Waterlife July - September 2015

waterlife The magazine of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust | 193 Jul/Sept 2015 | £4.25 | wwt.org.uk

Waterlife 193 JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

IN THE PINK

HOW LEGO® BRICK CREATURES ARE BRINGING KIDS CLOSER TO NATURE

PLUS wwt.org.uk

NICK BAKER ON ADVENTURES UNDERWATER PAGE 66

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

EXCITING EVENTS

WATCH THE SPOONIE

PHOTO COMP

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON AT WWT

CATCH LIVE WEBCASTS ON ‘SPOONIEVISION’

GET SNAPPING AND SEND US YOUR PICS

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email: enquiries@infocusoptics.co.uk

The Binocular and Telescope Specialists • HERTFORDSHIRE London Colney, AL2 1BB (Satnav use AL4 0PF) 01727 827799 Closed on Sunday • NORFOLK Titchwell, Nr King’s Lynn, PE31 8BB 01485 210101 Open seven days • WEST YORKSHIRE Denby Dale, HD8 8QL 01484 864729 Closed on Sunday • RUTLAND Egleton Reserve, LE15 8BT 01572 770656 Open seven days • GLOUCESTERSHIRE WWT Slimbridge, GL2 7BT 01453 890978 Open seven days • LANCASHIRE WWT Martin Mere, L40 0TA 01704 897020 Open seven days • LONDON London Wetland Centre, SW13 9WT 0208 4094433 Open seven days in focus SALES EVENTS

‘Test under field conditions’ NORTH AND MIDLANDS

Hauxley NR, Northumberland Sun 9th Aug / Sun 13th Sept / Sun 11th Oct Low Barns NR, County Durham Sun 2Oth Sept North Cave Wetlands, East Yorkshire Sun 2nd Aug / Sun 4th Oct Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire Sun 30th Aug Washington WWT, Tyne and Wear Sun 27th Sept / Sun 25th Oct Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln Sun 16th Aug/Sun 18th Oct Wolseley Centre, Rugeley, Staffs Sat 1st Aug / Sat 3rd Oct

SOUTH AND EAST

Arundel WWT, West Sussex Sun 9th Aug / Tues 25th Aug Sun 13th Sept / Tues 22nd Sept Sun 11th Oct / Tues 20th Oct Elmley Marsh, Nr Sheerness, Kent Sat 8th Aug / Sat 12th Sept Sat 10th Oct Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex Sat 15th Aug / Sun 20th Sept Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Kent Sun 30th Aug / Mon 31st Aug Sun 25th Oct

SOUTH AND WEST

Blashford Lakes, Ringwood, Hampshire Tues 4th Aug / Tues 8th Sept Tues 6th Oct Exmouth, close to rail/bus station.

Sun 2nd Aug / Sun 6th Sept Sun 4th Oct Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset Tues 18th Aug / Sat 26th Sept Sat 17th Oct

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BIRDFAIR 2015

This year’s Birdfair at Rutland Water is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 21, 22 & 23 of August. We will be in our usual lakeside marquee offering the perfect opportunity to test, compare and purchase optical equipment under actual field conditions.

In Focus are proud to have been a main sponsor of the world’s biggest and best Birdfair for the last 27 years.

Don’t miss it!

WALES AND SCOTLAND

Llanelli WWT, Carmarthenshire Sun 16th Aug / Sun 27th Sept Sun 18th Oct Caerlaverock WWT Sun 6th Sept A good range of optics available seven days a week at the WWT shop Caerlaverock

All events from 10.00am - 4.00pm for latest information ring any of our shops

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CONTENTS

FOLLOW THE LEGO® BRICK ROAD

On the cover: Andean flamingo. Shutterstock/WWT

Wetland Centre this summer, as they have the opportunity to follow a giant LEGO® brick sculpture trail through the reserve. The trail has been designed to get children closer to nature, and is a unique way of using one of the world’s favourite toys.

Visitors are being invited to discover 10 expertly crafted LEGO brick recreations of some of our favourite wetland friends hidden around the site, such as the spoon-billed sandpiper, red-breasted goose, Bewick’s swan and otter.

After encountering all of the models, and seeing their real-life counterparts along the way, children can dive into the LEGO brick building pit and take part in workshops to construct their own cubist creatures and mini figures. Add in all the other things to see and do at WWT Slimbridge and it’s an experience sure to inspire young imaginations and spark an interest in the wonderful world of wildlife and conservation.

The LEGO brick trail will also be touring other WWT centres, making an appearance at London and then Martin Mere this Christmas.

We even have a series of limited-edition WWT LEGO brick animal kits available to buy in the shop and online.

To find out more about this and other fun activities on offer at our centres, turn to page 20, or visit wwt.org.uk.

Heather Tait

Families are in for a real treat at WWT Slimbridge

WWT centres are ideal places to connect with nature

In this issue...

4 7 14 16 20 26 30 34 37 39 41 42 44 47 66

Front lines Martin Spray on what’s in store under a new government Waterways News and views from the world of WWT Wigeon post Your letters, plus our crossword and competition Private life ‘Spoonievision’ makes its debut with live webcasts WWT and you Grab your passport to a summer of fun The interview Jay Redbond reveals his fascination with amphibians Photo competition Get snap happy and enter your images The big issue Have your say on European wildlife protection laws Obituary Remembering artist, naturalist and TV presenter Keith Shackleton Fresh looks Some of the exciting new developments at WWT Netlands Our regular overview of WWT’s online world Wonderful world Amazing tales from behind the scenes at WWT Kids’ zone Steve Backshall investigates poisonous creatures Down your way All the news and events at your local centre Back chat Nick Baker invites you to the world of pond dipping

WWT is a 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 01453 891900 wwt.org.uk membership@wwt.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1030884 and SC039410 CENTRES For full contact details, please see page 47 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 quarterly magazine of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Managing editor: Katy Baird waterlife@wwt.org.uk Editorial board: Zoe Cameron, Ray Clark, Baz Hughes, David Salmon, Rob Shore, Mark Simpson Editor: Malcolm Tait malcolm.tait@thinkpublishing.co.uk Senior sub-editor: Marion Thompson Designer: George Walker Senior sales executive: Daniel Haynes daniel.haynes@thinkpublishing.co.uk 020 3771 7214 Publisher: John Innes Think, Capital House, 25 Chapel Street, London NW1 5DH thinkpublishing.co.uk

Waterlife is published four times a year, and is printed

by Herons, on UPM Ultra Silk 70gsm, an FSC paper accredited as coming from well-managed forest.

Views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of WWT. ISSN: 1752-7392 Average net circulation for the period Jan-Dec 2014: 92,949

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FRONT LINES

NEW GOVERNMENT: WHAT NOW FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? Martin Spray CBE, WWT Chief Executive

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Well, we can’t say that the political parties held back on campaigning for the election. It seemed to go on for months. But, as with previous campaigns, where was the environment? I do, of course, understand, and indeed agree with, the importance of health, jobs and the economy in the minds of everyone. I have a family and want the best for my children in the future. However, isn’t the state of our environment the most important consideration of all? It is our only environment and one on which we fundamentally depend for our future health, wealth and our very survival.

WWT/Sacha Dench

Looking at the election manifestos of the major parties, it was depressingly difficult to find anything encouraging from any of them. In one way this is even more disappointing as, in theory, more political parties should mean more choice of policies and more competition to take a lead. But, apart from the Ulster Unionist Party, there was no mention of support for the European Birds and Habitats Directives, which are now, worryingly, under review by the European Commission. These directives underpin much of the nature conservation in the UK, and any threat to them could have grave implications for the UK environment.

Now that the election is over, we face a big task in getting political support for our environment. WWT has joined with 100 other organisations across the UK, and many more

across Europe, to send a huge message to Brussels that wildlife is important and we don’t want the laws weakened (you can be part of this, see pages 34-35). This really is unprecedented joint working between environment organisations, which I hope will become a template for future collaboration.

We now have a Conservative government.

The Prime Minister, when in opposition before the 2010 election, launched his party’s environment review from our London Wetland Centre. He then returned some 18 months later to publish its report, stating his ambition to lead the greenest government ever. But it did not turn out that way. All of the constituency MPs for our centres are aware and appreciative of WWT’s work. Two of the Conservative constituency MPs were members of the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee and are strong supporters of WWT’s work. A third is the current Environment Secretary. So we have the opportunity to be heard. We must use it.

Little egret

WWT has joined with other organisations across the UK and Europe to send a huge message to Brussels that wildlife is important

Steart

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ICELANDIC WILDLIFE ADVENTURE 5%

Discount for Waterlife Magazine readers

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Two days in Reykjavik offers you plenty of time to explore the incredible volcanic landscapes and the abundance of museums and historic buildings in the picturesque city centre. There’s also a chance to relax in the gorgeous geothermal waters of the astonishing Blue Lagoon spa, Iceland’s most popular attraction.

Spot native seabirds and Arctic Foxes in Isafjordur – one of Iceland’s prettiest and most important towns – or go kayaking in the mesmerising still waters of the surrounding fjords,

between towering mountains and rocky cliffs. Enjoy an overnight stay in Fred’s guests’ favourite Icelandic destination – Akureyri – where breathtaking natural landscapes, beautiful botanical gardens and wonderful waterfalls await you.

Stay ashore and discover the geological phenomenon of the incredible Icelandic countryside or spot various species of whale in the glorious waters of nearby Eyjafjörður, and understand why Iceland is known as Northern Europe’s whale watching centre.

