Upcoming celebrations for 50th birthday of Wearside nature reserve

WWT Washington Wetland Centre is celebrating its 50th birthday next week and invites everyone to share their memories.

First opening on the morning of 29 May 1975 at a cost of 40p for adults and 20p for children, the visitor centre–which runs adjacent to the River Wear–introduced the people of Washington to an array of ducks, geese and swans, living up to its then name 'Washington Wildfowl Park'.

Previously predominantly farmland, most of the trees and hedgerows did not exist and all of the ponds and lakes were specifically designed and built as part of WWT’s plan to increase biodiversity to the area by creating new wetland and woodland habitat, which served as a vital community asset. Fast-forward 50 years and it has become an urban oasis surrounded by industry.

Millions of people have taken action for wetlands at WWT Washington over the past 5 decades, visiting the reserve over the years, supporting their events and cheering their successes. Celebrating 50 years of wetland conservation has very much been supported by the local community, and there has certainly been a lot to celebrate!

WWT Washington’s Centre Manager Gill Pipes said: “Many local residents have given their time to create and care for this vital habitat which offers refuge to all living things, with people at the heart of it.

“We’re proud to reach such a pinnacle milestone and are so pleased that we get to keep on sharing our incredible experiences and conservation messages with generations to come.”

The centre has welcomed over 3 million visitors and over 150,000 school children since it opened 50 years ago. Today, the 103-acre nature reserve welcomes more than 70,000 visitors each year alongside over 6,500 school children, with the success of WWT’s past continuing to build.

Gill continued: “We haven't done this alone, every person who has ever visited our site, volunteered or worked here has played a vital part in our story, and for that we extend a huge thank you!”

Those wishing to celebrate WWT Washington’s 50th birthday with them can join them on the day for drinks and cakes at Hunter’s Creek, with tours of Wet Wood - a part of the site’s wild reserve which hasn't been open to visitors for over a decade – being offered, as this magical setting once again becomes part of the visitor experience.

There will also be a historic photo trail around their grounds plus the launch of a ‘50 things to do in their 50th year’ activity guide, classic family-friendly games on their events lawn and other special events that will be announced throughout the year!

The visitor centre is also looking for visitors to share their memories, photographs and mementos from the last 50 years in what will form part of an exhibition at the centre in the coming months, so bring along anything you're happy to share, even if that's your stories of times gone by which you can share when you visit on their memory line.

If you have a memory or photograph that you’d like to send to the wetland centre digitally, you can email them across to info.washington@wwt.org.uk for others to see and enjoy!

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