Waterlife 217 November 2021 / February 2022 by WWT Waterlife

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The WWT magazine | 217 November 2021/February 2022 | £4.25 | wwt.org.uk

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We celebrate our past and look to the future

Fish-eating birds

Feeling the heat?

People power

Enter today!

Meet some of the plungers, chasers and splash-and-grabbers

How we can help iconic species adapt to climate change

Celebrating the people who make WWT such a success

Don’t miss your chance to enter our photo contest

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Contents, 1

CONTENTS VERSION

IT’S OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY!

“We all stand to benefit from more wetlands in our lives and together we can make this happen” Kate Humble, WWT President

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We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported our Emergency Appeals over the past two years. They raised invaluable funds to help us keep on working for wetlands. During the pandemic, members like you have kept us going: whether you’ve donated, remained as a member, or supported us in any other way, we really do appreciate it. Thank you.

In this issue... 5 7 16 20 22 24 33 39 40 42 45 66

Welcome Kevin Peberdy shares his best memories News The latest WWT conservation news from around the world Your views Your letters and the pick of your photos Life on our reserves How we’re helping terns and surveying invertebrates Spotter’s guide Winter is a great time to brush up on fish-eating birds 75th anniversary Meet some wetland heroes who are helping us celebrate Wetland solutions How wetlands can help us adapt to climate change Photo competition It’s not too late to enter your wildlife images in our contest Photo masterclass: winter weather Top tips for working with freezing conditions Go wild Steve Backshall has some fun ideas for celebrating our anniversary Great days out There’s still so much to enjoy at a wetland centre near you Back chat Meet a member of WWT’s team and find out what they do

LEAVE A GIFT TO WWT IN YOUR WILL A gift in your Will can help ensure that wetlands and wetland nature will be enjoyed by future generations. To learn more and request your free Guide to Gifts in Wills, please contact our Legacy Team via giftsinwills@wwt.org.uk, on 01453 891150 or visit wwt.org.uk/gifts-in-wills If you’ve already included WWT in your Will we’d love to hear from you.

WWT is the leading global conservation organisation committed to the protection of wetlands and all that live in and around them. WWT is the only UK charity with a national network of specialist wetland centres that people can visit. It was founded in 1946 by the late Sir Peter Scott, the renowned naturalist and artist. HEADQUARTERS

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT wwt.org.uk membership@wwt.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1030884 and SC039410 CENTRES On the cover: David Tipling/NaturePL

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to become one of the largest wetland conservation organisations in the world, working tirelessly to protect wetlands and wildlife and engage people with these watery wonderlands and the many benefits they provide. In this issue, you’ll meet some of our friends and partners from around the globe. They range from scientists to supporters, students to staff, but they all share one thing in common – a passion for wetlands. It is their commitment that drives our work. From the Russian Far East to Somerset, they share our vision of a world with more wetlands. Turn to page 24 to meet some of these heroes. One of the many ways wetlands help us is tackling the climate crisis and the devastating changes it’s wreaking on the planet. This month, world leaders gather in Glasgow at COP26 to make vital decisions on keeping global warming under the critical 1.5°C. Discover some of the places, species and livelihoods affected by climate change, and the ways that managing wetlands better can help people and wildlife to adapt, on page 33. Wetlands are essential to life and we hope that, if you haven’t already, you’ll pledge your support for our Wetlands Can! campaign today. Turn to page 8 to find out more about our ambitious plans.

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In 1946, Peter Scott founded the Severn Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge. Since then, WWT has grown

For full contact details, please see individual centre pages, from page 45 WWT Arundel 01903 883355 WWT Caerlaverock 01387 770200 WWT Castle Espie 028 9187 4146 WWT Llanelli 01554 741087 WWT London 020 8409 4400 WWT Martin Mere 01704 895181 WWT Slimbridge 01453 891900 WWT Washington 0191 416 5454 WWT Welney 01353 860711

WATERLIFE

The magazine of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Managing editor: Sophie Gore Browne waterlife@wwt.org.uk Editor: Sophie Stafford sophie.stafford@thinkpublishing.co.uk Chief sub-editor: Marion Thompson Art director: George Walker Contributors: Paul Bloomfield, Dominic Couzens, Derek Niemann, David Tipling, Mike Unwin Editorial board: Tomos Avent, Kate Dawson, Andrew Foot, Geoff Hilton, Peter Lee, Rob Shore, Mark Simpson Sales executive: Jamie Dawson jamie.dawson@thinkpublishing.co.uk 020 3771 7201 Client engagement director: Clare Harris, Think Media Group, 20 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JW; thinkpublishing.co.uk

Waterlife is published three times a year, and is printed by Walstead Peterborough on Leipa ultraMag Plus, an FSC® certified paper containing 100% recycled content. Views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of WWT. ISSN: 1752-7392 Average net circulation for the period Jan-Dec 2020: 85,490

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Welcome, 1

WELCOME VERSION REPRO OP SUBS

AT WWT Welney, Lady Fen is 121 hectares of spectacular restored wetlands, alive with wildlife ART

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WWT! Kevin Peberdy, WWT Chief Operating Officer

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It’s amazing that 75 years have passed

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since Sir Peter Scott established WWT at Slimbridge. It’s been my privilege to be part of that remarkable journey for 33 years and, in this anniversary edition of Waterlife, I’d like to share some of my special moments. ● Sitting with Scott in his studio on my first day at WWT. Scott – an icon of conservation – actually asked my opinion on how to improve Caerlaverock’s ponds. It’s stayed with me ever since. ● Hearing that black-tailed godwits had bred on Lady Fen at Welney for the first time. This success was the culmination of six years’ work to restore wet fen from former vegetable fields. ● Opening the London Wetland Centre with Sir David Attenborough. Later, I would reflect on the astonishing achievement of converting four concrete reservoirs into an ecologically diverse urban wetland. It has since become a blueprint for global urban wetland creation. ● Being overcome by the sight of a teenager disembarking our electric boat safari at Arundel in her wheelchair. She was crying, but

We’ve given black-tailed godwits a boost... ...and given everyone the chance to enjoy wetlands by boat

she quickly reassured me they were happy tears. It was just that she had never been able to explore wetlands from the water before. Our role has always been to connect and inspire. ● Watching the first high tide sweep across 480 hectares of restored wetlands at Steart Marshes. This project demonstrates that the

benefits of creating bigger and better wetlands go way beyond wildlife. ● Standing in an aviary surrounded by 40 curlew chicks. The raising of this threatened species is the latest success in WWT’s long history of conservation breeding in the UK and abroad. These birds are a symbol of hope for our lost wetlands and the biodiversity they support. Over the past 75 years, WWT’s sites have supported more than 15 million wintering birds and engaged more than 40 million people, including two million school children. We have changed the way we monitor and protect wetland nature in the UK, developed action plans for some of the most threatened wetland species, and backed all of this up with sound science and direct conservation work in the UK and across the world’s flyways. Despite all the successes, today the threats to the environment are far greater than even Peter Scott could predict in 1946. But 75 years of experience and knowledge, of dedicated staff and volunteers, have got us to a point where we know what is needed. There are many more memorable moments on the way. Happy birthday WWT!

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News, 1

OUR NEWS

How we’re working to protect wetlands and wildlife around the world REPRO OP SUBS

BBC watches wildlife at Castle Espie

ART PRODUCTION CLIENT Sacha Dench/WWT; Jo Charlesworth

Millions of viewers enjoyed a virtual taste of the wild wonders of WWT Castle Espie and Northern Ireland this May and June thanks to the BBC’s flagship UK natural history programme Springwatch.

For the first time, the hit TV series featured daily sections filmed at Castle Espie, fronted by presenter Gillian Burke – but the real stars of the show are the reserve itself, our wonderful staff and the cast of species that call it home. Over 12 episodes, Gillian and the team followed the travails of Betty the black-headed gull as she attempted to incubate her clutch of eggs and protect her brood from the unwanted attentions of predators including great black-backed gulls. As well as Betty’s turbulent story, which highlighted the successful conservation work that’s seen breeding at Castle Espie soar from one nest in

page 16) about the nearly 400 moth species spotted here. We enjoyed sightings of rare birds including a male garganey, and shared insights into our amazing living collection species. “Been an immense three weeks,” proclaimed Gillian on her Instagram feed. “Amazing wildlife, people and 2009 to more than 750 today, Gillian locations. Thank you @wwtcastleespie explored the diverse mosaic of habitats and everyone who helped… Will at the reserve, featuring the sights talk more wildlife soon because it is and sounds of various species amazing here at Castle Espie.” across its lagoons, pools, woods Catch Song We hope to welcome and the wider waters of the Reed, a BBC the Springwatch team back of Strangford Lough. Radio 4 drama about a to our reserves for future We met the rare, fictional wetland reserve starring series. In the meantime, cryptic wood white Sophie Okonedo and WWT you can catch up on butterfly, and heard supporter Mark Rylance, on BBC all the episodes at: from WWT Reserve Sounds – and listen out for our bbc.co.uk/ Warden (and Head of Policy and Advocacy, programmes/ micromoth uber-fan) Tom Fewins b007qgm3 Dr Ross McIlwrath (see NOVEMBER 2021/FEBRUARY 2022

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OUR NEWS VERSION REPRO OP SUBS ART PRODUCTION

Will you?

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As a WWT supporter, you know how beautiful wetlands are, and the incredible range of species they support. Sadly, in many parts of the UK, these precious habitats have almost vanished: some 90% of England’s wetlands have been lost in the past 1,000 years. We need to reverse that trend, to combat the crises afflicting the UK and the planet – and we can, with your support. The Wetlands Can! campaign is raising awareness among the general public of the benefits these habitats provide to the nation, and encouraging people to sign a pledge to create 100,000 hectares of healthy wetlands around the UK. This pledge will enable us to encourage a range 8

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of decision-makers and stakeholders – government and statutory bodies, private companies, landowners and other charities – to build the policy framework and provide the funding needed to meet this ambitious target. We will start to map wetland networks and work to identify the locations where these habitats can be created, restored and connected. We’re also encouraging individuals to make a difference by getting outside and creating mini-wetlands in gardens and communities. Download our toolkit with full details from the campaign website. Among the voices backing our campaign are those of our President Kate Humble, and fellow wildlife presenter

and WWT Vice President Chris Packham – and actor and keen environmentalist Sir Mark Rylance. “I believe that the Wetlands Can! campaign gives us a simple but effective way to begin doing things differently,” he says. “It’s calling for a new blue recovery through creating large amounts of healthy wetland nature in the UK to help heal our relationship with nature, each other and our planet.

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We’ve launched a campaign to tackle the climate, biodiversity and wellbeing crises through the creation of 100,000 hectares of healthy wetlands around the UK – and we need your help.

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News, 2

How wetlands help The benefits of healthy wetlands are enormous, ranging from carbon storage to providing biodiverse places for people to enjoy. The new Wetlands Can! campaign highlights four key areas in which these habitats make a difference, and explains how creating networks of wetlands to address each of these areas will enable us to tackle problems we face today.

CARBON CAPTURE

BIODIVERSITY

Sediment

1 DONATE Support our Wetlands Can! Appeal and together we can create 100,000 hectares of wetlands! wwt.org.uk/wecan

COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE Wetlands store carbon According to Ramsar, wetlands are the most effective carbon sinks on the planet. Wetlands like coastal saltmarsh (such as those at WWT Steart Marshes) store more carbon more quickly than all the world’s forests combined, yet they’re currently undervalued. We’re looking at 22,000 hectares of coastal areas with potential for creating networks of saltmarsh to store carbon and help prevent flooding.

“The Wetlands Can! campaign gives us a simple but effective way to begin doing things differently” Sir Mark Rylance When we lost the vast majority of our wetlands in this country to development, agriculture and other pressures, it wasn’t just nature and wildlife that disappeared but fantastic carbon stores, pollution busters, flood preventers and places to restore our souls. Let’s get this back.” Find out more about the campaign, and join Sir Mark and Kate in signing the pledge, at: wwt.org.uk/WetlandsCan

CLEAN WATER AND INCREASE BIODIVERSITY Wetlands act as filters and nurture nature Only 16% of English waterbodies are in good ecological condition. Wetlands naturally help clean water in a sustainable way – this in turn helps bring life back to waterways and boosts biodiversity. Wetlands are our most biodiverse ecosystem, supporting over 40% of species despite covering just 6% of the Earth.

URBAN WELLBEING

FLOODING

REDUCE FLOOD RISK Wetlands naturally prevent flooding Climate change is significantly increasing the severity of extreme rainfall events. In England alone, one in six homes – around 5.2 million households – are vulnerable to flooding. Healthy wetlands can provide a low-cost way of helping protect homes and businesses from flooding, acting as a buffer against storm surges and rising seas, and storing rain like a sponge before releasing it slowly.

BOOST HEALTH AND WELLBEING Wetlands can help us feel better Poor mental health represents one of the UK’s biggest health challenges, accounting for 40% of GP appointments and affecting one in four people each year. It’s become increasingly clear that spending time in nature – particularly ‘blue spaces’ such as wetlands – is beneficial for wellbeing; a recent study showed that 65% of people find being near water has a positive impact on their mental health.