31st May 2016 • 11 nights Balmoral • Newcastle • L1611

From £1,299pp ◆ Newcastle, Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Haelavikurbjarg & Hornbjarg, Drangaskörð, Akureyri, Eyjafjörður, Grímsey, Skjálfandi Bay, Borgarfjörður Eystri, Seydisfjordur, Cape Enniberg, all Iceland, Klaksvík, Faroe Islands, Newcastle.

Call us now on 0800 0355 148 or book online at www.fredolsencruises.com and Quote: WWT5 to redeem your discount This discount applies to all* Fred. Olsen cruises, so if this doesn’t suit you visit www.fredolsencruises.com to see all our itineraries. *These terms and conditions are in addition to Fred. Olsen’s standard Terms and Conditions which are available on our website, www.fredolsencruises.com and on request. Both must be read before booking. All offers may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice and are subject to availability. FOCL may, from time to time, run special offers which cannot be combined with this “member discount”. All prices quoted under this “member discount” offer as exclusively available to qualifying staff members and their travelling companions. This offer must not be extend to any unrelated third party. All guests booked under this scheme are requested to refrain from disclosing the fare they have paid to any other persons on board. You must quote your Discount Code at time of booking and discount will not be applied retrospectively. Bookings can only be made direct with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Single supplement is 100%. Child supplement is 100%. Cruise price includes cruise, meals, entertainment, port charges & all taxes.

Travel insurance, gratuities & personal expenses are not included. All bookings are bound by the full Terms & Conditions shown in the current Fred. Olsen Cruises Worldwide brochure and are subject to change and availability. ◆ Inside cabin based on two sharing E&OE.

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WWT NEWS

waterways NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS CONSERVATION

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

Nature PL/Nick Upton

When you create a new habitat, there’s a great excitement generated by the appearance of new species. It’s often the plants that are first to colonise so, in April this year, wardens at WWT Steart Marshes were delighted to find that English scurvygrass, a plant unique to saltmarshes, had sprung up.

‘These little plants may not look like much, but they’re specially adapted to live in the salty conditions along our coast, so it’s really exciting to see them appearing at Steart Marshes!’ says WWT’s Tim McGrath. ‘Scurvygrass is an early colonising plant and should soon be joined by lots of other saltwater-loving plants. Together they’ll form the very special flora of saltmarsh, which traps sediment from the silty Severn and binds it together in a very particular way.’

Steart Marshes, the new Somerset wetland reserve, was created from low-lying farmland at risk from rising sea levels. Last September, diggers breached the artificial sea wall to allow the tides from the Severn to start slowly forming saltmarsh. Over winter, high tides have shaped the landscape and deposited silt, along with seeds and fragments of plants, which are now starting to grow.

For further information, visit steart.wwt.org.uk.

Did you kn ow

?

Scurvygra ss is so ca lled because its le sailors suff aves helped ering fr scurvy, a v itamin C def om iciency.

It is relate d to and water horseradish cr peppery lea ess and its ves a sometimes re still used in salads.

THE JOYS OF SPRING What is the value of a WWT wetland centre to its local community? Well, a recent study has revealed the answer. Research carried out by students studying for their MBAs at the Lancaster University Management School has shown that WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre injects around £5.8 million into the local economies of West Lancashire and Sefton every year.

‘The study shows that nature conservation not only pays dividends for wildlife, but it can also greatly benefit people,’ says Nick Brooks, General Manager at Martin Mere. ‘I’m sure that the other eight WWT centres around the country are also having a similar impact on their areas.’

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WWT NEWS

new hope for the red-breasted goose For the past five years, WWT experts have trawled the fields of Bulgaria, tracking goose movements, counting geese at roosts and in fields, measuring wheat leaves and even counting their droppings. The research formed part of a five-year, €3 million project called Safe Ground for Redbreasts, which aimed to identify and mitigate threats to the endangered red-breasted goose.

This striking species breeds in Arctic Russia and winters around the Black Sea, especially in Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. Starting with Bulgaria in the hope of a wider roll-out in future, the programme tackled some of the biggest threats to the red-breasts, whose numbers dropped massively in the early 2000s.

One of the major challenges was the conflict with Bulgarian farmers, caused by the geese feeding on wheat crops. By conducting ground research into the impact of geese on crops, their preferred locations and feeding patterns, WWT experts have been able to provide an evidence base to support agri-environmental subsidies, which will incentivise farmers to farm sympathetically for the geese.

Red-breasts were also being disturbed, or even killed, by hunters, because they form flocks with white-fronted geese, which can be legally shot. Now a programme of patrols and the threat of prosecution is acting as a strong deterrent.

A novel development is a sensitivity map to advise developers on the potential impact of wind turbines, power lines and roads on roosting and feeding sites, in the

hope that they will avoid areas favoured by the geese.

‘Our work has focused on creating practical tools using hard data,’ says Peter Cranswick, Head of Planning and Advisory. ‘As the project comes to an end, we can step away knowing that there are national mechanisms in place to safeguard these birds for the next five to 10 years.’

Come join us for the world’s biggest butterfly count

Nick Cottrell; Barry Batchelor; Liz Gough

This summer, nature lovers can join Sir David Attenborough in some butterfly spotting. Running from 17 July to 9 August, Big Butterfly Count is the biggest butterfly count in the world. And our wetlands are the perfect place to spot them.

Wetlands are a crucial habitat for all kinds of butterflies, from the magnificent swallowtail gliding over its broadland habitat to the humble green-veined white.

Our northern peat bogs support the threatened large heath, while the unimproved wet pastures of western Britain provide a European stronghold for the marsh fritillary.

Meanwhile, our common butterflies find homes in the edges of ponds, streams, rivers and lakes across the land.

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You might spot stunning small tortoiseshells and red admirals vigorously defending their nettlepatch territories, ‘whites’ sipping nectar from purple loosestrife, and small coppers basking on sunny bank sides. Among the long grasses and wildflowers flutter ringlets, meadow browns and brilliant common blues, while orange-tip caterpillars munch on the seedpods of cuckooflowers and garlic mustard.

Can you spare 15 minutes of your time this summer to help us protect these beautiful creatures? To take part in the event and do your bit, simply count the common butterflies you see and submit your sightings at bigbutterflycount.org.

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wetlands by numbers The newly released The State of Nature in the European Union report makes for pretty grim reading, but there’s hope for the wetlands.

Here’s our guide to EU nature by numbers…

the first dance of the crane University of the West of England student Ida-May Jones was a familiar sight around WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre last year.

A student on the MA in Wildlife Filmmaking course, Ida-May spent more than 200 hours filming the courtship of resident cranes, Monty and Chris. Her efforts paid off when she beat BBC filmmakers to become the first to capture the cranes’ chick emerging from the nest.

Ida-May’s moving film, The First Dance of the Crane, tells a timeless story of the challenges of parenthood, described as ‘beautiful and engaging’

by WWT Slimbridge Reserve Manager Dave Paynter.

And it seems the Slimbridge team isn’t alone in being captivated by The First Dance of the Crane. The film has been selected for the prestigious Japan Wildlife Film Festival, where it will screen this August alongside David Attenborough’s latest BBC series.

You can watch a trailer for Ida-May’s film and discover more about WWT’s cranes at wwt.org.uk/cranes.

31%

of wetland birds are in decline.

Wetlands now cover just

2%

of the continent.

85%

of wetland habitats are in unfavourable condition.

Just

22%

of wetland species are in favourable condition.

The good news?

WWT now manages almost 3,000ha of wetland habitat to benefit this threatened wildlife, the majority of which is officially designated as important for wildlife at local, national and international levels.

We couldn’t do it without our 850 volunteers, 200,000 members and 1 million annual visitors.

Your support means the world JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

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WWT NEWS

look who’s back from the brink combination of factors, including competition from introduced species of crayfish and a devastating fungal disease carried by these species.

‘We’re very pleased to have eels and crayfish in our Back from the Brink exhibit,’ said Jay Redbond, Amphibian Keeper at Slimbridge. ‘It is important that the species we exhibit connect to a real conservation issue and this is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the threat to our native water life and of the need to take action to protect them for the future.’

a frog

Tree frog? No, te

See you at the Birdfair There are golden poison frogs on display at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre’s Toad Hall, so do go and see them. In fact, Jay Redbond, their keeper (who you can read about on page 26), has a remarkable way of looking after them. The tiny frogs are prone to some infections, but there’s a certain liquid that helps to fight them. What’s that liquid? It’s a nice cup of tea.

But the tea is a special South African tea called rooibos by the Redbush Tea Company, which contains certain minerals that help protect the frogs’ skin. Jay has been able to rear tadpoles in it, and they’ve successfully grown into adults.

There’s one thing that Jay has to be careful about, and that’s making sure that, when he drinks tea himself, he checks which cup he’s drinking from!

Thanks to the Redbush Company for its generous funding, which provided a new tank for the frogs and all the tea they need!

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Saving the world’s rarest bird WWT has been awarded a grant from the UK government’s Darwin Initiative to restore Lake Sofia (above) in Madagascar. The remote lake is central to the livelihoods of more than 10,000 people, and surveys by WWT and Durrell staff have discovered it supports several endemic and threatened species.

A thriving healthy wetland will benefit local communities and the lake’s wildlife. And, in time, by releasing captive-bred birds from our breeding centre nearby, we hope that will also include the critically endangered Madagascar pochard. Just 20-25 pochards survive in the wild, restricted to a single site. But the water at that site is too deep for ducklings to dive to reach food, causing them to starve within weeks. And because pollution, sedimentation and introduced species have devastated Madagascar’s wetlands, causing the near demise of the pochard, it has no hope of gaining a foothold elsewhere.

