Slimbridge WWT

Our letter to the Chancellor on Great British Summers

The Bank of England has opened a public consultation to choose wildlife species for the next series of UK banknotes, with voting running from 3 June to 3 July 2026. Seven of the 18 shortlisted species are wetland animals, giving the public an opportunity to celebrate these habitats.

Spring and Summer Wetland Escapes

The Dragonfly Festival is running across nine WWT wetland centres during the summer school holidays, featuring live music, performances, craft workshops, and guided wildlife experiences. The festival celebrates dragonflies and wetland ecosystems while offering families outdoor activities including canoe safaris, pond dipping, bug hunts, and expert-led walks.

An expansive boardwalk has been built at WWT Steart Marshes to allow visitors to experience saltmarsh habitats up close and learn about the wildlife that depends on them. The boardwalk was officially opened by children from Otterhampton Primary School as part of the Wetter for Waders project.

WWT Llanelli has secured £300,000 in Welsh Government funding plus £100,000 from WWT itself to transform its entrance and visitor facilities through the Welcome Project. Work begins April 2026 and will be completed by November 2026, with the centre remaining open throughout and featuring improved pathways, wider doorways, bilingual signage, and sustainable drainage systems.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust marks World Wetlands Day on 2 February with a focus on wetlands and traditional knowledge, celebrating their cultural significance and biodiversity value. WWT ambassadors and staff highlight inspiring wetland sites from Norfolk saltmarshes to Spanish rice fields, emphasizing the importance of protecting these habitats for wildlife and communities.

WWT is partnering with Macmillan Children's Books to bring Julia Donaldson's new picture book character Gozzle to life as an interactive family experience running from 20 March to 31 May 2026. The immersive adventure will feature outdoor trails, interactive Vet Check stations, storytelling sessions, and a story trail across WWT Slimbridge, Washington, Martin Mere, Arundel, London, and Llanelli.

Following decades of campaigning by WWT and partner organisations, the UK government confirmed in 2025 a ban on lead ammunition, which has historically poisoned up to 100,000 waterbirds annually in the UK. The ban is expected to significantly reduce lead pollution in wetlands and save countless birds each year, including migratory species like Bewick's swans.

WWT has received funding from Eversheds Sutherland's Charitable Trust to support transport costs for two flagship programmes: Generation Wild and Blue Influencers. The grant addresses a significant barrier to nature access, with research showing 27% of children from lower-income households miss out on nature trips compared to higher-income peers.

Mudfest, a family-focused mud and nature experience, is returning to eight WWT sites across the UK during February half term 2026. The event features hands-on activities including mud kitchens, obstacle courses, pond dipping, minibeast hunting, and barefoot exploration areas, with all activities included in standard WWT admission.

The first Bewick's swans of the season arrived at WWT Slimbridge on 16 November 2025, with pair Heerlen and Olga leading the return, followed by additional birds including long-standing visitors Maisie and Maifeld. By 17 November, 11 swans including one cygnet had arrived at the wetland reserve, marking the beginning of their annual winter stay.

WWT Castle Espie has documented emperor dragonfly and common hawker breeding on site for the first time this year. Both species are relatively recent arrivals to the reserve's dragonfly list within the last 2–3 years.

WWT held its inaugural Dragonfly Festival from 21 June to 22 September, attracting over 250,000 visitors—the busiest August since 2018. The summer-long celebration featured pond dipping, macro photography, art installations, yoga, and creative workshops across all five wetland centres.