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OUR NEWS VERSION REPRO OP ART PRODUCTION

By Tom Fewins, Head of Policy & Advocacy

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As delegates prepare to head to Glasgow for what must be the most important conference on climate change to date, what do we need to see for wetlands? Wetlands play an important role in storing carbon; some coastal wetlands such as WWT Steart Marshes store incredible amounts, and when you add in all the other valuable things wetlands do – from flood protection to supporting an astonishing variety of wildlife – they really are one of the best ways we can work with nature to address broader societal challenges. Investing in these ‘nature-based solutions’ is critical. The Covid-19 pandemic has starkly exposed our dependence on healthy ecosystems – including wetlands – for survival. We must therefore ensure our recovery is not driven by an understandable desire to ‘return to normal’. Rather, we must learn from this experience, face the climate, biodiversity and wellbeing crises (themselves connected to the pandemic) and build a new, harmonious relationship with the natural world. 10

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Here, WWT proposes a ‘blue recovery’ approach, creating and restoring 100,000 hectares of wetlands (over two-and-a-half times the size of the Isle of Wight), infrastructure that will be essential to our prosperity and wellbeing. This is achievable; through direct conservation action, capacity building and community engagement we can create and restore these wetlands. This is also unprecedented, but with the following ingredients we can make a blue recovery happen. 1. PARTNERSHIPS

We need to create wetlands at scale through working with others – governments, businesses and everyone across society. WWT is urging the Government to place wetland creation at the centre of its plans for a 500,000hectare Nature Recovery Network as well as encouraging businesses to incorporate wetlands into their plans for the future. 2. POLICIES

We need to remove any barriers to such partnerships, and that requires a supportive policy framework. WWT is advocating for policies that allow for the provision of essential information (eg identifying sites, gathering evidence,

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The time to act is now providing guidance), plans (eg setting targets, developing strategies, determining standards) and funding (public and private). 3. POLITICAL SUPPORT

We need to build demand for such policies among decision-makers; this requires raising awareness about the value of wetlands, stimulating engagement with relevant issues and securing political support. WWT is helping establish a new All-Party Parliamentary Group for wetlands, to build a broad body of cross-party support. 4. PUBLIC SUPPORT

We need to show politicians there is public support for wetlands in constituencies across the country; this means raising public awareness about their importance. Earlier this year, WWT launched our Wetlands Can! campaign to do this very thing (see page 8) – and this is where you come in. Please back a blue recovery by signing our Wetlands Can! Pledge. To sign WWT’s Wetlands Can! Pledge and call for a Blue Recovery, visit wwt.org.uk/WetlandsCan

News, 3 WWT

A large, biodiversity-rich wetland in Cambodia has been designated a protected area, helping safeguard freshwater bird species as well as the livelihoods and wellbeing of local communities – a decision informed by WWT research.

Starting in early 2020, with the help of Darwin Initiative funding from the UK Government, WWT undertook an assessment of the conservation status of wetlands in Cambodia’s Lower Mekong Delta. Our team analysed their value to wildlife, the value of the ecosystem services they provide, their current management status and the historical use of these sites, and identified several pockets of wetland habitat that are ripe for protection. These are places that are both important centres of biodiversity and where local communities are already involved in conservation measures, but which were not adequately protected by legislation. At Boeung Sne, a biodiverse wetland east of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, we encountered

excellent conservation work being undertaken by the NGO WOMEN (womencambodia.org), which was engaging with local communities and setting up patrols to protect the abundant fish and birdlife. The area hosts a significant colony of Asian openbills, as well as 52 other species of large waterbirds, including the spot-billed pelican, painted stork, black-headed ibis and endangered greater adjutant. But without formal protection, it was at risk from development. WWT provided support to the Cambodian Government in assessing the protection of the site, and in February, Tuolporn Taley Boeung Sne Multiple Use Area was established, covering 3,557 hectares in Prey Veng province. This

Black-headed ibis

will ensure sustainable use of natural resources by local communities, who rely on the wetland for food and water; support the preparation of management and preservation plans; and promote the development of sensitive eco-tourism to improve the communities’ economic prospects. This is a great example of how WWT’s research and advocacy work identifies potential conservation opportunities, supports local bottom-up community conservation work in areas of high biodiversity value, and links other NGOs

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Cambodia wetland protected

Asian openbill stork Greater adjutant storks

with government to secure protection for important and vulnerable wetland areas. NOVEMBER 2020/FEBRUARY 2021

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OUR NEWS VERSION

Join our AGM:

in person or online REPRO OP SUBS

SAVE THE DATE 25 November 2021 – if Government guidelines change before then, we will return to a fully virtual event

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This is your chance to direct your questions to our Council and management board and our conservation experts, to meet the team and other supporters, to share your views on our work, and to follow the progress of the important efforts you support through your membership – including vital projects that are helping to save species and precious wetland habitats worldwide.

We will also be asking members to vote on some necessary amendments to WWT’s Memorandum and Articles to bring them up to date and to allow for more effective governance of the charity. Full details are at wwt.org.uk/agm The live event, starting at 2pm on 25 November, will feature a meet-and-greet with key WWT staff, project updates and a light supper. We will also be announcing the winner of the Marsh Award for Community Wetland Conservation Champion, run in association with the Marsh Christian Trust. If you can’t make it to London, you can join the online sessions instead – you’ll still

Hinkley challenge We’re supporting efforts to avert damage to the Severn Estuary ecosystem that could be caused by the Hinkley Point C Power Station being developed

just 5km from WWT Steart Marshes. EDF is building two new nuclear reactors there to

European eel

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be able to ask questions and learn about our work this year and moving forward.

PLEASE REGISTER TO ATTEND Whether you’d like to attend in person or join virtually, please RSVP by Monday 15 November – email events@wwt. org.uk or call 07824 413335, leaving a message with contact details if your call is not answered. If attending in person, please include any dietary requirements, along with access needs. Send your questions for Council, Trustees or staff to answer at the AGM to: events@wwt.org.uk

provide low-carbon electricity. To minimise the number of fish sucked into the cooling water system from the Severn, it was decided that an acoustic fish deterrent is needed – a precaution EDF now contests. Together with other concerned groups, WWT challenged EDF’s position, and provided evidence showing likely impacts of

abstraction without an acoustic fish deterrent – including the deaths of an estimated 182 million fish each year. Having presented these points at a public inquiry, we’re confident that the Secretary of State will rule against EDF and ensure the wildlife of the Severn isn’t damaged. Your support allowed us to fight for the protection of this precious wetland.

WWT

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Discover the latest news about our conservation work worldwide, along with developments at WWT, at our AGM – which, this year, is being held at our London Wetland Centre and simultaneously as an online interactive event.

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Bittern

Aiming for zero To effectively tackle the climate crisis, we need to cut not just direct carbon emissions at our sites and throughout the organisation, but also indirect emissions – and we’re committed to achieving ‘net zero’ to make this happen. By Lucy Smith, Head of Sustainability

We’re proud of the impacts of our work conserving, restoring and creating wetlands, and inspiring people to value the amazing things healthy wetlands can do – but these activities can have a carbon footprint. We’ve made great strides in implementing energy-efficiency and low-carbon measures – installing insulation, low-energy lighting, biomass boilers, air- and ground-source heat pumps and solar panels, for example, and car sharing or avoiding travel – reducing our operational carbon footprint by 40% between 2014 and 2019, and 67% during the pandemic. But it’s not enough. We are committed to net zero and doing all we can to tackle the climate emergency. This means reducing our emissions as quickly and efficiently as possible and balancing any remaining emissions using permanent removals that would not already have happened. How will we translate this into practical action? A carbon footprint comprises greenhouse gas emissions categorised into

three ‘scopes’. The first encompasses fuel used on sites, in buildings and by tractors and site vehicles; the second covers purchased electricity (we buy green electricity); and the third includes business travel. We’re already measuring, reporting and managing these operational emissions, and net zero commits us to halving these operational emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels. Scope 3 emissions also include our investments, staff and volunteer commutes, and supply chain impacts – together representing the largest proportion of any organisation’s footprint. Over the next year we’ll fully understand these emissions, and set targets and action to reduce them.

News, 4 WWT’s Steart Marshes site stores tens of thousands of carbon per hectare each year

We will never be able to continue our work in a way that creates no emissions at all, so we’ll need to rebalance our reduced impact. How? Well, we know that wetlands help to fight climate change: peatlands alone cover just 3% of our planet, yet store nearly one-third of all land-based carbon; coastal wetlands such as saltmarsh, mangroves and seagrass beds also store vast amounts. We’ll change the way we manage the land we own, lease or work on in partnership, so that it absorbs and stores more carbon – for example, by allowing areas of grassland to flood and revert to saltmarsh. Together, these actions will enable us to balance our residual emissions and achieve net zero. London Wetland Centre has new solar panels on the roof of the main building

Paul Lawston/WWT

Sacha Dench/WWT

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F O C U S O N . . . S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

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News, 5

OUR NEWS VERSION

Good news for…

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To create wetland habitats, save wildlife and help communities across the UK, we’ve launched a quartet of ambitious new projects, thanks to generous awards of funding from government and corporate donors

Curlews and eels

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Young nature lovers PRODUCTION

The new Generation Wild project will connect 45,000 primary school children with nature through an innovative mix of digital and in-person activities at seven WWT wetland centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Children from schools in disadvantaged areas will visit their nearest centre to meet Ava, a half-girl, half-osprey character, in her giant nest, inspiring them to undertake a range of free nature-based activities back at home. Generation Wild has been funded through an anonymous charitable foundation, with additional funding from the ScottishPower Foundation. generationwild.wwt.org.uk

Flood-free neighbourhoods Communities in Slough and Richmond will benefit from reduced flood risk and enjoy access to ‘blue space’ through two six-year projects involving WWT, each backed by £6m funding from Defra’s flood and coastal resilience innovation programme. We’re partnering with local flood authorities to deliver a range of nature-based solutions such as natural flood management, habitat restoration and sustainable drainage through a pioneering co-creation system. Working closely with communities least resilient to flooding, we’ll build trust and knowledge, share ideas and develop innovative ‘futureproofed neighbourhoods’.

The new Flourishing Floodplains project, launched in September and backed by an £867,600 grant from Defra’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, will boost the fortunes of species including curlew and European eel. The rich natural heritage of the Severn and Avon Vales will be restored, with wetland habitats re-established across a 6,400-hectare farmed landscape. We’ll also promote farmland and habitat management to help populations of curlew and eel, build local capacity for floodplain restoration and management, and connect people with the landscape through community engagement, volunteering and citizen science. Shutterstock

Meet Ava – half-girl, half-osprey

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The Thames at Richmond

Paul Bowden/WWT

Waterbirds in Wales

Black-tailed godwits

Waterlife

Avocets, black-tailed godwits, teal and pintails are among the birds benefiting from the creation and enhancement of wetlands in South Wales. The work was undertaken at the Burry Inlet Special Protection Area, Carmarthen Bay Estuaries Special Area of Conservation and neighbouring WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre this autumn. Backed by over £100,000 funding from the Welsh Government through the Sustainable Management Scheme – Supporting Natura 2000 Restoration, it involved repairs and enhancements to saline and freshwater lagoons, and the installation of new interpretation material.

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Your Views, 1

YOUR VIEWS VERSION

YOUR VIEWS

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We love to hear your thoughts about wetlands, WWT and Waterlife, and share your photos, so please email them to us at waterlife@wwt.org.uk or write to the address on page 3 INSPIRING THE YOUNG

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We love Wayne’s image of a moorhen feeding its chick

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MORAL SUPPORT

ENCOURAGING TALENT

It was in 1986/87 that my friend, Kieran Mulvaney, and I gatecrashed a WWF event. We were passionate about the conservation of whales and dolphins and had formed a loose group of other cetacean enthusiasts. We called our group Whale Conservation. We wanted to form a charity and could think of no one better to ask for advice. Even though we were total strangers, Sir Peter and Philippa were both very encouraging on the day and in subsequent years. Without their encouragement and moral support I doubt very much if the charity would exist today. With their encouragement we went on to form what was then The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. To this day Sir Peter is the person I admire most in the world. Philippa was also amazing.

I’ve been a member for 10 years and have never submitted a photo before. I never thought they were good enough. I hope you like my photo [above] taken at Llanelli.

Sean Whyte, via email

WWT responds: Huge thanks to Ross and the reserves teams across the UK who make our centres so great for wildlife and people!

SHAPING THE FUTURE

In 1969, I met my husband-to-be who introduced me to the Wildfowl Trust, as it then was. One of my happiest memories was taking a class of seven-year-olds to Slimbridge. They loved every minute of the visit, and after we got back produced some wonderful paintings and creative writing. Each child wrote to Sir Peter Scott to say thank you. There was great excitement when we received a letter back! It took pride of place in our classroom. I send my thanks to you for all the valuable work you do. Jean Roberts, via email

We’ve been working on improving the garden at Stonehouse Methodist Church, Gloucestershire. Seeing your article in the March/June 2021 edition of Waterlife inspired us to have a go at installing a rain garden. We used recycled/donated bricks, stones and gravel – and are pleased with the result. I enjoy visiting Slimbridge for peaceful walks and with my grandson. Ginny Young, via email

Waterlife

Heather Bathgate, via email

Wayne Davies, via email

LET IT RAIN!