Enter Mission Madagascar, WWT’s campaign to turn around the fortunes of people and wildlife at Lake Sofia. Having scoured the Madagascan plateau, our scientists had identified this wetland as having the best chance of becoming a new home for pochards. Funds from Mission Madagascar allowed us to undertake surveys of the communities, the lake and its wildlife that were instrumental in honing our plans and making a successful bid to Darwin. Now that grant, added to the funds you have provided, will enable us to work with the local communities, empowering them to manage and use the natural resources they need at the same time as creating the right conditions for wildlife to flourish.

‘Last year, your generous donations to our Mission Madagascar campaign raised £70k – funds that were essential to securing the Darwin Award,’ says Rob Shore, Head of Conservation Action. ‘We’ve already spent a lot of time researching Lake Sofia, recruiting staff and raising awareness in the local community. These funds secure our work at the lake for a further three years, allowing us to champion a new, sustainable approach to wetland management in Madagascar, supporting livelihoods and the environment.’

Superstock

Crayfish and eels are the latest new arrivals to join the residents of the Back from the Brink exhibit at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

WWT conservationists hope that raising awareness of the plight of these species will help to boost their conservation in the wild.

The population of the European eel has been in steep decline for decades, leading to it being listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The challenge is just as great for the native white-clawed crayfish, which has been pushed to the brink of extinction in the UK by a

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WWT NEWS

On Thursday 1 October 2015, we look forward to welcoming members to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre for our AGM. Founded in 1946 and the birthplace of modern conservation, Slimbridge is an award-winning visitor centre set against a spectacular Severn Estuary backdrop.

The AGM is a great opportunity for new members and long-term supporters to see some of the new developments at the centre, get behind the scenes and hear about the latest from our worldleading conservation projects.

The day will start with the Annual General Meeting at 10.30am, followed by a special buffet for those who have booked in advance (tickets £12 per head)*. This is the ideal chance to socialise with other members and WWT staff before attending an exciting afternoon of walks and talks, including:

James Lees

WWT Annual General Meeting 2015

› Guided tours of WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre › Choice of afternoon activities › Specialist talks by WWT staff Members can review the business agenda, papers and the 2014 Report and Accounts in advance of the AGM (available by the end of August) by going online at wwt.org.uk/accounts or

Annual General Meeting RSVP Please state in the boxes below how many people would like to attend: WWT Annual General Meeting on Thursday 1 October 2015 at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre

by telephoning the Finance Department on 01453 891148 for a hard copy. If you would like to attend this year’s AGM event, please complete the form below and return to the address provided, by no later than Friday 28 August 2015 – we hope to see you there! *Tickets will only be sent to those who have booked onto the lunch.

Members wishing to ask a question at the AGM are encouraged to submit them in advance. Please either use the space provided below or email agm@wwt.org.uk.

Your question:

Hot buffet lunch (£12 per head) Special dietary requirements:

I enclose my cheque for

payable to the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.

Your name: Guest name/s (if applicable): Your membership number:

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!

Please return this completed form by no later than Friday 28 August 2015 to: AGM Responses, Membership Department, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT. Telephone: 01453 891113.

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wigeon post

tell us what you think!

Send your letters on all things WWT or Waterlife to Wigeon Post, WWT, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, or email waterlife@wwt.org.uk Linda’s photos of an Asian short-clawed otter and a mallard (inset)

Dear Waterlife We visited Martin Mere on 8 April and thought you might like to see two photos I took while there. The mallard flew right above my head and I was amazed at how clear the photo has turned out considering how quick my response was.

The otter photo was a lucky shot, but they are too cute not to photograph.

Hope you like them.

Linda Mustoe, via email

Shutterstock

Editor replies: I do indeed, Linda. You, and all our readers, might like to turn to page 30, where you’ll find the launch of our 2015 photography competition.

There’s a great prize to be won, too!

Dear Waterlife For the past 20 years, my wife and I have been fortunate in visiting the province of Cádiz every September. Gradually, our exploring widened to include that portion of the Doñana wetlands south-east of the Guadalquivir river.

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Waterlife

Then came 1998, and the retaining dam – containing a million tonnes of toxic waste from copper-mining – broke, with a flood of waters with chemicals and metals rushing towards the Doñana. At great expense, and a year’s work, catastrophe was averted, although we don’t know how much may have invaded the groundwater.

To date, the mine owners have avoided contributing one euro to the work.

Dredging of the river has been proposed and, if it goes ahead, with its results of greater depth, more extreme riverbank damage and uncontrolled drying out of the wetlands themselves, the results could be terminal. The EU environmental authorities are aware, but we would ask you to add your weight to the argument.

Mike and Helen Elsam, via email

dredge the Guadalquivir river, which the Spanish Supreme Court recently ruled against, and has given the wetlands at Doñana a reprieve for the time being.

Doñana is close to WWT’s heart for several reasons, not least because of its size and significance.

Saving Doñana was the first challenge for the newly established WWF in 1961, which Sir Peter Scott was chairing at the time, so we have a shared history. More recently, WWT’s Director of Conservation, Dr Debbie Pain, in a previous role for BirdLife, worked in Doñana after the Aznalcóllar mining accident, monitoring the impacts of the mine waste spillage on the national park and its wildlife, and has published scientific papers on the subject.

We don’t work directly in Doñana because the likes of WWF and BirdLife are already heavily involved and we’ve identified other parts of the world that would benefit most greatly from WWT’s particular expertise. We do support wetlands like Doñana more generally through networks and partnerships such as Ramsar and Wetland Link International, which allow us to influence the way wetlands are used for the better.

Thankfully, this particular threat to Doñana appears to have been averted for the time being, but we are grateful that people such as yourselves, who share our Guadalquivir river in Seville, Spain

Emma Stephens, Executive Editor, replies: We assume the dredging you refer to is the Port of Seville’s proposal to

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LETTERS passion for wetlands and their wildlife, are helping to keep a watchful eye out for these kinds of issues.

places. I carry my birding and photography gear with relative ease, but I am very weight aware – large telescopes and tripods are out. It is good to know I am not alone. Are there any more of us out there?

Ray Beal, via email

Dear Waterlife Imagine my delight at the item in issue 192 about Gary Prescott, aka The Biking Birder [right]. I also use a bike to go birding, supplementing my travels with public transport.

Biking is a fantastic way to watch birds. You have a ‘packhorse’ to take the load, and transport for out-of-the-way

Editor replies: Do any other readers use their bikes to get about the countryside to see wildlife? And what wonderful sights have you seen that would be missed by those whizzing by in cars?

crossword

spotting skills

We’re offering a prize for the winner of our crossword, set by WWT member Tim Bonsor. It’s this selection of exclusive Bewick’s bill pattern study stationery worth around £23.

Send your crossword (photocopied if you wish) to the address opposite by 31 August and the first correct entry drawn after that date wins. In the meantime, well done to Waterlife Mrs J Hindle, the winner of last issue’s crosswordMay prize.2015 1

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Well done to everyone who entered last issue’s competition: the plump youngster was, as many of you knew, a cuckoo. These birds are famed for laying their eggs in other birds’ nests, where the foster parent brings them up. The first name drawn after the closing date was Mr P Cannings from Hereford. Congratulations!

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Across 1. Surname of author of The Magic Finger, which portrayed ducks as hunters of humans. (4) 3. Anomalous. (8) 9. Grey Goose is a classic ------- cocktail. (7) 10. The track or scent of an animal. (5) 11. Small wader that enjoys the company of dunlin. (6,6)

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13. Encouraging… to produce ducklings? (6) 15. The RSPB estimates there are 62,000 breeding pairs of this naturalised goose in the UK. (6) 18. The only WWT site to offer accommodation. (12) 22. To squeeze water out of a cloth. (5) 23. Hopelessness. (7) 24. Trifling. (8) 25. The smallest of the dabbling ducks. (4)

Down 1. Nearest railway station to 18 across. (8) 2. In this country it’s usually grey, but rarely green or purple. (5) 4. A ‘living fossil’, also known as tadpole shrimp, to be found at 18 across. (6) 5. Italian sauce that originated from Genoa. (5) 6. A fatal disease caused by drinking infected water. (7) 7. 18 across translates as ‘Castle of ----’ (bird). (4) 8. A duck that behaves more like a goose. (6) 12. ‘-------- in the sky, three days dry.’ (8) 14. 8 down can often be seen doing this. (7) 16. Hostile. (6) 17. It’s a male goose (and a town in 15 across). (6) 19. The ----- Duck is the 46th of Disney’s DuckTales. (5) 20. To make a speech. (5) 21. The Ugly Duckling became one. (4)

This issue, we have another close-up.

Can you tell what it is?

Send your answer to the address opposite.

The first correct identification drawn out of the hat after the closing date of 31 August wins a copy of Watching Waterbirds.

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We’ve stopped their extinction so far, but there’s still much to be done to save the spoon-billed sandpiper 16

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P R I VAT E L I F E

Caught on camera WWT is bringing its brightest stars to your screens – its spoon-billed sandpipers – live, in what could be a world first Safe in a secluded area of WWT

WWT/Tim Ireland

Popular TV presenter Kate Humble is to host Spoonievision

Slimbridge, 24 of the most special birds in the world have been given their very own ark. Since 2011, spoon-billed sandpipers from the remote, snowstreaked tundra of north-east Russia have been living here in a purpose-built aviary. They’ve grown up here, feeding, flying, preening, wading, and now – as we go to press – staff at Slimbridge are on tenterhooks and the big question on everyone’s lips is: will they, won’t they, breed?

