres long.
Other native British wildlife visitors will encounter along the lantern trail include a badger, barn owl, deer, dragonfly, kingfisher, leaping hare and natterjack toad. Visitors will be greeted by the friendly marsh witch before embarking on a nighttime adventure including a firefly tunnel to explore, luminous insects to spot, swooping bat and kingfisher puppets to meet and elusive wild bats to detect. Craft-lovers can make their own lantern to take on the trail, and visitors can toast marshmallows around a firepit. The Kingfisher Kitchen will also be serving street food all evening.
You can save with our early-bird tickets which are now available for £12.95. From 1 September tickets are £14.95. Under-3s and carers (with paying guests) go free. WWT members must also book and pay.