I attach a photograph of one of my son’s first visits to WWT Castle Espie. Ross had a love of nature from as early as he could sit up – as you can see! I regularly took him to Castle Espie and encouraged him to read books on the natural world. I am proud to say that Ross’s passion has grown and he is now the reserve warden at Castle Espie. I am so impressed by the work the team has done in making this a great site for conservation and for visitors to experience, learn and enjoy.

CRY OF THE CURLEW

While we’re aware of threats to curlews, on a holiday in central Durham during June, we heard their calls on the North Yorkshire moors every day, from all directions. This bird was voicing its displeasure after an altercation with a young lapwing. John M Barney, via email

WWT responds: You’re right. Curlews have declined by 65% since 1970, due to loss of their habitat and because not enough eggs and chicks survive to fledging age. There are 58,500 breeding pairs in the UK – about 25% of the global population – mainly in the northern uplands. So this area is a rare pocket of abundance that doesn’t represent the global crisis.

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Give

a gift that gives

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back to

nature

Peacock Tower at dawn in London Wetland Centre with Canada Geese.

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House ad, 1

Give something special this Christmas while supporting vital wetland conservation. A gift from WWT is the perfect way to show someone you care – not only about them, but also about the wildlife and nature that brings them so much joy.

Whether it’s the gift of WWT membership, an adorable animal adoption, or a unique WWT hamper from our online shop, there are plenty of great festive gifts to choose from. And all the profits will go directly to creating and restoring healthy wetlands around the world.

Shop with us and show you care about wildlife, wetlands and the nature lover in your life.

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LIFE ON OUR RESERVES

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In the UK, WWT manages more than 3,000 hectares of wetland habitat. Thanks to sensitive management and your support, our centres teem with wildlife. Here are some of the ways our reserve teams nurture these special places for you to enjoy

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hrow out the textbooks: our black-headed gulls break all the rules. Gulls traditionally nest on the ground, but at WWT Castle Espie, they nest in trees. There’s a pair that breeds in a yucca in our bird collection area every year. A few years ago, our pampas grass had gulls nesting at different levels, like a high-rise building. The records are a bit sketchy, but there’s almost no evidence of black-headed gulls nesting at Castle Espie before 2009. Just beyond the mudflats of Strangford Lough, the reserve was once an old industrial site with flooded quarries flanked by trees and scrub – not the habitat that attracts

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For much of the year and especially in winter, black-headed gulls have white heads with small dark ‘ears’

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ground-nesting birds. They had always favoured nesting on the islands in the middle of the lough. However, numbers on the lough had been in decline from 7,000 pairs in the mid-1990s to just over 1,000 in 2012. In 2009, we re-landscaped to provide a more open habitat, restoring a saltmarsh, creating a shingle bank, making islands in a freshwater lagoon, a predator-proof fence. The new habitat was perfect for black-headed gulls, birds that were about to be added to the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland. At first, the black-headed gulls favoured areas closest to the living collection, but as

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numbers have increased they have moved into many areas of the site, favouring the freshwater lagoon and the areas around the main lake, particularly the shingle ridge, though there’s a small colony outside the predator fence on an island in our saline lagoon. The gulls are doing well; every year we have seen a steady increase in the number of pairs using the site. This year, our count was up to 850 nests – approximately two-thirds of the Strangford Lough population – from one in 2009. We’re hopeful that from the relative safety of the WWT reserve, the numbers of black-headed gulls within the estuary will slowly improve. Gulls are gregarious, noisy birds and when the population on the shingle bank increased, we did receive a few complaints. Now, one of our priorities is helping people to understand them better. Gulls are loud and they fiercely protect their eggs and young from marauding predators by swooping and attacking them. Other waterbirds, such as ducks and waders, take advantage of this behaviour by nesting

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OUR WILD WETLANDS IDENTITY

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Black-headed gulls are sociable birds, normally seen in groups, and they have got a lot to say for themselves

Insect heaven

White-letter hairstreak is one of the rarer invertebrate species recorded on-site

I DID YOU KNOW? If you look closely, you’ll notice that black-headed gulls are actually chocolate-brown-headed gulls. They only have the characteristic hood in the breeding season. For the rest of the year, they have white heads and a small, dark dot (about where you’d expect an ear would be)!

within or close to black-headed gull colonies to gain protection from predators. They’ll fly directly at humans too, generally pulling up at the last minute, which can be a bit frightening if you’re not used to it. When people understand the gulls, it makes living with them a bit easier. And they are fascinating to watch. We have a viewing point, an open hide overlooking the saline lagoon nests and the Crannóg building on the freshwater lagoon, where visitors can get surprisingly close to the birds. The gulls don’t mind. People enjoy sitting there watching their antics, photographers turn up with their cameras, and artists set up their easels and paint. By Maurice Turley, Reserve Manager

nsects provide vital ecosystem services, from pollination and recycling to pest control and food for wetland birds. Yet more than 40% of species are in decline and most of us could name only a handful of them. So earlier this year, WWT Llanelli commissioned a survey to improve our understanding of the invertebrates on the reserve and their habitat requirements. The surveyors, Mike and Graeme, are equipped with breathtaking knowledge of invertebrates and a staggering array of equipment, from sweep nets to electric leaf blowers. In September 2020, the first site to survey was the saline lagoons. They’re a popular roosting spot among our overwintering waders, yet we know almost nothing about what goes on beneath the surface. Do they also provide good feeding habitat for our visitors? The lagoons were created before the centre opened in 1989 and they appear to have declined in diversity through natural succession, so we may need to rejuvenate this habitat. However, Graeme calculated there were around 45 million tiny mud snails in the three lagoons. These are a favourite food of shelducks, and are one reason why this species is thriving here! Among the saltmarsh vegetation around the lagoons, Mike recorded 95 species on one

day, including many restricted to this habitat. These included the unusual snail-killing fly Psacadina zernyi, which is usually associated with aquatic snails and fen habitat close to sea level. And the delightfully named weevil Pelenomus zumpti, which is dependent on sea milkwort, a plant of short saline ‘lawns’ – it therefore needs grazed saltmarsh. Conversely, the tephritid fly Campiglossa plantaginis and its host plant, sea aster, can’t survive grazing by cattle. This highlights the benefit of having some areas grazed and some not, which is exactly what we do each summer. BUILDING A COMPLETE PICTURE Adult insects are often short-lived and may be on the wing for only a few days. So the reserve has been surveyed several times this year. In June, Graeme was thrilled to discover a couple of rare spider species that live on saltmarshes and somehow manage to survive the occasional spring tides that entirely submerge their habitat. One is the nationally scarce Enoplognatha mordax, a strict saltmarsh specialist. The other is tiny money spider Baryphyma gowerense, a nationally rare and vulnerable species about which little is known. Neither species had been recorded in Carmarthenshire in the past 30 years! By Dr Brian Briggs, Reserve Manager

NOVEMBER 2021/FEBRUARY 2022

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SPOTTER’S GUIDE TO… VERSION REPRO OP SUBS

Now you do it

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On your next visit to your local wetland centre, look out for birds fishing and see if you can identify which technique they are using. How successful are they?

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Bitterns eat a varied diet of fish, amphibians and insects. They have also been known to eat small mammals and eels

FISH-EATING BIRDS Many of the birds that winter at our reserves eat fish, but how they catch their slippery suppers varies. Dominic Couzens introduces the pursuitdivers, the surfaceplungers and the stand-and-grabbers 22

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hen you visit a WWT centre, one of the things you’re unlikely to see during your visit is among the most important – its fish population. Unless you’re a keen angler, you probably don’t give fish much thought, but that’s certainly not the case for many of our wintering birds. Some eat fish, and procuring them is the dominant task of every day. “It’s fascinating to watch the different ways birds catch fish,” says Martin McGill, Senior Reserve Warden at Slimbridge. “They tend to use three main techniques.

A bird can immerse itself fully underwater, as a grebe does; it can wade in the water and use sight or touch to detect a fish and then pluck it out; or it can swiftly plunge into the water from a height. You’ll be surprised how many of our wintering birds use one of these approaches to catching dinner.” Take plunge-diving. While the kingfisher is the most famous splash-and-grabber and is easy to see at most WWT reserves, it isn’t alone. “Look carefully and you’ll often see gulls, especially black-headed gulls, plunging in,” says Martin. “They might just fly a little way above the surface of the water

Red-breasted merganser

“It’s fascinating to watch the different ways birds catch fish. They tend to use three techniques”

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and then dive in with open wings, as if they were going for a dip. It’s easy to miss.” And while grey herons are the most famous wading fish-catchers, often spending hours standing motionless in the shallows just watching for something to come in range before they lunge and grab with their bills, other birds wade. Little and great egrets ape herons. However, spoonbills, which are occasionally seen on WWT reserves, catch fish by touch, swinging the bill through shallow water as they walk. Waders, such as greenshanks and spotted redshanks, and sometimes even avocets, do this as well.

“A few species of duck routinely catch fish in the water,” adds Martin. A certain trio, including the smew, are known as ‘sawbills’ due to their serrated beaks. These help them grip slippery fish and demonstrate how specialised they are. “Red-breasted mergansers and goosanders, for example, often ‘snorkel’ when they look for prey, before diving underwater.” Naturally, we ensure that our reserves have healthy fish populations. “We make sure we don’t over-dredge ditches, so there are plenty of places for fish to breed. And our healthy reedbeds act as filters to keep the water clean. This helps all life underwater.”

SIX TO SPOT LITTLE GREBE

CORMORANT

Famous for its short dives (an alternative name, dabchick, means ‘dip chick’, as in taking a dip), the little grebe tends to forage in sheltered water among vegetation, often taking prey from the stems of waterweed. It prefers small fish such as sticklebacks and minnows.

The cormorant immerses itself completely in relatively deep water and uses its strong webbed feet to chase down relatively large fish, including eels. On the whole, it gets most of its food from the bottom of a pond, lake or river.

BITTERN It lives like a very secretive heron, hunting for prey mostly in pools and ditches surrounded by dense reedbeds. It uses the same methods, waiting stealthily with its feet immersed in water, ready for prey to approach.

KINGFISHER

GOOSANDER

This is a rare wintering bird that rests at WWT centres in spring and autumn. It is unusual for being a wader that often eats fish, detecting them by touch in shallow water and also by sight. It is sometimes seen running after prey.

The most famous plunge-diver of them all is also the smallest. It sits on a perch low over the water, and plops in when it spies a fish close to the surface. Young have to learn how to compensate for refraction when they practise fishing.

This large diving duck closes its wings underwater and propels itself using its feet. It usually fishes in clear water, often in rivers but also deeper lakes, and can be seen immersing its head before a dive to see if there’s any prey nearby.

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We’re celebrating our 75th anniversary with a few of the people who share our commitment to saving wetlands and their rich wildlife, in the UK and across the world DR HANNAH MOSSMAN SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATOR

even years ago, a call went out to scientists with relevant experience who might be interested in doing research to restore a wetland on the Somerset coast. Steart Marshes sounded like a novel and exciting opportunity to work with WWT – and I’m still here! I’ll never forget seeing the tide come in and out at Steart for the first time. It was an October day only a month after we had breached the bank to allow the sea in. The power of the water was astonishing. I want to see more landscape-scale restoration like this. Saltmarsh is a habitat that is poorly recognised by the public, and its muddy nature means it’s not always valued – I really want to change that. I love the openness of WWT, across all levels, to engage with science and to help me make my science relevant to wetlands and people. Wetlands are so important for wildlife and for people – they store carbon, prevent flooding, clean water and increase our wellbeing. My work here has brought a lot of highlights, but for me, training up enthusiastic volunteers to undertake the science themselves has been very rewarding – and useful. We’ve been successful in getting several funded projects that have involved training volunteers – we’re currently involved in a big WWT-led project to quantify the potential for different types of wetlands to store carbon. We are trying to work out how much carbon has been stored at Steart Marshes and how this relates to other restored wetlands. Other habitats like peat bog have a carbon code that allows people to pay for restoration to offset their carbon emissions. There isn’t one for wetlands like saltmarsh, and the information that we and our colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University are collecting is needed if one is to be developed.

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Alice: I first came to Slimbridge with my mum when we moved to Gloucestershire. It was through visiting, and exploring the countryside nearby, that I began to be interested in it as something that I might do myself. When I saw an advert for a volunteer on the events team I quickly applied. After a year of volunteering, I am now working in Supporter Services. WWT has opened my eyes to the importance of wetlands in tackling climate change. I feel uplifted knowing more about the ways I can help tackle climate change, and the people and organisations with the knowledge to do this. When I get out onto the reserve, I love watching cranes. They’re beautiful, and it’s great to see these reintroduced birds looking so at home – even though to us they look exotic. I also really enjoy seeing young birds on the South Lake. They all have different mannerisms, and sometimes get on each other’s nerves; seeing an avocet chasing ducklings was a new one on me.