Spoon-billed sandpipers are among the most endangered birds in the world. Their numbers plummeted 90% in just a decade, to less than 100 pairs remaining in the wild. These small waders migrate an incredible 8,000km from their breeding grounds in north-east Russia to feeding sites along the coastal mudflats of South Asia. On this journey they’re threatened by both illegal trapping and poisoning, and habitat loss – reclamation of wetlands has meant the loss of vital roosting and feeding grounds. The stark realisation that this species was heading for extinction has galvanised an international coalition of conservation experts to pool their

resources and take urgent action to save the spoonie.

WWT’s resident spoonies are a key part of this project. They were brought from Russia to Slimbridge to create an ‘ark population’ to buy time for the species – a safety net against extinction while conservationists addressed the complex issues of their survival in the wild. Specialists from WWT were among the teams on two expeditions in 2011 and 2012, tasked with bringing the species to Britain. It was an incredible adventure: searching the expanse of tundra for well-camouflaged eggs; transporting their precious cargo via boats, planes and helicopters, jeeps and quadbikes; glimpsing grey whales and brown bears along the way.

But for all involved, the highlight came when the tiny, cream-and-brownspeckled eggs began to move and pip, and the first chirping, struggling chicks emerged, already equipped with their distinctive black ‘spoon’. The team kept constant watch as they grew into long-legged, fluffy chicks. It was a heady combination: hand-reared, absurdly attractive birds you couldn’t help but fall in love with, coupled with the weighty

We’re delighted to have Kate Humble on board to host Spoonievision and introduce viewers to the spoonies JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

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P R I VAT E L I F E

SAVING THE SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER: CONSERVATION UPDATE THE PROJECT’S FOUR OBJECTIVES ARE PROGRESSING:

responsibility of looking after these tiny individuals so crucial to the survival of their species. After quarantine in Moscow Zoo and many, many miles of travelling, it was a momentous and emotional occasion to bring the first spoonies to Slimbridge.

Real-life drama

A specialised team cares for the spoonies here and does everything possible to create the right conditions for breeding

A specialised team cares for the spoonies Kate Humble on board to host here and does everything possible to Spoonievision and introduce viewers create the right conditions for breeding. to the Slimbridge spoonies. In between Their breeding aviaries are designed live broadcasts we’ll share their amazing to look like the birds’ natural habitats journey, with footage from Russia, and we manipulate the light levels to China and Myanmar. There will also mimic the day length the birds would be interviews with their custodians experience during their annual life here, describing the challenges of trying cycles. Looking after the birds in this to recreate the Russian tundra and carefully controlled environment has to East Asian seaboard within a couple of be done in peace and privacy to minimise polytunnels in the south of England! disturbance. Most This project brings importantly, the aviaries together WWT’s specialist are ‘bio-secure’, with areas of expertise: stringent procedures conservation breeding to minimise the risk of and finding new ways infection. It isn’t possible to communicate and for visitors to view the stimulate interest in birds directly – even the natural world. Both very few WWT staff specialities have long Sign up now for have seen them. histories. Back in 1962, Spoonievision But WWT is all about nenes bred in Slimbridge alerts by visiting communicating our were released in Hawaii wwt.org.uk/ passion for the wild to restore the wild spoonievision and world – it’s what we do population. WWT’s you’ll be the first to and have always done. founder, Sir Peter Scott, know when a nest That’s why we’re creating presented the firstis built, an egg is ‘Spoonievision’, a live ever live wildlife TV laid and – hopefully webcast. We’re delighted programmes here in – the first spoonie to have TV presenter the 1950s. His pioneering begins to hatch.

‘The spoon-billed sandpiper’s story shows how much is possible when strong, international partnerships take concerted, rapid action,’ says Dr Baz Hughes, WWT’s Head of Conservation Science. ‘Spoon-billed sandpipers are a flagship species: every step we take for them is also good news for 50 million other waterbirds that migrate along this important flyway.’

TV series, Look, was broadcast from Slimbridge for 26 years.

The exact date for the webcast is not yet set as the schedule is up to the spoonies. If they don’t breed this year, Spoonievision still has a great story to tell of cutting-edge science, exploration and conservation success. If they do, viewers will be able to witness a world exclusive of the very first captive-bred spoon-billed sandpipers hatching – one of the rarest events in the natural world.

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Shutterstock

A spoon-billed sandpiper with its distinctive bill

 ILLEGAL HUNTING is being tackled as villagers in Myanmar and Bangladesh exchange hunting gear for small grants to assist alternative livelihoods. Local conservation groups – including former hunters – now conduct patrols.  HABITAT LOSS is being addressed with high-level advocacy work throughout the East Asian flyway, including China and South Korea, to protect critical wetlands for all waterbirds.  CONSERVATION BREEDING has been established through two expeditions and the population at Slimbridge helps to act as a safety net and could, in the future, be used to augment wild populations.  HEADSTARTING is working: birds hand-reared on the breeding grounds and released to join wild counterparts are migrating successfully.

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YOUR PASSPORT TO SUMMER FUN Get the family together and embark on a summertime voyage of discovery and excitement at WWT wetland centres, with some amazing activities in the great outdoors

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W W T AN D YO U Summer may be typically the time to sit back in a sunlounger during the long hazy days, but it’s also the perfect opportunity for children to explore the fascinating sights and sounds of the natural world.

The best way to let them discover their inner adventurer this summer holiday is by becoming fully fledged Nature Explorers at any of our nine UK WWT wetland centres. Here, they can follow in the footsteps of pioneers such as Scott of the Antarctic – father of WWT’s founder Sir Peter Scott – by taking on a series of ‘wild’ challenges, including watery safaris, treasure hunts and even a giant LEGO® brick animal sculpture trail at WWT Slimbridge.

Children of all ages can begin their journey of discovery by picking up a free Nature Explorer passport from the front desk and collecting stickers for each of the eight fun activities they take part in, working their way up to gold. Young WWT members can even bring along a friend for free.

Also, if they don’t manage to get all eight stickers in one trip, budding David Attenboroughs and Chris Packhams can bring their passports back and visit again for free anytime during the summer holidays – and for our family members, little explorers can bring a friend for free.

Every centre is offering some unique events and expeditions.

Here’s just a taste of what’s on offer…

TAKE UP TWITCHING

Shutterstock/WWT

@ ALL WWT CENTRES

SNAP A SELFIE

@ ARUNDEL, WASHINGTON

Wildlife and stunning scenery means there are always photo opportunities at our centres, but this challenge comes with a twist.

At WWT Arundel you’ll be on the hunt for a giant frog that’s hidden somewhere around the centre. Capture yourself with the camera-shy amphibian for a fun selfie, as well as a passport sticker when you present it to the WWT team.

Also, look out for an extra-large duck that’s on the loose at WWT Washington!

Wetland landscapes are home to an abundance of bird life and it’s no surprise that many of our Nature Explorer activities this summer require you to keep an eye trained on the sky for all-year-round residents and rarer seasonal species.

Visit WWT Arundel and you will be invited to find their fowl of the week, while WWT Castle Espie has some fascinating bird facts and gives you a spotter challenge to complete.

An expert twitcher also needs to know how to put their binoculars to good use and you can learn how at WWT London’s Headley Discovery Hide and the WWT Llanelli observatory.

Before visiting a wetland centre, it’s also a nice idea to create your very own Species Spotter Sheet using the WWT website.

See how at wwt.org.uk/learn/ wwt-learning-resources/ species-spotter.

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CAST YOUR NET

@ ARUNDEL, CASTLE ESPIE, LLANELLI, LONDON, MARTIN MERE, SLIMBRIDGE, WELNEY, WASHINGTON Roll up your sleeves and explore life below the surface by taking part in a spot of pond dipping. From caddisfly larvae to newts, there’s a whole host of strange and wonderful wildlife waiting to be found just under the water’s surface. All equipment is provided and WWT experts will be on hand to help identify and magnify any minibeasts you manage to net.

At WWT London you can also become a high-tech detective in the Pond Zone and operate an underwater camera to see up-close what’s living in the pool. All equipment is provided.

FEED FEATHERED FRIENDS @ LLANELLI, MARTIN MERE, SLIMBRIDGE, WASHINGTON, CASTLE ESPIE

Shutterstock/WWT

You’ll have the birds eating out of your hand at several WWT wetland centres, making for an unforgettable up-close wildlife experience.

Among the many wonderful species of waterfowl that might come dine with you is the nene, the rarest goose in the world, which WWT helped to reintroduce back into the wild.

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W W T AN D YO U

DEN BUILDING

@ CASTLE ESPIE, MARTIN MERE, WASHINGTON Every nature explorer worth their salt knows the importance of setting up a good base camp, and for the young and the young at heart there’s no better fun than constructing your very own woodland hideaway.

It’s a fantastic adventurous team activity that rewards careful collaboration and brings out the prehistoric architect in everyone, as they comb the forest floor for natural building materials such as branches and moss.

At WWT Castle Espie, older children can even help construct a Mesolithic village.

PUSH THE BOAT OUT

@ ARUNDEL, LLANELLI, MARTIN MERE, SLIMBRIDGE Canoe safaris and boat tours offer a fresh perspective for spotting wildlife, and everyone will enjoy putting their paddle skills to the test in search of water voles, dragonflies, warblers and ducks.

The self-guided canoe safari at Llanelli, Martin Mere and Slimbridge gives families an excellent way to see reedbed habitats and their rich biodiversity.

Alternatively, if you prefer to sit back and let someone else do the hard work, Arundel’s guided boat trip lets you learn about wetland wildlife at a leisurely pace, surrounded by the sound of birdsong and the scent of wildflowers.