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Caroline: A newly retired environmental science teacher, I moved to the Slimbridge area and joined WWT straightaway. On my first visit, I watched a water rail right under the window of the Zeiss Hide. It’s still my favourite WWT moment. I visit about once a month, usually with a friend who is more knowledgeable than me. We spend half a day in the hides and always see something of interest. I am gradually improving my ID skills. We love the views of the estuary and beyond, and seeing how the whole place changes with the seasons. Because we visit fairly frequently, I do feel quite a sense of ownership.

“Our wish for wetlands is that they are better protected”

Wei Ting Liu

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CAROLINE CROOK, WWT SUPPORTER ALICE MEIGH, WWT EMPLOYEE

MINORU KASHIWAGI CONSERVATION PARTNER

’m the Asia representative for the World Wetland Network, an initiative backed by WWT that represents small groups and charities working at a grassroots level for local wetlands all over the planet. Together we have campaigned against bridge-building over migratory bird wetlands and redirecting rivers in Korea. With WWT and other partners, we co-run the World Wetlands Survey, a global initiative that involves citizen scientists assessing the health of, and threats to, wetlands. WWT has supported us, officially and unofficially, in so many ways since our launch in 2008. It listens to us and stands up for our views and opinions at important meetings such as the Ramsar COP – the triennial conference on wetlands of international importance. In both Japan and elsewhere in Asia, the importance of wetlands is

now recognised far more than ever before. After the devastation of World War II, they were there, still plenty, but no one realised the importance. Then came a period when industrial development destroyed most of them. Today, with this loss, people just started to recognise wetlands are places of life, and also of peace and rest. They are vital to the survival of various species, such as the spoon-billed sandpiper. I have been working on the conservation and recovery of this Critically Endangered species, and this has given me the best moment of my working life. I was on a small island of northern Chukotka, on the eastern tip of Russia. While I was searching for breeding or post-breeding sandpipers on a day of thick fog, I came to a pond surrounded by vegetation. Though I couldn’t see the birds clearly, I could hear their calls, and I felt the motion of them flying through the fog. It was fantastic to find them there just before they began their migration.

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“My wish is that all school children should get to visit their local wetlands, to improve their wellbeing through connecting with nature” SARAH OSBORNE KEY STAGE 1 LEADER, OAKDENE PRIMARY SCHOOL

had never heard of Washington Wetland Centre when I was invited to a duck-themed ‘welcome to the world’ party of a relative who had just had a baby. My two children were very small, so we soon started visiting as a family. Then I realised the centre would be perfect for my classes of five- to six-yearolds, because the curriculum for that year group is very animal-based. That’s when it all started, eight years ago. The Executive Head Teacher is passionate about all teachers using the outdoor environment as a vehicle to launch

well-planned projects and frequent school visits. These provide new and exciting experiences that many children would not otherwise experience. As soon as the bus leaves the dual carriageway and enters this little green oasis, you can see smiles on the children’s faces, and their curiosity is evident. Prior to this, a limited number of pupils will only have seen mallards in the local park. When they walk around the wetland centre, I am struck by their awe and wonder, saying, for example, “I didn’t know there were black swans or all these types of ducks”. I teach Year 2 children now, and WWT’s Learning Manager, Joanne Newbury, tailors our visits to the science curriculum. In the mornings, our group might be

looking at food chains and life cycles through pond dipping and hunting for minibeasts. Then in the afternoons, we encourage the children to lead us according to what interests them. They always want to go in the hides! Every class I have taken to Washington over the years has absolutely loved their visit. It always inspires some super science work and beautiful pieces of artwork. We get some wonderful writing inspired by the animals they see in their natural habitat too. Our visits encourage the children to get out more in their local wild spaces. We’ve booked to come back next spring and I’m planning our trip already. I can’t wait to see their smiling faces! NOVEMBER 2021/FEBRUARY 2022

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was the seven-year-old boy who kept really bad bird notebooks, wanted to know what that thing flying past was, and imagined everything to be a hoopoe or definitely a roller. At the age of 10, my mother took me to WWT Slimbridge and I am sure I remember Sir Peter Scott showing me how to use a telescope and pointing out a peregrine. But I might be wrong. One thing I can be certain about is that a decade ago, WWT was still very welcoming and I was encouraged by the then Chair of Council, Tony

Thomas, to join the Board. Last year, I stepped up to take the role of Chair myself. It’s certainly challenging, but I’m having so much fun. As a Trustee, I get to see first-hand the professionalism and enthusiasm that staff and volunteers display right across the Trust. And even better, I can actually thank them for their hard work making our reserves great places for visitors, having sleepless nights looking after grumpy curlew chicks or struggling with international bureaucracy on behalf of a globally threatened bird. This stuff really works. The last time I’d been to Welney, there was a field outside the visitor centre. When I

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“My wish for wetlands is that they are seen by everyone as being a crucial part of our lives”

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visited this spring, the site had been transformed into Lady Fen, a marsh full of harriers, egrets and godwits. I’m especially excited by how we are now applying techniques we have used internationally here in the UK. The ‘headstarting’ to safeguard the first broods of spoon-billed sandpipers on their flyway can be used here to boost the prospects of threatened godwits and curlews. When you go wildlife watching, searching for a spectacle, they are nearly always to be found in wet places. The sight of 60,000 pink-footed geese arriving at Martin Mere is etched into my mind. I want others to be inspired by being close to so much wildlife.

DOUG HULYER FORMER DIRECTOR, WWT AND WETLAND LINK INTERNATIONAL

hen I joined WWT in the mid-1980s, Slimbridge was one of the most famous conservation centres in the world and Sir Peter Scott one of its most celebrated conservationists. There was an endless stream of international visitors from governments and other NGOs to this remote reserve on the edge of the River Severn. Many guests were inspired to create centres for people and wildlife in the image of Slimbridge in their home countries. We came up with the idea of Wetland Link International – a network of places linked by the common aim of

bringing people and wildlife together for the benefit of both. The network has grown tenfold, with over 300 centres now connected, representing thousands of hectares of wetlands conserved, and millions of visitors being inspired every year. Collectively, we took the idea of people at the heart of conservation and put it front and centre on a global stage. The network has helped in the creation and design of new centres all over the world. The diversity of WWT centres continues to provide a variety of approaches that still attract many wishing to have a ‘wetland centre on their doorstep’. For me, this is not just about the fabulous places – it’s about the

“Their souls are touched by the magic of being at the water’s edge, and maybe we have taken one small step forward on the road to a truly sustainable world” amazing people that make it all happen. All over the world there are folk willing to push themselves, and others, to realise the dream of places teeming with wildlife where people come and stay awhile, leaving with smiles on their faces. Their souls are touched by the magic of being at the water’s edge, and maybe we have taken one small step forward on the road to a truly sustainable world. Even after leaving WWT 15 years ago, I still have contact with some of those folk; all friends connected by a common cause and sense of kinship. NOVEMBER 2021/FEBRUARY 2022

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SAMEER PATEL WWT LONG-TERM MEMBER was nine years old when my family took out an annual membership at WWT London Wetland Centre. We were surprised to see such a beautiful reserve with such a diverse range of wildlife in the centre of the capital. We visited frequently and I discovered my favourite animals – reptiles! I remember being handed my first baby grass snake to hold by one of the staff. To see its jewel-like eyes and to feel its surprisingly smooth body was incredible, and it immediately inspired me. Thanks to the staff, I learned exactly which habitats appeal to different species, especially reptiles. It enabled me to discover a new colony of slow-worms living in my local park. I have been helping out for seven years now, doing pond dipping and reptile walks. I’ve shown so many people the slow-worms, grass snakes and common lizards that reside at the wetland centre – truly a wildlife haven in the middle of a city. I love passing on my passion to other people. Now that I have turned 16, I hope to start working as a volunteer officially. Going to the centre has had a hugely positive impact on me. The wonderful staff have helped inspire me to become involved with conservation. My favourite memory has nothing to do with reptiles though. It was a night safari, which started with stories in the yurt, then we used bat detectors on a walk and finished with toasted marshmallows. It was such great fun. Until then, I had been completely oblivious to the fact that there were bats in London. I now look for and see many near my house on warm summer evenings.

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“My wish for wetlands is that they will continue to be a haven for wildlife – and that more people will start being interested in reptiles”

TRISHA KIRKHAM WWT FELLOW MEMBER FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS y love affair with waterfowl began more than 40 years ago when I was working away from home. I only visited my local WWT centre to fill time. When I walked through the door to see the collection I was immediately met by a gaggle of geese. I bent down to talk to them and they started to empty my handbag and pockets, looking for something to eat. I immediately started to relax. Three weeks later I bought my first geese. It wasn’t long before I started rescuing and homing swans and other waterfowl for a swan rescue organisation. I did that for about 30 years. I feel so connected to them. Seeing those wonderful animals suffer at the hands of humans broke my heart. But hearing of the work WWT carries out to support waterfowl and the habitats they live in reinforces my belief in people and a better future. I feel I can handle

anything when I come away from visiting one of the WWT centres. It recalibrates me. When I first visited Slimbridge all that time ago, there were always copies of Sir Peter Scott’s wonderful paintings for sale in the shop. It was difficult to leave without one as they were so good. I think we now have 18, including one he painted for me after my goose laid her first egg. WWT has evolved from a collection of waterfowl to an internationally recognised leader in saving waterfowl and wetlands – today, its expertise is sought worldwide. I always say that a lake or pond without waterfowl is like a room without furniture. WWT has a big task ahead and needs our support to achieve its goals – that’s why my husband and I are leaving our estate to them to help enable them to carry on their excellent work in years to come.

Paul Lawston/WWT

“My wish is that people come to realise that water is life. We must make space for wildlife on our waterways” 30

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DAVID HINDLE WWT LIFE MEMBER AND MARSH AWARD WINNER

species, exemplified by the successful rearing and release into the wild of spoon-billed sandpipers. That achievement is especially poignant for me – in the 1980s I observed the last two slender-billed curlews in Morocco. This species is now in all probability extinct, and to see them on the Merga Zerga wetlands, a tidal lagoon and internationally important wetland reserve, was an exceptional and yet desperately sad privilege. Two years ago, I felt honoured to be recognised as Community Wetland Conservation Champion by the Marsh Christian Awards in association with WWT. The award citation read: ‘…in recognition of his work over many years in monitoring the wildlife on three unused reservoirs in Grimsargh, near Preston. This monitoring work was a major

contributor to the reservoirs being saved from potential large-scale housing, and instead being designated as a community conservation area.’ The Grimsargh Wetlands Trust, of which I am Chair, is now able to promote, for public benefit, the conservation, protection and improvement of wildlife at the nature reserve. It means so much because wetlands reflect all that is good about biodiversity and global conservation. n

“My wish for wetlands is that they are cherished and preserved for future generations, including my own grandchildren”

Ben Cherry/WWT

’d already been a member of WWT for about 15 years, enthralled by birdwatching and wildfowl collections, when I encountered Sir Peter Scott on the south-west Lancashire mosslands one day in the early 1970s. He was watching large flocks of pink-footed geese while researching the right location for what would later become Martin Mere Wetland Centre. I informed him about a grey phalarope nearby and found him to be utterly charming and inspirational. I’ve been visiting Martin Mere regularly ever since it opened as a reserve in 1975, though I often stray over the Solway to Caerlaverock, another of my favourite WWT reserves. I admire the charity’s core values of wetland conservation, together with its focus on conserving endangered

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Donate today, visit wwt.org.uk/wecan

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Wetlands are our vital allies in tackling the climate emergency, but to give us a fighting chance they need our protection. A better future is possible and wetlands can help make that happen if we work together WORDS BY MIKE UNWIN

code red for humanity.” So said UN Secretary General António Guterres this August, describing the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. There is no longer any disputing the frightening reality: the world’s climate is changing and humans are the cause. A rampant increase in greenhouse gases, generated by fossil fuels, habitat destruction, intensive farming and other unsustainable practices, is overheating the planet. The 10 hottest years on record have all been since 2005. With every year, the destructive effects of this warming intensify: droughts, floods, wildfires, heatwaves, storms and rising sea levels. Already, they are causing displaced people, lost livelihoods and the inexorable decline of biodiversity worldwide. And, while the past 18 months have seen the world preoccupied with the pandemic, the problem has not gone away.

Witness this summer’s floods in Germany, heatwaves in Canada and fires in Siberia. Temperatures continue to rise, and for many species across the planet – not least our own – the future looks precarious. Make no mistake: this is a climate emergency. TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS Wetlands are essential in addressing this emergency. These habitats occur wherever water meets land, and include marshes, rivers and streams, lakes, saltmarsh, peatlands, wet woodlands and seagrass beds. Collectively, they harbour more fauna and flora than most other habitats on Earth – and they have a critical role to play in combating climate change, both by mitigating it and helping us adapt to its effects. “The services wetlands provide knock spots off forests,” says Geoff Hilton, WWT Head of Conservation Evidence. Wetlands

can absorb water like a sponge, filtering out pollutants from our drinking supplies and slowing down the flow from river catchments to prevent flooding downstream. They can also provide coastal buffers against sea-level rise and storm surges. What’s more, they can be some of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet, with peatlands alone storing twice as much carbon as the world’s forests. And they are even good for our health and wellbeing – an imperative that has never felt more urgent than during the pandemic. Unfortunately, wetlands are in trouble. Globally, they are now disappearing three times faster than forests. Since 1970, 81% of inland wetland species and 36% of coastal species have declined globally, with one-quarter of wetland plant and animal species now at risk of extinction. Closer to home, England has lost 90% of its wetlands over the past 1,000 years, with 100,000 hectares of freshwater wetlands disappearing annually during the middle decades of the 19th century alone. In Great Britain, 13% of freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction. And it gets worse. As wetlands disappear, it exacerbates the impact of climate change, Continued on page 36 NOVEMBER 2021/FEBRUARY 2022

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Mike Potts/Nature PL

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THE OUSE WASHES, UK PRODUCTION CLIENT

The Ouse Washes, in the fens of eastern England, illustrate how development and climate change can affect wetlands. This precious tract of floodplain meadow was created to take the overflow from the River Ouse, when the fens were drained during the 17th century. Though it still supports a lot of wildlife, it was once a hotspot for huge flocks of wildfowl in winter and rare marshland birds, including ruffs, black-tailed godwits and black terns, in summer. Recent decades have seen pressures increase, with built development in the Ouse catchment increasing the speed with which water reaches the River Ouse. Climate change now exacerbates the problem, with more intense summer rainfall causing floods that destroy waterbirds’ nests. Rarities have disappeared, and species such as lapwing, snipe and redshank have declined steeply. In response, the Environment Agency, with partners including WWT, has created ‘lifeboat sites’ adjacent to the washes, to compensate for the flooding of the birds’ habitat. These include Lady Fen at WWT Welney.

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The mournful call of the golden plover was once a signature sound of peatlands across the UK, but recent years have seen breeding populations falling, from Wales and the West Country to the Pennines and Peak District. This migratory wader finds its southernmost breeding limit in the UK and is thus especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change on its habitat. Hotter, drier summers dry out the upper soil levels of peatland, leaving them unable to support the cranefly larvae on which the plover depends for feeding its young. However, simple management practices can offer a solution: blocking drainage ditches can ‘re-wet’ the peatland, restoring its soil moisture, and thus increasing the cranefly population and enabling golden plovers to persist. These measures will also help curlew, dunlin and other declining peatland breeding birds to adapt to climate

change. What’s more, by re-wetting peatland across the UK, this precious wetland habitat can once again provide the vital ecosystem services – including carbon sequestration and improving water quality – that will help us all mitigate climate change.

BOEUNG PREK LAPOUV, CAMBODIA Boeung Prek Lapouv is one of the largest remnants of seasonally flooded grassland in Cambodia’s Lower Mekong Delta. Home to a rich biodiversity, including rare sarus cranes, its 8,300 hectares also support over 22 villages, whose people farm rice and depend upon the wetland’s natural resources, including fish, edible plants, firewood and grass. This dynamic habitat relies on seasonal ‘sheet flooding’ to retain its water supplies. However, climate change has triggered recent seasonal extremes, with shorter, more intense wet seasons and longer dry seasons producing more destructive wetseason floods and higher temperatures, creating longer droughts between them. This is degrading the habitat, for example, by allowing drought-tolerant invasive plants to replace native aquatic species such as water chestnut. Working with local partners, WWT has completed a climate change vulnerability assessment that identifies ways in which the habitat will be affected. With this data, we can now advise the community on more resilient habitat management – for example, by blocking old obsolete irrigation canals and digging ephemeral pools – in order to keep the wetland wetter for longer.

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continue to fall. At Anlung Pring, in the southern Mekong Delta, we are working with 230 households on a sustainable rice

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Cambodia has lost more than half its seasonal wetlands over the past 15 years. Local communities depend on these wetlands for their livelihoods, using seasonal flooding to cultivate rice during the dry season, while also harvesting fish, edible plants and other natural resources. Longer droughts, exacerbated by climate change, have forced many to turn from traditional flood-fed rice to irrigated rice. This process drains the wetlands further and pumps harmful pesticides into the ecosystem. As the land becomes exhausted, so yields

programme. Communities are using drought-resistant, flood-fed rice varieties, which require fewer pesticides, while planting nutritious supplementary legume crops, such as mung beans, that help fix nitrogen in the soil. This model acts as a test case for communities who depend on the seasonal cycle of flooding and rice cultivation, and who must now adapt to the challenges of climate change. Meanwhile, an improved wetland habitat offers more hope for the rare sarus crane – now the centre of an ecotourism project that also brings vital income to the community.

Yin Pheanm/WWT

ANLUNG PRING,

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WWT; Shutterstock

LAKE SOFIA, MADAGASCAR WWT members may know Madagascar’s Lake Sofia as the location of our reintroduction scheme for the critically endangered Madagascar pochard. This important wetland in the island’s north-west is also home to a community of some 10,000 people who rely on its natural resources. In recent decades, the environmental degradation across Madagascar has had a heavy impact here, with unsustainable agriculture denuding the surrounding forests, eroding the soil and causing unchecked pesticide run-off into the lake itself. Climate change has exacerbated these problems, with rising temperatures causing longer droughts and making fires more difficult to control. Since 2018, we have been helping the local community with a management plan to adapt to climate change. This includes climate changeresilient agriculture, using more drought-resistant rice varieties and diversifying into other crops – including Artemisia annua, which has important medicinal uses. In addition, a reforestation programme includes the planting of ‘edible forests’, in which commercial species are integrated within the regeneration, enabling the community to harvest a vital resource while boosting ecosystem services such as soil stability and carbon sequestration.

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so the remaining wetlands become more vulnerable to climate change’s effects. As sea levels rise, for example, ‘coastal squeeze’ between low tide and sea wall shrinks intertidal habitats such as mudflats and saltmarshes. As rivers warm, they hold less oxygen, making them less suitable for fish that require cool, oxygenated waters.

Paul Hobson/Nature PL

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CREATING WETLANDS At WWT, we are working tirelessly to protect and restore wetlands so that they can help us adapt to the climate emergency. Here in the UK, we have an ambition to see 100,000 hectares of wetlands created or restored, and our projects have targeted certain key habitats. In Somerset, for example, we’re restoring saltmarsh. This habitat buries carbon, makes great nurseries for commercial fisheries and protects against flooding by attenuating wave energy before it hits the bund. At WWT Steart Marshes, 300 hectares of new coastal saltmarsh have already been created. So far, they have buried an estimated 25,000-32,000 tonnes of carbon. “The benefit:cost ratio of protecting saltmarsh can be huge,” says Geoff. We are also targeting floodplains. “If you stop floodwaters from reaching a floodplain, by building river embankments, then that water has to go somewhere,” he explains, stressing the critical importance of this under-recognised habitat in natural flood management. Today we’re working in the Severn Valley to restore floodplains that were historically drained for agriculture. “We need to reconnect floodplains to their rivers,” says Geoff, “so that when it chucks it down in the hills, it doesn’t all rush down into town.” 36

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In the UK, we have an ambition to see 100,000 hectares of wetlands created or restored, and our projects have targeted key habitats Working with our partners, other wetland adaptation measures have included creating ponds to act as stepping stones in a landscape, and supporting the reintroduction of beavers to Britain. These industrious rodents act as ‘ecosystem engineers’, naturally creating a more varied river structure, with deep pools and shallow stretches, that helps slow down floodwater and produces cool-water refuges. A GLOBAL SOLUTION Overseas, meanwhile, we are working in places such as Madagascar and Cambodia to help impoverished communities that depend on wetlands for their livelihoods to adapt to the devastating effects of climate change. Projects include helping develop drought-friendly rice-farming techniques, blocking ill-conceived irrigation canal

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Golden plover chicks depend on healthy cranefly populations

Though wetlands will be severely impacted by climate change, they provide vital protection against the most severe effects and can help tackle the crisis

projects from the past in order to store vital summer floodwater, and planting ‘edible forests’ that both help store up carbon and offer sustainable resources. Completing much-needed vulnerability assessments and helping develop sustainable management plans has been vital to this work. In the past 18 months, the Covid pandemic has shown us the importance of nature to our lives and the need to use its benefits to build back better. Wetlands can help us adapt to climate change by using nature’s solutions. As Geoff says: “Wetlands offer us multiple benefits – in spades!” At WWT, however, we can’t go it alone. The UK is legally committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. At present, we are not on track to meet this. At COP26, the UN climate change conference to be held in Glasgow in November, we need governments to redouble their commitments. In the process, they must recognise wetlands as indispensable to the solution. “COP26 must be a green light to government to get on with protecting wetlands,” says Geoff. “Nothing less than the future of humanity is at stake.” n

YOU CAN HELP We need governments to take action and deliver on their promises, but we can’t do it alone. Please add your voice and demand action for wetlands by pledging your support for our Wetlands Can! campaign: wwt.org.uk/WetlandsCan

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This is your last chance to enter our 2021 photo competition and show us your best work from the past year. You could win a great pair of Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 binoculars, worth £970

Greylag geese, WWT Slimbridge Peter Wyles

PRODUCTION CLIENT

he end of lockdown in the summer saw many of you return to your local WWT centres even more invigorated and excited about photographing our amazing wetland wildlife. Visitors to Slimbridge and Arundel have already discovered the amazing close-up opportunities provided by our new walk-through aviaries. We hope everyone has found a moment to reflect on the importance of having wetlands you can escape to, whenever you need, to find beauty and peace, and restore your sense of wellbeing. Now it’s time to look through your photos from the summer and send your best shots in to our photo competition.

Four-spotted chaser, WWT Slimbridge Janice Clark

Remember, images must have been taken at a WWT centre between 1 April and 30 November 2021 and you must be a member to enter (you’ll need your member number ID). We hope more young people aged 16 and under will enter our new youth category. The winner will receive a pair of Viking Otter 8x32 binoculars, courtesy of VIKING OPTICAL. You’ve only got until 30 November 2021 to enter. A shortlist of winning and

WIN!

commended shots will be published in the March/June 2022 issue of Waterlife, and the overall winner will be awarded a pair of Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 binoculars worth £970. For full details and the rules, visit wwt.org.uk/waterlifephoto

WIN!

SWAROVSKI CL 8X30 BINOCULARS WORTH £970! Make the most of every wildlife sighting with the Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 binoculars. These elegant binoculars are perfect for seasoned birders and novice nature lovers. They offer lightweight, rugged durability and amazing performance, and fit perfectly in your hand. Enjoy unique wildlife experiences wherever you go. swarovskioptik.com

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In winter, our resident breeding population of black-headed gulls is boosted by large numbers of individuals from Europe

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SHOP WITH US

HOW TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS...

WINTER WEATHER

Support the wetlands and wildlife you love by purchasing your optics equipment from our new online shop: shop.wwt.org. uk/collections/optics

In our course for nature photography enthusiasts, wildlife photographer David Tipling offers his helpful tips to improve your winter wetland pictures taken at our centres reezing weather can offer some beautiful conditions for wildlife photography. Frost, ice and snow create a seasonal atmosphere that can really enhance a photograph. A snow-covered landscape can help obscure obtrusive and distracting elements, giving you a blank canvas to simplify a composition so that greater emphasis can be placed on your subject. A covering of snow also acts like a giant reflector, throwing light back up at your subject. This helps to enhance feather and fur detail, and eliminates harsh shadows. Such conditions are perfect for illuminating the underwings of flying

Images by David Tipling

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birds, and this is especially effective if the sun is shining. If you shoot with your camera in automatic mode, be careful with your exposure when photographing in bright-white snow. It will likely fool your camera and as a result your picture may be badly underexposed. Instead, you need to take some manual control. Increasing your camera’s suggested exposure by one to two stops, to let more light in, should give you a perfectly exposed picture. Learn to use your camera’s histogram if you can. This will tell you if you’re underexposing or overexposing too much, and by making small adjustments you can take a perfectly lit photo.

Winter light When the sun is low in the sky early or late in the day, there is a richness to nature’s colours, as shown with this image of black-headed gulls on ice. Make sure you retain detail in the brightest parts of the picture by checking your histogram.

Reed bunting

Your wild photos

Design your composition Frost, snow and ice are great ingredients when composing a shot. Think about where your subject is placed within the frame to show the wintry conditions to best effect. This image of a reed bunting has a chilly seasonal feel due to the clean, white background and the snow frosting the fallen reed head. Coot

THE WINNER “Please find attached some shots from my recent visit to Martin Mere, including the new Inca terns in the World of Wonder aviary. We also saw a marsh harrier a few fields away.” Anthony Prendergast

Look for reflections Waterbirds standing or walking on ice – especially when it starts to melt – can create lovely reflections, as with this coot. Leave plenty of space around your subject to encompass the full reflection and to allow your subject to breathe. You can always crop the image later to find the most pleasing composition. Goldeneye

RUNNER-UP “This is a chaffinch alighting on feeders at the Janet Kerr Hide at Martin Mere. I will be visiting the centre again, so hopefully you’ll see more of my photos in the future.” Michael Harvey

WIN! WIN! WIN! Anthony wins a copy of The Wildlife Photography Workshop by Ross Hoddinott and Ben Hall, worth £11.89 and available in our shops and online.