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find out more

TOP OF THE BLOCKS

There is, of course, plenty more to keep every member of the family entertained at WWT wetland centres this summer. For a full list of the activities and events at all nine of our centres, visit wwt.org.uk

@ SLIMBRIDGE

This summer, there will be as much brick building as there is birdwatching at WWT Slimbridge, as a very special sculpture trail takes shape.

Ten giant LEGO® brick models have been made for nature explorers to track down, recreating familiar wetland creatures including the common crane, flamingo and the North American river otter.

They’re the work of design company Bright Bricks, which specialises in transforming the popular plastic toy into everything from a life-size woolly mammoth to the RMS Queen Mary.

After encountering all the fantastic LEGO brick creations on the trail, go to the visitor centre and let your little sculptors make their own models in our LEGO brick building pit that has more than 40,000 bricks!

For a passport stamp we’ll be asking you to get creative with LEGO bricks and make an imaginary creature as well as casting your vote for your favourite from the trail. There is also a chance to join in LEGO brick workshops for added inspiration.

In the shop, you can then put together your own minifigure to take home, along with a few exclusive limited-edition WWT LEGO brick animal kits, also available to buy from the WWT website.

Solent News/REX, Shutterstock/WWT

Bright Bricks founder Duncan Titmarsh is the only LEGO Certified Professional in the UK, meaning he and his team are more than up to the task of turning our wetland animals into giant works of art

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W W T AN D YO U

GIANT WILD SCULPTURES TO SPOT Look out for the LEGO brick versions of these wetland locals

FLAMINGO

Everyone is always tickled pink to see these flamboyant leggy birds that have been a feature of our conservation breeding programme for more than 50 years. There are six flamingo species around the world and all of them can be conveniently found at WWT Slimbridge wetland centre.

MALLARD

A well-known sight to most, the mallard is a dabbling duck that inhabits a wide range of habitats and climates, from Arctic tundra to subtropical regions. The males (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on the wings and belly, while the females have mainly brown-speckled plumage.

NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER

These playful mammals are equally at home on land or in water and we are lucky enough to have a family of three at WWT Slimbridge – mother Flo, and twins Minnie and Ha Ha. Agile hunters, the North American river otter has long whiskers to detect prey, such as fish, in dark or cloudy water.

RED-BREASTED GOOSE

This striking goose breeds in Arctic Russia and winters around the Black Sea, especially in Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. WWT has long been involved with red-breast conservation and addressing the major threats to the species on their wintering grounds.

BEWICK’S SWAN

A winter visitor to the UK from Siberia, this small swan can be identified by its distinctive yellow and black bill markings, unique to each bird. These patterns help researchers monitor each individual’s habits, to gain a better understanding of their behaviour and ecology.

MODELS ON THE MOVE If you can’t make it to WWT Slimbridge during the summertime, the LEGO brick trail will be heading to WWT London in October and then migrating north to WWT Martin Mere for the winter, arriving just in time for the annual Swan Spectacular and the North West Bird Fair on 28 November.

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Jay meets some of the local amphibians on a recent trip to China

AMPHIBIAN MAN Meet WWT’s Jay Redbond, the man whose enthusiasm for amphibians is infectious!

WWT, Shutterstock

What’s a typical request by a six-year-old for their

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next birthday? An iPad? A pony? Well, how about a pond?

Jay Redbond smiles as he recalls his early enthusiasms. ‘As a young boy, I found animals very exciting,’ he says, ‘and that year when my dad made a nature reserve for me in the garden really opened things up. It wasn’t long before I found slow-worms and adders there, and I loved counting the newts that arrived in my new pond.’

Growing up in Horsley, Gloucestershire, Jay had little interest in standard pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs, preferring terrapins instead, and by the time he was 11 years old, he was helping out in a reptile shop. ‘I was there for five years,’ he says, ‘and I got paid in animals and feed! It was a great way to fuel my interest, and I must have ended up owning about 70 different types of reptile and amphibian.’

By the time Jay had completed his A-levels, there were three things he wanted to be: a sportsman, an actor… and a herpetologist, ie someone who studies reptiles and amphibians.

‘It was 2007,’ he recalls, ‘and the role of Amphibian Keeper came up at WWT Slimbridge.

It was a wonderful opportunity.’ Jay got the job, and has been there ever since.

It’s not surprising: amphibians are fascinating animals. As a group, they’ve been around since long before the dinosaurs; they can live in water and on land; their young, such as tadpoles, look completely different to the adult; and they come in many forms. Several of them can be seen at Toad Hall, WWT Slimbridge’s amazing collection of poison dart frogs, toads and even axolotls, a remarkable form of salamander Grey axolotl that even in adulthood

Above left: The common frog is Britain’s most well-known amphibian Below: Golden poison dart frog, believed to be one of the most toxic animals on Earth Opposite: Jay with a subadult Chinese giant salamander

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THE INTERVIEW

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Please note that your call may be recorded for our mutual security and also for training and quality purposes. Lines are open 8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays). benenden is a trading name of The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited and its subsidiaries. Benenden Personal Healthcare is offered by The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited, which is an incorporated friendly society, registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1992, registered number 480F. The Society’s contractual business (the provision of tuberculosis benefit) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The remainder of the Society’s business is undertaken on a discretionary basis. The Society is subject to Prudential Regulation Authority requirements for prudential management. Registered Office: The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited, Holgate Park Drive, York, YO26 4GG. AD/HEALTHAD/BENE0455/J2838/02.15

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THE INTERVIEW

Top left: Jay shares his knowledge and passion for amphibians during talks at WWT Slimbridge Below left: The critically endangered Chinese giant salamander Bottom: Natterjack toad

Jay is passionate about conservation, and sees a direct link between the animals on display at WWT Slimbridge and the work done to protect them in the field. ‘Amphibians are struggling the world over,’ he says. ‘Loss of habitat, which can make them vulnerable to disease, is destroying populations, putting many of them at real risk of extinction. We produce breeding guidelines and advice on our amphibians, helping to broaden the knowledge of these animals, and pave the way for possible reintroductions into the wild should the worst happen.’ Thanks to his ability and enthusiasm for spreading this knowledge, Jay is now the co-chair of the Reptile and Amphibian Working Group of British and Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA).

Native amphibians

‘Amphibians are struggling the world over. Loss of habitat is destroying populations, putting many of them at real risk of extinction’

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WWT/Jay Redbond, Nature PL, Shutterstock

retains much of its ‘tadpole’ state. Jay manages this extraordinary collection, which is the largest collection of amphibians in a UK institute or zoo.

‘There’s one animal I’d love to have on display,’ says Jay. ‘It’s the Chinese giant salamander, which is not only an impressively huge amphibian that I’d love to show to the public, but its presence, and the awareness it would raise, could help to support long-term conservation work of this critically endangered creature.’

Jay knows all about the Chinese giant salamander, as he has spent time in China working to help save it. ‘Due to habitat loss, pollution and the fact that it’s considered a delicacy in parts of China, it has declined significantly in recent years,’ he says. ‘I’ve been helping to train students and professors in how to conduct surveys as, under a Zoological Society of London project, we’re conducting the biggest survey ever, covering 100 sites. The early signs aren’t good: I was out there for three months recently, and we only found three of them!’

BUILDING A POND

You can soak up Jay’s enthusiasm FOR AMPHIBIANS for yourself at WWT Slimbridge, where he gives talks on these ancient n Make sure the margins are creatures. Plus, of course, you can reasonably broad and shallow. see our own native amphibians at This will allow easy access for the animals, encourage strong all our centres for yourself. ‘It never plant growth and provide ceases to amaze me that amphibians, warmer areas of water, which the first animals to emerge from will speed up the development the sea and take up life on land of tadpoles. hundreds of millions of years ago, n Don’t put fish or non-native are still with us today. You can plant species into your pond, as see these descendants at all our these are not good bedfellows centres, from the common frog for amphibians. to the smooth newt: and even the n Never transport clumps of natterjack toad, which can be found frogspawn from another pond into your own: allow the frogs, at WWT Caerlaverock. All the toads and newts to find your species will have spawned by now, pond all by themselves. Moving but the marsh frogs at WWT London spawn from one site to another spawn as late as June, which means risks introducing disease. you should be able to see young froglets there about now.

‘And why not try to encourage them in at home? Summer is a great season to dig a pond in your garden, because it allows time for it to settle before the following early spring, when the amphibians will be spawning. You never know; you might find you’ve got a frog in there as early as next year!’

For Jay, that’s how it all began.

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Photo competition

picture perfect

Welcome to Waterlife’s Summer Digital Photo Competition 2015. It’s open to everyone, it’s simple to enter, and we’ve got an exceptional prize for the winner Last year’s WWT photo competition was a great success, with some wonderful entries to judge. If you missed it, don’t worry: we’re running it again this year, with a fabulous prize on offer. You’ll be able to find out how to enter, and the full rules, online at wwt.org.uk/ waterlifephoto, but the basics are simple: if it’s digital, if it’s of wildlife, and if it has been taken

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at a WWT wetland centre between 1 June and 31 October 2015, it’s eligible.

What could you win? We have a brilliant pair of Leica Ultravid 10x32 HD binoculars, worth £1,330! All you have to do is send in your entries by 1 November 2015, after which the editorial board will start the process of judging.

12/06/2015 15:18

Could you do better? These were among the images sent in last year and shortlisted for the prize. They were taken by (clockwise from opposite page) Stephen Chadd (water vole), Julie SingletonWilkes (tawny owl) and Laura Brain (common lizard)

WIN! LEICA ULTRAVID 10X32 HD BINOCULARS, WORTH ÂŁ1,330!