Make snow streaky This image of a goldeneye has great atmosphere due to the addition of falling snow. You can control how snowflakes look by changing your shutter speed. A slower shutter speed will make the snow more streaky and give a more arty effect; a faster one will freeze the flakes for a natural look.

We love to see what you’ve photographed at our centres. Please send your best shots to Waterlife and they could be published in a future issue. Just email your high-res images and a short story about what you photographed to waterlife@wwt.org.uk. We can’t wait to see what you can do!

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Hello there

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Will you help us celebrate a big birthday? WWT has reached the grand old age of 75 – they’ve been protecting wetlands and their wildlife since way back in 1946. And it’s thanks to people like you who support WWT that they’ve been able to do all their great work for so long. Would you like to join us in marking this great event in some way? Here are some activities to get you started. I fancy making a wild spiral – that sounds pretty cool. Have fun!

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Make a wild spiral

WWT’s founder, Sir Peter Scott, started one of the world’s longestrunning bird research projects, when he noticed he could spot individual differences between the Bewick’s swans returning to Slimbridge. How did he do that? Why, by the yellow and black patterns on their beaks! Each Bewick’s swan has a unique beak and that meant Sir Peter knew exactly which old friends had returned every autumn. Scientists at Slimbridge are still keeping records of these visitors from northern Europe every year.

Can you make unique beak cards with a picture of a Bewick’s swan to give to friends and family for a special day? It could be a birthday or Christmas. NOW YOU I T 1. Press your hand gently into eco-friendly safe white paint. 2. Make a handprint on a folded piece of card. 3. Using a paintbrush, extend your thumbprint up and over to become the swan’s neck. 4. Give the bird an eye and a yellow and black beak.

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Why not add a message to say you’re a member of WWT and that this card celebrates an amazing 75 years of saving wetland wildlife?

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CLIENT

Here’s something you can do that goes round and round, and round and round, and round and round and round... Start off by finding some stones to paint. Look for ones with a smooth face for your masterpiece to come. Paint the number 75 on a stone. Then paint some more stones with your favourite wetland creatures – a kingfisher, an otter, a dragonfly, a fish, or something else that gives you a big ‘wow!’ Maybe you could ask other people to join in. Go outside and, starting with the 75 at the centre, arrange the painted stones around it in a spiral shape. Then, each time you go for a walk, gather cones, shells, more stones, twigs, nuts etc and take them home. Start arranging them around the stones and see how big you can make your spiral. You could even see if you can collect and add 75 objects altogether.

SAY IT WITH A SWAN

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Christmas quackers Everyone knows that ducks quack, right? Well, yes and no. Most of the duck species that WWT began protecting at its wetland centres 75 years ago just croak, growl or whistle. Our best-known

quacking duck is the mallard. But did you know that only the female gives that famous ‘quu-aaack’? Play a game with your family and friends at Christmas (or before) to find out who is the best quacker. You could listen to a mallard duck recording online, then let everyone quack in turn. Vote for the best duck imitator, then check the winner to see if they have webbed feet.

Quu-aaack!

Which swan’s which?

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In winter, the UK is home to three types of swan: mute, Bewick’s and whooper. At first glance they can all look the same, but if you become a swan detective, you can learn to tell them apart.

Bewick’s swans are the smallest and have shorter, straighter necks.

Whoopers hold their necks with more of a bend than Bewick’s.

Mutes have an orange and black bill, with a large lump at the top.

Bewick’s and whooper swans have a yellow and black bill.

The yellow on the Bewick’s bill looks a bit like a knob of butter.

The yellow triangle on the whooper’s bill is more like a wedge of cheese.

Now you know, see what swans you can spot on your next visit!

From the feathered and furred to the slimy and scaly, here at WWT we love all species that call wetlands their home. In October half-term you can discover What Lurks Beneath and uncover amazing facts, and take some tricky and scary tests too: put your hand in a snake box, discover what owls eat, listen to the different sounds of toads, and use a stopwatch to time how long some spiders can spend underwater. Check out wwt.org.uk/ whatlurksbeneath to find out which What Lurks Beneath events are available at your local WWT centre and begin a discovery of a whole new underworld around you!

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ARUNDEL Wetland Centre

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Are you brave enough to discover What Lurks Beneath? We are known for cute and fluffy birds, but this Halloween we shine a spotlight on some of our lesser-known creatures, such as water spiders, owls and toads. During October halfterm, you can also book

info.arundel@wwt.org.uk WWT Arundel

wwt.org.uk/arundel

ase check our website for the latest updates at wwt.org.uk/arunde l

“This is a special place. Lovely few hours spent here. Perfect for families or anyone who likes nature”

Firecrests are like tiny jewels flitting through the bushes

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EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS Christmas wreath workshop Create natural beauty at the Christmas wreath workshop (Saturday 4 December) or the Christmas crafts workshop (Saturday 27 November). Booking is essential via our website.

Evening birding The wild side of our reserve will stay open

for an extra hour on 15-18 November to allow visitors to see the evening roost of marsh harriers, pied wagtails and little egrets. Sunset is around 4pm, with closing time at 5.30pm.

Early birds If you’re an early bird, try one of our early opening days on 20-22 January 2022. The café will open early for breakfast too.

Mindfulness in Nature If too much time indoors is causing you stress, try a Mindfulness in Nature workshop with practitioner Rebecca Groome on 5 November, 7 December or 9 January 2022. Discover basic mindfulness skills to gain inner peace and tranquillity focusing on nature in outdoor surroundings. Booking is essential via our website.

Wetland Discovery Boat Safaris Book a guided boat safari at the Admissions Desk on the day of your visit for £3pp. From November the boats will run on a limited schedule on weekdays. A full schedule will run on weekends and holidays through winter.

Puddle Jumping Championships Get ready for them on 19-27 February 2022!

Enjoy Christmas crafts

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Pat Warren

CLIENT

Romney Turner

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On November afternoons, visit the Reedbed and Scrape hides to see up to 13 marsh harriers arrive for the evening roost. Until mid-January, this gathering is one of the largest harrier roosts in Sussex. Little egrets and pied wagtails also roost on-site in large flocks. Look for snipe and water rails at the edges of ponds and ditches. In December, train your camera on our hedgerows for vibrant goldcrests and firecrests, while hungry redwings and fieldfares gorge on berry-bearing bushes. Cormorants and grey herons are regular diners on our lagoons. The lack of leaves makes it easier to spot kingfishers around the site. On icy days they favour the boat jetty, where the broken ice offers better fishing. Good numbers of teal and shovelers winter at Arundel. If it’s icy, Bewick’s swans may overnight here, leaving early to feed further up the valley. For the past few winters, lapwings have roosted onsite in flocks that break up in February.

Arundel West Sussex BN18 9PB 01903 881530

an owl pellet dissection workshop, a ponddipping session or try some creepy crafts. This winter, families can once again Sail to Santa

on 11, 12, 18 and 19 December. Our private, elf-powered boats take your family group on a wintry ride to see Father Christmas. Advance

booking is essential on our website for this unique experience. Winter is a wonderful time to visit and take in the stunning landscapes at Arundel, the birds in their best plumage and lots of activity on the wildlife feeders. Whether it’s the sound of crisp leaves underfoot or the feel of the first frost on the trees, there’s always something magical for your senses here in autumn and winter.

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BEFORE YOU VISIT please check o f or the

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Autumn and winter are exciting times to visit Caerlaverock, as thousands of geese, ducks, waders and swans return from northern climes to spend the winter on the Solway. Up to 40,000 barnacle geese fly in from Svalbard, filling the air with their ‘yapping’ calls and filling the fields as they feed in their family groups. Our waterbodies also attract hundreds of ducks such as teal, wigeon, shoveler, tufted and shelduck. Shallow pools such as the Folly Pond are fantastic places to watch waders, including black-tailed godwits and redshanks, while the wet fields attract curlews and lapwings in their hundreds. Their dense flocks draw the attention of birds of prey, with hen harriers, marsh harriers, peregrine falcons and merlins seen regularly. Whooper swans can be heard from the car park, welcoming our visitors to the reserve. The avenues and feeders around the reserve are alive with small garden and farmland birds such as tree sparrows, yellowhammers, reed buntings and bullfinches. There are fantastic opportunities for wildlife photography, and there’s also plenty of space to sit and enjoy the wildlife and scenery in peace.

ART PRODUCTION CLIENT Sam Stafford/WWT

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY The annual Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships take place during halfterm. Show off your puddle-jumping skills and see who can make the biggest splash!

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The sight and sound of 40,000 barnacle geese is a spectacle not to miss

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS Wild Goose Festival Daily from 16-23 October, experience thousands of geese and enjoy events such as guided walks, a creative writing workshop, an optics demonstration and more.

Dawn Flights Watch thousands of barnacle geese flying

overhead against a dawn sky. Booking is essential; please see the website for dates and further details.

Caerlaverock Christmas Market Visit the Caerlaverock Christmas Market on Sunday 12 December, 10am-4pm, to buy festive arts, crafts, food and drink in the warmth of the visitor centre.

New Year’s Day Bird Race Start your annual bird list in style! Challenge the wardens to see who can count the highest number of species on the first day of the year!

Art exhibition Visit the gallery in the visitor centre to see our current exhibition: Dafila Scott is exhibiting from

14 September to 23 October. Visit our website for the exhibition programme.

50th anniversary trail It was the 50th anniversary of the opening of WWT Caerlaverock in October. To celebrate, walk our history trail around the reserve, finding different landmarks and historical items.

Grab your wellies and join the fun!

Throughout the Halloween month of October, from 10am-5pm, it’s time to discover What

Lurks Beneath. Are you brave enough to explore the weird and wonderful mysteries of wetland nature? What will you uncover as you make your way around our wetlands on our trail? Commentated Wild Swan Feeds take place daily at 11am and 2pm throughout the winter. Take in the sights and sounds of hundreds of whooper and

mute swans, and watch the antics of wigeon and other waterfowl. Swan feeds are great for all the family

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Alex Hillier/WWT

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CASTLE ESPIE Wetland Centre

Castle Espie County Down BT23 6EA 028 9187 4146 info.castleespie@wwt.org.uk

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Christmas wreath making and tea Enjoy a festive day out with Blossoms & Bluebells making your own Christmas door wreath, followed by a festive afternoon tea.

Light-bellied brent geese undertake one of the longest migrations of any waterbird, from the Canadian high Arctic to the eelgrass beds of Strangford Lough

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The arrival of the brent geese in their thousands onto Strangford Lough after a 3,000-mile journey from Arctic Canada is one of the biggest wildlife highlights in Northern Ireland’s calendar year. The Winter Migration Festival is designed to celebrate this spectacle, along with the migration story of various birds across the world. We want to connect people with nature and immerse them in the beautiful surroundings of Castle Espie so they come to understand the importance of what is around us, not just for people, but for wildlife too.

Sacha Dench/WWT

FAMILY FUN Enjoy a fun-filled day out at Castle Espie this winter. Wrap up warm in your winter woollies, pull your wellies on and get ready to splash your way around the reserve. Throughout the seasons we have lots of activities for you to enjoy, including our NEW Halloween

From Saturday 2 October, we will be offering visitors exciting experiences such as sunrise yoga, art classes, tours and much more in a bid to immerse you in nature in ways you have never experienced before. As well as the brent geese, wigeon, black-tailed godwits and redshanks, are all regular visitors at this time of year. If you’re really lucky, you may even hear a few whooper swans swooping overhead! All of our sightings are noted on our website and social media channels, and we love to hear from our visitors too, so don’t forget to share your sightings with us when you visit.

half-term event, What Lurks Beneath. Are you brave enough to explore the weird and wonderful mysteries of wetland nature, such as the

Lamprey mouths are filled with sharp teeth

Birdwatch Morning Join our experts on the last Thursday of every month for an informative morning watching and learning about the birds on the reserve.

“Visiting WWT Castle Espie is a lovely way to spend a morning. The views over Strangford Lough are wonderful and the birdlife abundant, at low and high tide. There’s wild birds and captive wildfowl from around the world, which are part of a conservation programme” Hannah T

terrifying tooth-filled gape of the lamprey (an eel-like fish)? What will you discover as you make your way around our wetlands on our interactive trail? Papa Elf will be returning this year with a NEW festive experience: Castle Espie Elf Academy. On this fun-packed Christmas day out, you and your family will learn how to be an elf. Experience the joy

of giving by bringing along something for the Kids Mission Christmas Appeal and wrap it with our elves, enjoy crafts and make reindeer food, then snuggle up with the family for a festive story from Papa Elf. The new year will see the return of our Winter Welly Walks, a fantastic way for families to get back to nature and enjoy time together in the crisp, winter air.

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Fabulous fungi

The humid, warm conditions of autumn are ideal for fascinating and varied fungus growth – from scarlet elf caps, jelly ears and birch bolete to honey fungus and orange peel. How

challenges you find. Make sure you collect your sticker from the shop afterwards, so you can proudly show everyone that you are an intrepid adventurer,

Terrifying triops have three eyes and up to 140 legs

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Look for huge flocks of starlings dancing over their winter roosts

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It’s the time of year when nature pulls out all the stops at Llanelli. From breathtaking autumnal scenery to epic wildlife migrations, now is the time nature chooses to wow us with its beauty and power, before slowing down for a period of rest and regeneration over the winter months. As the days shorten and afternoon skies turn golden, look and listen for dancing murmurations of jackdaws and starlings at roosting sites across the wetlands. It’s thought the birds roost together for safety in numbers, warmth on cold nights and to exchange information, such as the location of feeding areas. High tides push wading birds closer to the hides and they can be watched out on the scrapes and marshes as they sift and dig for food. Other birds enjoy the bounty provided by the hedges and vegetation around the reserve. Blackberries, hawthorns, rosehips and elderberries are just some of the colourful fruits you might see drooping from our hedgerows at this time of year. The fallen leaves make it easier to get clear views of shy waders and birds such as herons and egrets as they stalk fish through the shallows.

Discover What Lurks Beneath the surface and find out some of the coolest, slightly gross, amazing facts about our most misunderstood and unusual wetland superstars on Saturday 16 to Sunday 31 October. Feeling brave? Follow the interactive trail and dare yourself to complete the

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WILDLIFE WONDERS

FAMILY FUN

BEFORE YOU VISckITour

many types will you count as you walk around the reserve?

Explore Our wild play area really comes into its own at this time of year. The leaves, mud and watery paths add

to the sense of adventure as you bravely climb, clamber, jump and conquer the exhilarating obstacles.

Autumn photography The light is magical at this time of year, especially when the

and don’t forget to share your discoveries and photos with us at #WWTWhatLurksBeneath You’re going to love these wonderfully clever animals as much as we do! As crispy autumn leaves add a crunch to your step, look at all of the different colours and types you can see. Reds, browns, oranges and yellows; ash, oak, poplar and more. Can you collect

low sun makes the autumnal leaves glow. The wildlife is also looking wonderful, with male birds in fresh plumage, artfully accented by the golden glow of the late afternoon sun.

Why not make crafts from colourful autumn leaves?

fallen leaves and make a beautiful autumn picture with them? We would love to see your masterpieces!

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LLANELLI Wetland Centre

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FAMILY FUN

Let the kids loose to discover and connect with nature within our 100 acre reserve. Begin your wildlife adventure at the giant nest and let the kids lead you on a scavenger hunt for new sounds, smells and textures. Record what they see and hear – and introduce yourselves to any geese and ducks you

meet along the way. Look for creatures in our bug hotel while soaking up the beautiful scent of wildflowers. Nurture young imaginations as you quietly watch birds tending to their nests from the observation hides. Then climb, clamber and let off steam in our Explore playground area, experience the thrill of the zip line or discover the joy of giant water vole

Who’s ready to tackle the wa ll?

tunnels. Head over to the Discovery centre where there are villages to build, water cannons to shoot and fun games to play. With its wobbly rope bridge and log steps, the Wild Walk will challenge you while giving you a new sensory experience every season.

Wetlands Unravelled Creative Sound Workshop Gather and record sounds to build an imaginative, collaborative sound piece inspired by London Wetland Centre, guided through the process by artist Gavin Osborn.

Reedbed Ramblings Walk Join our reserve warden for a walk into our reedbeds, which are normally out of bounds to visitors. Learn about their management, the wildlife they support and how humans have relied on them for thousands of years.

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Water rails are more often heard than seen

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Wet Woodland Walk Discover more about our woodlands, including some of the flora and fauna that the habitat supports (fungi, longhorn beetles – left – and woodland passerines). This is your chance to see an area of the centre not normally open to the public.

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Autumn brings a steady flow of keen birders through the gates of WWT London Wetland Centre, hoping to see bitterns lurking in the reedbed margins (see page 22). These shy birds are normally associated with the extensive wetlands of East Anglia and the Somerset Levels, but here they can be seen up close any time from October to March. Around the reserve, our wardens will be on hand to help with bird identification and share their knowledge about the centre. They will help you spot bitterns and any special sightings, such as water pipits and water rails, which reappear in nationally significant numbers each year. Wildlife surprises can include bearded tits and migrating merlins. As the leaves fall from broadleaf trees, you can often get a better view of the reserve’s smaller birds too, such as Cetti’s warblers and exquisitely plumaged long-tailed tits. At this time of year, an array of fungi is on display at our grassland and deadwood areas – from traditional toadstools such as waxcaps, boletes and roundheads to weird and wonderful earth tongues and dead man’s fingers. Wrap up your visit by exploring our world wetlands. Here you can find our flamboyant crested or southern screamers and our Asian short-clawed otters, which are a joy to watch as they twist and dive in the water.

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

BEFORE YOU VISckITour

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WILDLIFE WONDERS

SW13 9WT 020 8409 4400 info.london@wwt.org.uk WWT London

Join us on a walk through the reedbeds

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LONDON Wetland Centre

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GREAT DAYS OUT

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Experience our brand new after-dark wetland wildlifeinspired light trail, brought to you by WWT and lighting experts Lumagica. Stroll past reedbeds, dance under rainfall lights, skip along with fireflies, play in the blue waters of an immersive light tunnel and hop along responsive lily pads. ILLUMINATURE offers a light experience for everyone inspired by wetlands and their wildlife. ILLUMINATURE, running 4-9pm from 22 October 2021 to 9 January 2022, offers visitors something a bit different – an interactive ‘wild’ experience of London under the stars. The illuminated light trail includes huge, beautifully lit models of floating swans, a family of otters, a flock of flamingos and Winifred the owl, among many others. So bring the family or reconnect with friends and workmates at this fun event.

You’ll discover the wonderful wildlife that calls London Wetland Centre home, learn about the importance of wetlands, and find out why we must keep protecting them. Specially designed with the wellbeing of our collections at heart, the carefully curated light exhibits and attractions have been created to avoid disturbing our wildlife and minimise impact on their habitats.

Experience wetlands like never before, after dark

The trail is fully accessible for wheelchair users, but as it is an outdoor route, please contact us at info.london @wwt.org.uk if you have any questions. If you prefer to experience ILLUMINATURE at quieter times, we recommend booking Thursdays after 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays after 8pm or Sundays after 6pm. For more information and to book, visit wwt.org.uk/illuminature

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WILDLIFE WONDERS

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From late September, the skies will be filled with the distinctive honking calls of thousands and thousands of geese passing overhead. Up to 40,000 pink-footed geese may be seen on the reserve at this time of year, and evenings and mornings are the best time to view them. On Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2-30 October, we’re opening later than normal, until 7pm, to allow visitors to experience the spectacle of the birds flying into roost and whiffling over the mere. If you’re more of an early riser, then every Saturday you can come in from 7am to join our special Dawn Flight events. See the geese as they awake in the morning and take off to an amazing chorus of honking. Please remember to book in advance as breakfast is included. Once the geese leave to continue their migration further south, they are replaced with majestic whooper swans. Up to 2,000 swans will come to winter here with their young. They breed in Iceland and the juveniles may be only a few months old when they must make the perilous 5,794km journey to stay ahead of the cold weather.

From late October, daily whooper swans feeds will begin, as up to 1,000 whooper swans gather in front of the hide, offering amazing opportunities for photography. There are two feeds every day at 3pm from the Discovery Hide and 3.30pm from the Raines Observatory – both feeds include a

“Visited in October when Martin Mere is open until late, so you can see the pink-footed geese coming in to roost. What an amazing sight and sound, with thousands putting on a great show! And more birds will come as autumn progresses. A superb afternoon and evening trip around a very interesting wetland centre” Perek24 54

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WWT Martin Mere

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Pink-footed geese cover the water in the mere in front of the United Utilities Hide

warden’s talk. The swans stay at Martin Mere until mid-March when they will return to Iceland to breed. As well as swans, the mere will be alive throughout the winter with pochards, teal, pintails, shelducks and vast flocks of starlings, making Martin Mere a winter wildlife wonderland.

Get your wellies on and have some winter fun!

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MARTIN MERE Wetland Centre

Martin Mere Lancashire L40 0TA 01704 895181 info.martinmere@wwt.org.uk

North West Bird Watching Festival Anyone who enjoys nature will love this event, on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 October. Join guest speakers – including presenters Dan Rouse and David Lindo – and enjoy walks and talks, seminars and stall holders, including clothing, books, wildlife holidays, artists, optical providers and wildlife charities. The centre is open from 8am to allow for early access onto the reserve, with a full English breakfast available from 9am.

Dawn Flights Experience the haunting sound and the thrill of an early morning hide visit with a warden. In past years at this time, the whooper swans have started to arrive back from Iceland and there could be thousands of pink-footed geese on the reserve. Price: £17.50. At 7am on 2, 9, 23 and 30 October.

Late-night geese

FAMILY FUN Autumn and winter are perfect seasons to visit WWT Martin Mere. Get your coats on and enjoy being outdoors with your family, breathing in the fresh air and seeing amazing wildlife spectacles. The enormous flocks of geese are a treat for your eyes and ears as they whiffle over the mere – guaranteed to make even the youngest explorers say “Wow!” Huge flocks of whooper swans can make quite a

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Every Wednesday and Saturday from 2-30 October, the nature trail will be open until 7pm to give you an opportunity to come and see the geese in large numbers as they return to roost for the evening, whiffling over the mere. No booking required, but you must have entered by 5pm.

deafening honking sound as they await their feeds. There are plenty of events to keep the little ones amused this winter. Are you brave enough to discover What Lurks Beneath this October? We shine a spotlight on some

Santa waits to welcome you

of our lesser-known creatures, such as water spiders, owls and toads, for Halloween. During October half-term, you can also try your hand at spooky pumpkin carving. Winter wouldn’t be complete without Sail to

Santa. On 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 20-21 and 22-23 December, you can take a magical boat trip across to Santa’s Island to meet Santa Claus and enjoy a free gift, two crafts and decorating a biscuit. Cost: £15 per child. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Make a splash during February half-term and take part in the North West Puddle Jumping Competition. Daily competitions will be taking place to find the overall weekly winner, who will be crowned the puddlejumping champion.

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Up to 2,000 migratory Icelandic whooper swans winter on the wetlands at WWT Martin Mere

Join David Lindo at our festival

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EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

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GREAT DAYS OUT

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SLIMBRIDGE Wetland Centre

BEFORE YOU VISeIcTk

REPRO OP

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Slimbridge Gloucestershire GL2 7BT 01453 891900 Pre-book events online at wwt.org.uk/slimbridge events.slimbridge@wwt.org.uk

WWT Slimbridge

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WILDLIFE WONDERS Autumn and winter are the best times to visit Slimbridge to experience vast numbers of wild birds. Early November sees pintails, pochards and other waterbirds increase in number and, if you’re really lucky, short-eared and barn owls may be seen. Numbers of Bewick’s swans will start to swell, driven by inclement weather on the continent. They can be individually identified by their unique bill patterns, and the commentated wild bird feeds overlooking the Rushy, from the Peng Observatory, are the perfect place to learn about these birds. Do you recognise any individuals from past winters? At dusk, starlings and jackdaws can be seen doing their amazing acrobatic displays over the grounds. Look out for elusive bitterns from the Zeiss Hide and experience the

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Bewick’s swan bill patterns are unique and can be used to tell them apart

winter spectacle of numbers on the Tack Piece. During January, winter bird numbers are usually at their peak, with up to 30,000 wild wintering ducks, geese, swans and waders on-site. Expect to see abundant garden birds on the feeders at the Kingfisher and Willow Hides, and shy water rails are often spotted under the feeders at the Willow Hide too.

“This is a beautiful place to visit. Fantastic grounds. Hundreds of different birds to see, from avocets and moorhens to pelicans and flamingos. There are two play areas for children and several hides to view the birds in their natural habitat. And the best red velvet cake I’ve ever tasted” Jane T

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The Estuary Tower Hide is the perfect spot to enjoy spectacular views

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GREAT DAYS OUT

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS Santa’s Coming to Slimbridge Treat your loved ones to a scrumptious meal and enjoy a special appearance from Santa, plus a full day out in our wonderful wetlands.

Evening with the Swans Experience the beauty and sounds of hundreds of wild swans on a floodlit lake before enjoying a delicious two-course meal at the Kingfisher Kitchen.

Wild Bird Feed

Duck Decoy Demonstrations Every Saturday at 2pm, experience our Duck Decoy Demonstrations. Witness the age-old practice of catching wild ducks in our duck decoy.

Scott House Tours Step back in time at Scott House Museum with an intimate tour of Sir Peter Scott’s home, where he championed the cause of worldwide wildlife conservation.

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For the finest close-up views, come along to our

daily Wild Bird Feed at 4pm in the heated Peng Observatory.

Warm up in Scott House

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FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Wrap up warm this season and experience the busiest time of year to spot all the wonderful wildlife migrating to or staying at Slimbridge over the winter. Give birdwatching a go and get to know our ducks, geese and swans, or buy a bag of birdseed from the visitor centre and hand-feed your new feathered friends. Spot the Bewick’s swans that have flown all the way from Russia. Then visit the Arctic Tundra to experience life as an adventurer on the steppes for yourself! Warm up on the Hawaiian landscape of the

new Mission Possible exhibit and meet everyone’s favourite geese, the nenes. Watch a demonstration at the Living Wetland Theatre or stroll through the Waterscapes Aviary to discover how each bird is adapted to the wetlands it lives in. Splash about in Welly Boot Land or go wild in the Riverlife outdoor play area. During October half-term, try out our Wetlands Interactive Sandbox and see what landscapes you can create!