To enter, and for the full rules, simply visit wwt.org.uk/waterlifephoto

Leica binoculars are meticulously manufactured from the best materials to ensure absolute reliability and enduring value. In addition to their compact form, elegant design and intuitive handling, their optical and mechanical quality is without compromise. This makes the Leica Ultravid 10x32 HD binoculars perfect for those who appreciate the fascination of nature observation.

Leica Sport Optics is WWT’s exclusive optic partner of the spoon-billed sandpiper project.

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What will your gift be?

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WWT/Graham Maples

People leave many treasured things to future generations thanks to a gift in their will.

Whether big or small, such a gift ensures that what you felt most passionately about during your lifetime continues into the future.

Over the years, gifts from those who kindly remember WWT in their wills have helped create and protect reserves, save species from extinction, and develop learning programmes that have inspired generations of nature lovers. This is valuable work that we will continue for many years to come.

We would like to offer you a free copy of our My forever gift booklet, which features stunning photographs of wetland wildlife and landscapes, and inspiring stories about what can be achieved through a gift in your will.

Simply complete the request form below and send it to the freepost address. Alternatively, contact our Legacy Manager, David Salmon, on 01453 891150 or by email at david.salmon@wwt.org.uk.

You can also visit wwt.org.uk/legacies.

PLEASE SEND ME WWT’S FREE MY FOREVER GIFT BOOKLET Your name Address Postcode Email

Telephone

Return to: David Salmon, WWT, Freepost RTKU UJUZ ZHZX, Bowditch, Slimbridge, Gloucester GL2 7BT (no stamp needed) Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is a registered charity in England & Wales, no. 1030884 and Scotland, no. SC039410

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Elena Volkova

Bewick’s swans are important to school children across Europe

European connections The European laws that protect wildlife across the continent, such as Bewick’s swan celebrated here on the uniforms of children at Slimbridge and in Germany, are under review. You have an opportunity to have your say There are many special things about Bewick’s swan. It has a beautiful, almost sad call that can’t fail to capture the imagination, each bird can be recognised by its bill pattern, creating a strong sense of individuality, and it’s very shy, which gives it an attractive coyness.

But there’s another aspect of this lovely creature that stands out, too. Each spring and autumn, as it migrates its way from the UK to Russia and back again, it belongs, for a short while, to those many countries that it crosses. Each of those nations cherishes the bird as it passes through, just as we do when it arrives on our own shores. School children in places as far apart as Slimbridge itself, Germany, Finland and more, wear its image on their uniforms. As each country relies on its neighbours to do their bit to 34

Waterlife

provide protection and sustenance during each epic journey, Bewick’s swan is a wonderful example of European cooperation.

But that strength of European cooperation in protection of Bewick’s swan and all the other wildlife that lives upon our continent is being put to the test. You may not realise this, but much nature-related law in the UK actually comes from Brussels. It’s the same across the union. A few decades ago, the EU created first the Birds Directive, and

later the Habitats Directive, and between them these two Nature Directives, as they’re known, oversee many of the laws in the UK that make it illegal to wantonly kill wild animals, build on their homes, and more.

Now, that international agreement is being reviewed. The outcome will affect the future of wildlife both in this country and on the continent. What will the decision in Brussels be?

Well, you can have a say in it.

Protection of wildlife is just one thing

That international agreement is being reviewed.

The outcome will affect the future of wildlife both in this country and on the continent. What will the decision in Brussels be? You can have a say in it

JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

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THE BIG ISSUE

HOW THE DIRECTIVES WORK IN OUR FAVOUR ■ THE SEVERN ESTUARY has protected designations, known as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), under the Nature Directives. When a barrage was considered for tidal energy production at the site, it was unclear how significant the effects would be upon the wildlife. As the estuary is protected, the decision was referred to a committee of MPs, which decided that the case for the barrage was not proven, at which point backing for the proposal failed.

■ WWT STEART MARSHES (above) was created to compensate for the loss of saltmarsh in the Severn Estuary as sea levels rise, and the estuary expands up against the existing flood barriers. This compensation, thanks to the Nature Directives, has enabled WWT and partners to create the new saltmarsh from scratch, which not only provides a haven for wildlife, but protection from flooding for the communities that live on the Steart Peninsula.

It was designed to provide a whole host of other benefits, too.

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Waterlife

WWT, Shutterstock

that will be on the minds of the It’s as simple as that. And you really will decision-makers. Economic growth, land make a difference. This isn’t just about development, international trade – these clicking ‘like’, or signing a petition that and more all jostle for position when it will never be read. We’re using a legal comes to large-scale decision-making. mechanism that means the top civil It’s the same the world over, whether it servants in Europe will be legally obliged be at a global level, or in the town or city to read your answers. you live in. All these aspects of life have At WWT we’re about celebrating and their supporters, and they will make sure enjoying nature, so if we’re inviting you their voices are heard. The voices to get involved, you know it’s really that support the protection important, and we’ll do it in to let of wildlife and habitats a way that will be really the eu need to be heard, effective. In fact, we’re how im know too – after all, our joining up with 99 other p nature ortant environment is vital to organisations across the is t our survival, and is one UK and hundreds more simply o you, of the main foundations across Europe. Together, wwt.o visit rg.uk/e of a prosperous society. we can give Europe the c A public consultation has biggest response it has ever been launched by Brussels to received to a legal consultation, find out what Europe thinks, and that sends them one huge message: the results will help to inform their nature is very important to all of us. decisions. That consultation runs until the end of July.

The voices that support If you love wildlife and are prepared to the protection of wildlife give 10 minutes of your time to that love, and habitats need to be just visit wwt.org.uk/ec before 24 July to answer half a dozen questions. That’s it. heard loud and clear

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A lifetime together Become a life member today and receive a 25% discount *

What does life membership really mean?

Protecting wetlands is at the heart of everything we do both here in the UK and around the world – but we simply couldn’t do it without people like you. As a Life Member you will be giving your lifelong support to our work, to rescue endangered species and protect threatened wetlands, giving a future to these precious places and their unique wildlife.

By becoming a life member you will benefit from:  Lifelong entry to all WWT wetland centres  Free entry for one named guest per Life Member  Exclusive invitations to WWT events  Lifelong copies of WWT’s award-winning Waterlife magazine  Annual copies of our scientific journal, Wildfowl

Simply complete the enclosed flyer or call 01453 891198 to receive your 25% discount *Offer available to Waterlife readers until 30 September 2015. See enclosed leaflet for prices.

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Corbis

OBITUARY

Keith Shackleton Keith Shackleton, who died aged 92 on 17 April this year, was my godfather.

He was also a founding member of the Severn Wildfowl Trust (WWT as we now know it) and has been closely involved with its work since the beginning, serving frequently on the council and later as a vice president. The public knew him as an artist, naturalist and television presenter, but to those who knew him in person, he was a wonderful, positive person with a quixotic, unexpected, turn of phrase. In Keith’s company, life was fun and it was usually possible to find something amusing about the bleakest of situations.

He was a brilliant draughtsman, designer and artist, who specialised in painting birds and other animals in their natural habitat. He is perhaps best known for his large canvases depicting marine and Antarctic landscapes and their wildlife. When painting snow in polar landscapes (and also bird guano), he spoke of buying white paint in industrial quantities, while at the same time pointing out that ‘if something is white, you may be sure it is full of colour’.

As an artist, Keith was best known for his interpretations of the sea and birdlife

by Dafila Scott

He was born in Weybridge, Surrey, in 1923, and his father, WS Shackleton, was the leading aircraft designer of the time.

As a schoolboy at Oundle School, he came across the work of my father, Peter Scott, in the ‘Voluntary Studio’, and when later they met, they found they had much in common – the enthusiasm for birds and wild places (as well as sailing small boats), and the desire to make sure that wildlife should survive despite the encroachment of people. Both went into television presentation to talk about (and often to draw on camera) the animals that they loved and describe their habits and habitats. Keith worked with Johnny Morris on Animal Magic for four years and then in the 1970s and 1980s went on to present his own children’s wildlife series, Animals in Action, for Anglia Television.

Keith was a brilliant friend to my father and, in the early days, they even painted pictures together

It was in the late 1940s that he became involved with the Severn Wildfowl Trust. He would help with the work of setting up the collection and to see and help catch the wild geese in winter. He gave himself the title of ‘The Scapegoat’ because he said he was always blamed for putting up (scaring) the wild geese – and is still known by this nickname by long-serving staff at WWT today.

When his father’s aviation company was bought out, Keith became a full-time painter, though he interspersed painting with television work and, from 1969, with numerous trips as lecturer/ naturalist on board the Lindblad Explorer, the first ice-strengthened exploration passenger ship. As Keith himself relates, he was inspired as a child by the voyages of his relative, the great explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, and was keen to see the Antarctic. In 2001, he published Ship in the Wilderness: Voyages of the MS Explorer through the Last Wild Places on Earth, at a time when many of these places had seen few human visitors. He campaigned to increase public awareness of endangered species and also worked on the RSPB’s Save the Albatross campaign.

He published several books of his paintings over the years and was at various stages president of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) and the Royal Society of Marine Artists, chair of the Artists’ League of Great Britain, vice president of the SWLA and the Guild of Aviation Artists, and a trustee of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. In 2012, he was appointed MBE for services to wildlife conservation.

Throughout my life, I have had many happy times with Keith and his wife, Jacq (sometimes with their three children). Keith was a brilliant friend to my father and, in the early days, they even painted pictures together. My father writes in The Eye of the Wind that he would often get Keith to help him with a picture: ‘Will you whizz in some blue sky on that side while I get on with the water down here?’ and Keith would start whizzing. Later, when my father died, I watched Keith putting the finishing touches to the wigeon in my father’s last picture of how the London Wetland Centre would look. Keith will be sadly missed.

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS

fresh looks

The summer brings lots of new things to see and do at WWT wetland centres.

Here are just a couple of examples

Take a gander WWT Washington, where you can hand-feed the nenes (below) and watch the wildlife by the river reedbed and the saline lagoon (bottom)

Hop to it After meeting the frogs and newts at WWT Slimbridge’s Toad Hall exhibit, toddlers can now take a tumble round a new indoor soft play area with an amphibian theme.

There’s a trampoline for hopping, lots of red-eyed tree frog rockers, plus a multilevel boathouse to hide and slide in.

All the family can also enjoy the games lounge, featuring soft seating and bespoke tabletop classic games such as Newts and Ladders and Connect Frogs.

Fairy-tale fans will love the dressing table where headbands, masks, feet and capes can transform them into fantastic frogs.

Costumed kiddies can then hop onto a giant throne for the perfect frog king or queen photo opportunity.

All these fun additions are a great complement to the first-hand amphibian experiences visitors can have at the exhibit tanks and daily talks.

At WWT Washington you can come nose-to-beak with its goose residents at the recently opened Ganderland exhibit.

Situated opposite the whiteheaded duck pen at the top of Close Encounters, Ganderland features seating, informative interpretation and designated areas where you can enjoy feeding some of the world’s most endangered waterbirds.

Elsewhere at the centre, a new composting toilet is making bathroom breaks good for the environment, and plans are also under way to build a hide with panoramic views over the river reedbed and the saline lagoon. These last developments have been made possible thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous funders. We’ll update you on the improvements in the next issue.

WWT

FIND OUT MORE There’s plenty more going on at your local centre. Just turn to page 47 for the full details.

JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

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05/06/2015 11:29

WWT ONLINE

netlands

A ROUND-UP OF WWT’S GROWING PRESENCE ON THE WEB

Bird tweet ‘Had a wonderful visit to @WWTMartinMere today.

A wonderful place with unexpected flamingos! @WWTworldwide #wetlands.’

We love hearing about your visits and seeing your photos on Twitter. Keep on sharing @WWTworldwide.

Feeding the ducks

Shutterstock; WWT

A quacking idea WWT is launching its first online crowdfunding appeal, to support an innovative project that could reduce our water use in countries where it is in short supply, using ducks, plants and science.

Last year, our Mission Madagascar campaign helped protect vital habitat that will one day be home to the world’s rarest duck. Keeping a healthy population of Madagascar pochards in captivity requires a lot of water and generates a lot of waste, which isn’t great for the environment, especially in a water-stressed country like Madagascar.

We think we have come up with a solution, using methods from aquaponics. The system, which we’ll be piloting at Slimbridge with another critically endangered duck, Baer’s pochard, will convert ammonia from duck poo into nitrates, which act as nutrients for plants growing in the water. We’d harvest the plants once they’ve cleaned the water and use them as duck food. So the cycle starts again!

Throughout August, WWT will be raising money to try to make our AQUAckPONICS dream a reality.

We hope we can make this happen through online crowdfunding, and will be launching a campaign across social media to spread the word about what we believe will be a major advance in conservation breeding sustainably.

Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

WWT was contacted by popular website BuzzFeed about the important matter of mallard meals. Along with the RSPB, we offered our words of wisdom to an article titled ‘You’ve Been Feeding The Ducks Wrong Your Whole Life’.

As any avid wildfowl fan will already know, popping down to your local lake with leftover bits of bread is a bad idea, as it doesn’t give our feathered friends the nutrients they need.

The grain and protein pellet mix we supply at our centres offers the birds a much more rounded diet.

The informative article was, of course, accompanied by an array of cute pictures and animated GIFS, and was shared liberally across the web.

WATCH AND LEARN An important milestone has been reached on WWT’s YouTube channel, having reached 500,000 – that’s half a million – views on our videos. Three of our sites – Arundel, Martin Mere and Slimbridge – produce regular videos, while lately we’ve been posting a great deal of content from our Welney centre. They have captured stunning footage of Easter hares boxing, a barn owl hunting, a green woodpecker and much more. If you haven’t already checked out our channel, make now the time! youtube.com/user/wwtconservation1 JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

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wonderful world TOP TEN

3

ten things you (probably) didn’t know about life at wwt

Clare

Teddy Harris

2 1

Extreme close-ups

At WWT Welney Wetland Centre, volunteers with the Great Ouse Wetland project got a glimpse into the secret lives of some of the smallest species of wildlife we have in the UK. Water beetles, damselfly nymphs and a multitude of moths became the stars of wildlife films created during a macrophotography workshop.

The footage will be used as part of WWT Welney’s mission to film a year in the life of the Great Ouse Wetlands, creating a video series documenting the epic stories of species that live here.

This project is part of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership scheme, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. To find out more, go to wwt.org.uk/gow

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Avocets on tour

Birds from a colony of avocets based near the hamlet of Dunkirk in Cambridgeshire have been spotted at all of our reserves that have breeding pairs, including Welney, Martin Mere, Washington and Slimbridge.

These distinctive waders, with their elegant upwardly-curving beaks, were declared extinct as a breeding bird in the UK in 1842, but began to recover in 1947, colonising areas of wetland on the south and east coasts of England.

Thankfully, fluffy avocet chicks are today an annual sight at WWT wetland centres, through work such as the creation of special islands for the birds to nest on at WWT Slimbridge.

Duck dubbed

Archie, Quackers, Dizzee and Cuddles were just some of the names suggested for WWT Arundel Wetland Centre’s new six-foot-tall, bright-yellow inflatable mascot, but we can now reveal that the wetland’s biggest ducky is called Clare.

Teddy Harris visited WWT Arundel with his mum, Emma, and asked that we name our giant yellow friend Clare, after his godmother, Clare Cruickshank, a fellow yellow duck fan.

Clare had cystic fibrosis and sadly passed away in 2013 while awaiting a lung transplant. Emma set up The Little Yellow Duck Project in Clare’s memory to raise awareness of the need for more organ, blood and bone marrow donors.

For more information, see facebook.com/littleyellowduckproject

4

Swamp adventure

Come and get to grips with WWT Castle Espie’s brand new outdoor, natural play area – The Secret Swamp!

There’s plenty to keep active kids occupied, including a tricky clamber web, balance beams over a mucky marsh, a zip wire, a tree swing, a wobbly bridge and swamp stomp stepping stones.

Nature and adventure also meet head-on in the log den secret hideout, tall tree house and magical toadstool glade. For anyone not bounding around all this, secluded benches on the edge of the swamp are a peaceful resting point to enjoy the trill of the woodland birdsong.

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Safety net

A group of robin chicks recently made an unusual cosy home for themselves within a net at WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre. When student Laurie Allnatt entered a storage shed on site, he found the surprise nest of chicks snuggling up together at the bottom of the net.

‘Some birds always seem to find strange and innovative places to make their nests and this was a really great find,’ says Learning Manager Pam Styles.

‘The robin chicks are very young and we must be very careful not to disturb them.

We have been watching their mum fly in and out of the shed to give them food.’

Leica liker

Reading about WWT’s partnership with Leica in April’s Waterlife inspired WWT Patron Val Coney to make a much-needed donation to WWT. ‘It reminded me of the Leica telescope that I bought after my father’s death,’ she says. ‘It’s a fantastic piece of equipment, but now too heavy for me to carry easily, so I wanted it to go to a good home.

I have been lucky to have met many of the WWT staff involved with vital conservation work and been absolutely blown away by their passion and dedication. I love the thought that my scope is going to be “part of the team”.’

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Congratulations Debbie

BBC Wildlife magazine has named WWT’s Director of Conservation, Debbie Pain, as one of the top 50 most influential conservation heroes in its Wildlife Power List.

Debbie was included partly due to her pioneering work to research and reduce lead poisoning of wild birds from ammunition sources. Also in the list were WWT vice-presidents Sir David Attenborough and Chris Packham.

See you at Birdfair

Our team will be on hand at Rutland Birdfair, 21-23 August, to update you on our global conservation projects, including our pioneering work in Madagascar. We’d also like to invite you to join us for a drinks reception from 4pm on Saturday or Sunday. Bring your membership card to collect your free ticket from the WWT stand 26/27 in marquee three. Looking forward to meeting you!

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WWT/Deb Pinniger, CC Frank Vassen, Shutterstock

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Newt boost

The humble bin liner is proving indispensable for an amphibian keeper rearing newts at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Jay Redbond has been placing strips of black bin liner in his newts’ tanks to act as artificial leaves for them to lay eggs on.

He has found that the bin liner actually works better than fake leaves, as the female newts can fold it over easily after laying, to protect the eggs.

The clever scheme is helping Jay retrieve eggs easily to rear them in a safer environment, as baby newts and eggs can be at risk of being eaten by adult amphibians.

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Bat friends

Bats use echolocation to find their prey – and we use bat detectors to find the bats!

At WWT Welney Wetland Centre, there’s a range of specialist equipment that’s being used to gain an insight into the lives of these incredible creatures, including bat detectors bought with funds generously provided by the Friends of Welney group. The group has been supporting WWT Welney for almost 25 years, raising nearly £70,000 to support many projects. We thank you all.

JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

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with

hello again

Golden poison frog

Shutterstock, WWT

Earlier this year, I took on an exciting challenge, competing in the world’s longest non-stop canoe race. The idea was to raise money to help save part of the rainforest in Colombia, South America, where a particularly fascinating frog lives. It’s called the golden poison frog and, of all the reptiles and amphibians on this planet, it’s the most poisonous. How deadly is it? Well, just one tiny frog has enough poison in its skin to kill more than 10 people, or up to 10,000 mice!