Become a Wetland Hero with Slimbridge’s own app created by Aardman and learn more about the winter wildlife of Slimbridge. Spot all six species of flamingo, including Mr James, our only James’s

flamingo. Then meet the amazing amphibians in Toad Hall and the marvellous mammals at Back from the Brink. Warm up with a hot chocolate or tasty snack at the Kingfisher Kitchen.

Have you got what it takes to be an Arctic explorer?

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It’s winter, and hand-feeding the swans and ducks is a must for everyone. With seed in your hand and birds at your feet, joy and laughter are inevitable

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WASHINGTON Wetland Centre

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WILDLIFE WONDERS

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As we leave the hazy days of summer behind, we turn our eyes skywards to welcome the first overwintering migrants. Autumn is about incredible journeys – large-scale nature on the move and at its most visceral. Spend time in one of our waterside hides and soak in the sights and sounds. Black-tailed godwits, knots, greenshanks and various sandpipers arriving; snipes and whimbrels dropping in to refuel en route elsewhere; and skeins of geese passing noisily overhead. Amazing! Enjoy changing colours and evolving landscapes as you wander around our reserve. Our woodlands are a sheltered sanctuary for mating bats, young owls looking for territories and squawking jays burying acorns to last them through the cold weather ahead. Stop a while in the comfort of Hawthorn Wood Hide or pause at the Lookout viewing screen to watch woodland birds including bullfinches, nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers gorging on fatballs and seeds. As winter closes in, our biggest wild spectacle – the winter curlew roost – starts to build; peaking in January and February with flocks of more than 900 swooping down to roost. An immersive experience not to be missed!

ART PRODUCTION CLIENT Ian Henderson/WWT

FAMILY FUN Autumn is here. The change in season brings a host of new outdoor adventures and exciting things to see, whatever the weather! There are fallen leaves to crunch underfoot, puddles to jump in, and pine cones and sticks to play with or make into art.

Waterlife

BEFORE YOU VISIT please

check our website fo r the latest updates a t wwt.org .uk/ washingto n

Washington Tyne and Wear NE38 8LE 0191 416 5454 info.washington@wwt.org.uk

WWT Washington

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From November to January, numbers of curlews peak at around 900 birds. Your best chance of seeing them is between 3pm and 4pm on dry, frost-free afternoons from the hides overlooking Wader Lake

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS Otter feeds

Learn more about our gorgeous otter family at daily otter feeds. Meet at their enclosure and watch the lively trio devour tasty snacks as you hear interesting facts.

they enjoy a treat from our keepers!

What LURKS Beneath Throughout October, are you brave enough

Nature Fright Nights

Flamingo talks

See nocturnal nature at its spookiest on Friday 29, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October. Enjoy bat-detecting, potion-making and a

Discover more about our fabulous Chilean flamingos and how they’re adapting to their new island as

Our animal collection is great to see at this time of year, with ducks changing into their beautiful breeding plumage and displaying to impress a mate. Laugh at the male eider’s attempts to woo a female, with his flirty ‘oo-OO-oo’ call. Then marvel as white-headed and goldeneye ducks perform tail flicks and headbanging gestures.

to explore the weird and wonderful mysteries of wetland nature? What will you uncover as you make your way round our wetlands on our NEW interactive trail?

Our Asian short-clawed otters (above) can be seen frolicking in their enclosure, enjoying the last of the sunshine. Watch as they juggle stones with their Male eiders have a delightful call

night-time stroll before stories and a Halloween treat. Events run 5-7pm, £10pp; see online for booking.

Christmas at WWT Washington Please check online and on-site for more details and join us this winter for a magical wetland experience in the heart of nature.

dexterous fingers and hunt for treats hidden by keepers. When the cold weather brings frost and flurries, our flamboyant pink flamingos dazzle against the snow. Our wetlands become a magical winter wonderland where you can turn nature detective by following bird prints in the snow, or snap pictures of the sparkling landscape on a chilly walk.

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This winter, our Lady Fen Hare Walk route will be open from the time you receive this magazine until the end of February. Walk the perimeter and enjoy the sights and sounds of winter birds, overlook pools and pause at benches to take in the landscape and the wildlife that calls it home. Look out for resident barn owls and wintering short-eared owls hunting across these wetlands. The shorter vegetation will allow for views of hares and roe deer. The walk route is open 10am to dusk, so although some flocks of roosting swans will have headed out for the day, there may still be whooper and Bewick’s to enjoy. Catch awe-inspiring sights of them flying back as the sun is setting over the washes, from the balcony of the bridge at the visitor centre. Huge flocks of wigeon and teal are interspersed with shovelers, gadwalls and pintail ducks, and check the ditches for tufted ducks and water rails too. A change in climate is also allowing for overwintering cattle egrets, which can often be seen on Lady Fen or along Hundred Foot Bank. Over on the reserve, enjoy open-air viewpoints as well as the comfort of birdwatching from the hides, as you watch black-tailed godwits, golden plovers, pochards, marsh harriers and peregrine falcons.

FAMILY FUN The abundance of summer insects dwindles in autumn, but the last few dragonflies will still be on the wing on warmer days. As winter beckons, they are replaced by huge flocks of swans, ducks and wading birds. Grab an explorer backpack to make sure

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WILDLIFE WONDERS

Welney Cambridgeshire PE14 9TN 01353 860711 info.welney@wwt.org.uk WWT Welney

Winter brings magnificent skies and a spectacle of swans

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS What LURKS Beneath

Explore the reserve to find out about spooky species that call wetlands home. Collect a trail card and visit the points marked on the map. Throughout October.

Swan’s awake – guided early morning On selected dates this winter (Saturday 20 November, Sunday 19 December, Saturday 15 January and Sunday 6 February) join a guide to enjoy the earlymorning activity as swans stir from their

that you have all you need for a day’s birdwatching. Then enjoy watching the way different birds move around the landscape. Search the water for birds having a drink or a preen, notice the diverse ways they feed and see if you can spot the bird of prey when huge flocks of panicked waders take flight.

roosts and get ready to fly to their feeding grounds for the day. Booking essential. £12 per adult; £5 per child.

Swan feeds Watch the swans and ducks as a guide feeds them on the main lagoon at 12 noon and 3.30pm. Floodlit swan

feeds 6.30pm Saturdays and Sundays.

Swan researchers family trail During the Christmas holidays, collect an explorer backpack from

the visitor centre and find out what it takes to become a swan researcher. Monitoring swan populations and how they use wetlands means we can protect them and their homes.

WIGEON HOUSE

Be our guest at Wigeon House and enjoy a unique opportunity to stay on our wetland reserve surrounded by the sights and sounds of winter wildlife. Book your stay now through our website or Airbnb.

Spot birds feasting on the berries of trees around the visitor centre and footpaths. Listen out for the different sounds of autumn

and winter – bird calls, rustling reeds and raindrops falling into the pools. Along the footpaths, find puddles to splash in and see if you can spot any animal tracks in patches of mud. Enjoy the changing colours of the reserve throughout the day, taking in the colourful and dramatic Fenland skies at sunset.

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WELNEY Wetland Centre

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STEART Marshes

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site so openac ca but ple nnot be clo cess sed, ase re ad statem ent be our latest fore vis wwt.o iting. rg.uk/ steart

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Dashing merlins are known to overwinter on the marshes

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“Free stop-off on way back from a week in Somerset and Devon. Lots of walking, with good viewing spots for wildlife, especially birds such as egrets, oystercatchers and various gulls. Toilet in car park too” MW_nomad

ART CLIENT

WILDLIFE WONDERS The start of winter brings with it a whole new lease of life to the reserve. At a time of year when many species are dormant, thousands upon thousands of wintering birds come to seek food and refuge at Steart Marshes. Otterhampton Marshes is the best place to get close-up views throughout the winter, as we are able to hold water back in the lagoons. The

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS Tide tables to help you plan your visit can be found on the ‘Visiting’ page of our website: wwt.org.uk/steart

Halloween Trail

Night Walk

Discover some of our lesser-known species on a self-led trail. Daily during October half-term. Leaflets available on-site.

Wrap up warm and join us for a walk to hear the sounds of the saltmarsh at high tide on 30 October at 7-9pm. Suggested donation: £5 per person. Booking essential.

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sight and sound of golden plovers, dunlin, wigeon, shovelers and lapwings cannot fail to raise the spirits. If you take the time to look carefully among these huge flocks, you may be lucky enough to steal a glimpse of a little stint or spotted redshank. A firm favourite with visitors is the arrival of the merlin, with three individuals regularly remaining on the

Bespoke Walks Contact us to arrange a bespoke tour to learn about birds and other wildlife at Steart with your own guide. Why not book one as a gift? Suggested donation: £20 (1:1) or £5 per person (groups of five or more).

Willow Sculpture Trail Visit the willow trail featuring sculptures

made by local artists and see if you can spot the latest additions. Leaflets available on-site.

reserve throughout the winter. You cannot but be impressed by this compact, dashing falcon as it chases small birds. The UK’s smallest bird of prey can be identified by its relatively long square-cut tail and rather broad-based pointed wings, shorter than those of other falcons. Its wingbeat tends to be rapid with occasional glides, held close to the body. Keep an eye out on social media for sightings of rarities. Last year, we saw penduline tits in our freshwater area, Stockland Marshes. These masked bandits could be observed enjoying the expanses of reed mace by anyone with a keen eye and lots of patience.

Join us for a walk with an expert guide

Geocache Trail Get the app on your phone and follow directions to find hidden treasures around the reserve.

Harley Todd/WWT

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The penduline tit, a rare bird normally found in central Europe, is occasionally seen in the UK. Last year, three were spotted at Steart

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Project Godwit has increased the Ouse population from three breeding pairs when the project began to 18 in 2021 – but wild productivity remains low

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Waterlife chats to Project Godwit’s Nicky Hiscock about headstarting and hope for the future

ART

I work for Project Godwit at WWT

PRODUCTION CLIENT

Welney from March to July. With a small team of seasonal staff, I collect and hatch black-tailed godwit eggs and rear the chicks. This is called headstarting and it helps the young past the most vulnerable time in their lives. We release healthy fledglings at either WWT Welney or the RSPB Nene Washes. From there, they migrate with wild godwits to West Africa to spend the winter and we wait to see if they return to breed.

further afield. They’ve even been seen at Steart Marshes 234 miles away. Headstarting is key to Project

My role is incredibly varied. There’s

Godwit’s success. Expertise developed from breeding captive birds over many years at WWT centres has helped us to develop this pioneering technique. There are only a handful of headstarting projects in the UK and it’s still a novel tool in species recovery. We aim to improve every year, overcoming challenges and getting better results each time.

no such thing as a ‘typical’ day, as the chicks grow so fast. But in mid-May, I usually check incubators every few hours to ensure they’re at the correct temperature and humidity. We also weigh eggs and monitor their masses.

Earith – a headstarted female released in 2017, the first year of headstarting – was the first godwit to return to the UK in 2018 and successfully fledge a chick.

Nicky Hiscock Project Manager and Lead Aviculturist, WWT Welney and Slimbridge

Watching the chicks hatch from eggs

we’ve been caring for is so rewarding. They are weighed, ringed and moved to a ‘dryer’ incubator until their down is dry and fluffy, and they’re moving around confidently. At this point, they’re moved to indoor brooders, then the outdoor rearing aviaries and finally the release aviary. Removing the door of the aviary to release the young birds at the end of the headstarting season is amazing. The fledglings usually stay close to the release site for a few days, then disperse to other local wetlands and 66

Waterlife

of ‘our birds’. This helps us keep track of where they are and how they’re faring. Spring and summer flooding is a huge

threat to ground-nesting waders, such as godwits. As climate change brings more extreme, unpredictable weather, such as high rainfall and storms, this affects breeding success. But there is hope. Godwit eggs are surprisingly resilient. In 2018, we collected eggs from nearby arable fields after the washes flooded. After careful cleaning, we successfully hatched out chicks we named after potatoes – Wedge, Chip and Rosti, among others – for obvious reasons. We’ve created wet grassland habitat adjacent to the washes. These

‘lifeboat sites’ are not at risk of flooding, and they are surrounded by carefully managed predator fencing to provide safe nesting areas for godwits and other waders.

The programme has been very successful. We’re in year four of

a five-year release programme and a lot of headstarted birds have returned to the fens, with many coming back in their first year and even attempting to breed. During a recent survey, we found over 40% of all godwit pairs in the fens included at least one headstarted bird. Geolocators are fitted to the godwits

by RSPB before they’re released, but we rely on birders all over Europe and Africa to send us their sightings

Project Godwit is a partnership between WWT and RSPB with major funding from the EU LIFE Nature Programme, the HSBC 150th Anniversary Fund, Natural England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Back from the Brink programme, Leica and the Montague-Panton Animal Welfare Trust.

NOVEMBER 2021/FEBRUARY 2022

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