The frog really is a very bright yellow indeed: in fact, there are quite a few different types of poison frog that live in Central and South America, and they come in all sorts of colours.

You can see some of them here. So why are they so colourful? The idea is that predators will be frightened off by the strong blues, reds and yellows, which are a sign that the frogs are poisonous.

In fact, the little animals can Poison often be seen quite clearly dart frog sitting around on leaves in the rainforest, confident that they’ll be left alone.

Poison is a very effective defence system, and bright colours and strong patterns are often used by animals to warn other animals not to eat them. Other animals, of course, use poison as a weapon for hunting. You can find a few examples on these pages. It’s all part of the amazing world of wildlife, in which survival is the name of the game.

Until next time...

Strawberry poison dart frog

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Steve Backshall

DoDnon’t’t bbuugg mmee! ! want to eat a ladybird, anyway!), but Ladybirds are among the most they could leave a bad taste in the popular and well known of all mouth of a dragonfly. The sevenour insects, and you can find all spotted ladybird that you see here sorts of different types at WWT actually emits a horriblecentres, where they can be tasting liquid from its seen showing off their legs! Scientists bright colours. But have discovered that lovely red isn’t that the redder the to make them individual ladybird, look pretty: it’s the stronger its actually a warning chemicals are to other animals likely to be. that might be All of which thinking about A juvenile is good news for eating them. Several ladybird us, because their larger insects, for wonderful colours, along example, which would with their normally happily snap up a spots, really beetle, will leave a ladybird alone. add to the The chemicals that ladybirds beauty of a have in their body aren’t harmful summer’s day. to you and me (not that we’d ever

JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

12/06/2015 15:35

KIDS’ ZONE

Did you know?

The commonleatsoae dan is able to re toxin unpleasant s fluid a poisonou in when - from its sakck from under att ors. predat

ce Sp ot t he d iffe r e n

Ho ho!

Dyeing poison dart frog

Why do you like me so much?

You’ve got a great poisonality!

Bumblebee poison dart frog

Look closely at the two pictures of frogs above.

There is one difference between each ‘matching’ pair. Can you find them all?

T he cuckoo fly Here’s a very impressive insect, but do you know what it is?

It looks like a hornet, doesn’t it? Or a large wasp. But it is, in fact, a completely harmless hoverfly, one of those fabulous little creatures that just seems to hang in the air on a still summer’s day.

Looking like a stinging insect is a great way to avoid being eaten yourself, but this hoverfly has another reason for the resemblance. Rather craftily, it uses its similarity to those other insects as a disguise, slipping past them unnoticed into their nests, where it then lays its eggs. Once those eggs hatch into young hoverflies, called larvae, they then tuck into the food that the hornets bring back for their own young – a bit like baby cuckoos do in the …the lego® bird world. b

DON’T MISS

get in touch!

Send your letters to Explore, Waterlife, WWT, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, or waterlife@wwt.org.uk. I’d love to hear from you.

rick sculptu r at slimbrid e trail ge this summer, w features 10 hich gian brick mode t lego wetland cr ls of eatures. see pa ge 24 for in fo

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Adopt a flamingo Elegant, flamboyant… and under threat

From just £3 a mon th

Provide

food for an entire year

Build

specialist flamingo nests

Contribute to essential research

It’s easy to adopt, just call our team on 01453 891195 or visit wwt.org.uk/flamingo You’ll receive an adoption pack, which includes: a complimentary ticket to visit any WWT centre ● an adoption certificate ● twice-yearly newsletter ● a flamingo cuddly toy ● fact sheet / poster 46 Adopt a flamingo house ad.indd 36

12/06/2015 15:37

There are plenty of fun activities going on throughout the summer at WWT wetland centres. Turn the page to disover the highlights of what’s in store

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For the full list of centre events, information and news, find your local centre at wwt.org.uk

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BUDAPEST

BY RAIL

NIGHTS IN HOTEL

08/06/2015 09:06

D O W N YO U R WAY Arundel

Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9PB 01903 881530 info.arundel@wwt.org.uk

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre Highlights Children will be spoilt for choice this summer at Arundel with a range of fun activities for which they can collect stickers to put in their Nature Explorer passport. The events run from 23 July to 2 September, so make sure your kids don’t miss out!

Elsewhere, budding artists can capture the colours of our amazing wetland flowers in the Wildflower Watercolours workshop with artist Emily Jolley on 12 July. Or perhaps you’d prefer a walk with herbalist Sheila Stenning to learn the names and uses of wetland plants on one of the free Wildflower Walks?

In July, the black-headed gull chicks in front of the Sand Martin Hide will be fledging and the colony breaking up. In August, the sand martins will begin stopping in at the start of their African migration.

Look for grey herons and little egrets from the hides, along with common and green sandpipers. Peregrines, buzzards and red kites will be visible on the Offham Hangar.

August and September is bat walk season, but these popular walks book up quickly. Our surveys show at least eight species on the reserve this year: Daubenton’s, noctule, serotine, Natterer’s, Leisler’s and all three types of pipistrelles.

On special dates this summer, the Bentley Wildlife Carvers will be displaying their beautiful woodwork. All pieces are for sale, with 10% going to support WWT. Wildlife artist Desiree Hart is also showing her work throughout the summer.

Finally, as the season starts to change, learn about autumn migrants and the reserve during Discover Wildlife Day on 20 September. This day of walks and talks is a great time to meet and chat with the experts at WWT Arundel.

Grey heron

Behind the scenes

‘It’s a great season for art at Arundel.

Artist Desiree Hart will be back with new sketches, andthe Bentley Wildlife Carvers love to chat to visitors about their handiwork.’ Patricia Warren, Marketing Manager

Arundel Events (Key below. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/arundel) Daily Activities Wetland Discovery Boat Safari Glide with a guide on quiet electric boats through the reedbeds of Wetlands Discovery.

First boat 11am, last boat 4.30pm. Suggested donation of £1. WA Hand-feed Wildfowl Hand-feed exotic wildfowl such as Hawaiian geese and Australian wood ducks in our World Wetlands area. Until closing.

Feeding grain available from dispensers at 20p or 50p per handful.

key

Diving Duck Feed See some of the rarest waterfowl in the world show off their fishing skills in the clear chalk-fed waters of the Icelandic Lake pen. WA

Artist Ann TwinamCauchi helps you create amazing images with these techniques. Part of the Art at Arundel series. 1-3pm £12PP.

Sun 12 July Watercolour Painting: Wildflowers Artist Emily Jolley takes you outdoors with tips on how to paint wildflowers. Part of the Art at Arundel series.

10am-12 noon £12PP.

Thurs 23 July to Wed 2 September Nature Explorers Grab your passport to exciting summer adventures for kids.

Collect activity stickers and get free entry on your next visit! WA

Sun 12 July Ink and Wax Drawing

Sun 26 July, Fri 28 to Mon 31 August, and Sat 26 September

UAA BE

UAA BE

Artist in Residence See the drawing, etchings and photographs of wildlife artist Desiree Hart and chat with her about her African safaris.

10am-5pm. WA Sun 9 August Bentley Wildlife Carvers Meet these skilled woodcarvers while they create works for sale, with 10% of profits going to WWT. 10am-4pm. WA Thursdays 13 and 20 August Wonderful Wildflower Walk

Stroll with Sheila to discover summer wetland flowers.

Adults only. 11am-12 noon. WA Thursdays 13 and 20 August Weave a Willow Circlet Children can make and decorate a woven willow circlet to take home. 1.30-3.30pm.

WA

Thurs 10 and Tues 15 September Seeds and Berries Walk Stroll with Sheila to discover the seasonal

changes in foliage.

11am-12 noon. WA Wed 16 September Evening Bat Walk Walk with a warden to visit bat hotspots around the grounds. 6.45pm. £12PP. BE Sun 20 September Discover Wildlife Day Walks and talks with WWT Arundel experts about the variety of wildlife on our reserve.

10am-4.30pm. WA

BE Booking Essential RI Refreshments Included M/F Member/Friend IA price Includes Admission cost WA included With Admission cost UAA Usual Admission rates Apply WP Weather Permitting OAA Overnight Accommodation Available PC/PP Per Child/Person

Centre events are subject to change. Please phone for further information or visit the WWT website wwt.org.uk/visit/arundel /caerlaverock /castleespie /llanelli /london /martinmere /slimbridge /washington /welney

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The Grant Arms Hotel Grantown-on-Spey

What Guests Say “A brilliant place to stay. I would stay there again without hesitation.” Addlestone, Surrey “Highland hospitality plus.”

Feltham, London

“Excellent staff, meals, hotel and excellent birding!” Sherringham, Norfolk

THE WILDLIFE HOTEL

Wildlife Breaks in the Highlands As soon as you walk into the Grant Arms Hotel you realise it isn’t just any ordinary Hotel.

In short the newly refurbished Grant Arms is the hotel for bird and wildlife watchers.

With their local knowledge our staff are able to provide information on the areas wildlife and where best to see it, as well as advising on companies who offer escorted trips so you make the most of your holiday whilst remaining free to create your own itinerary.

Speyside and the Cairngorms are one of the best areas for wildlife watching in the UK. Perfect for beginner to expert, whether for a day or a fortnight. Depending on the season you could see: Golden Eagle, Capercaillie, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Mountain Hare, Osprey, Ptarmigan, Otter, Red and Black Grouse, Red and Roe Deer, Slavonian Grebe, Crested Tit and Crossbill, as well as Dolphins, Waders, Sea Ducks and Sea Birds along the Moray Firth coast.

On booking Guests receive an information pack including The Watcher - BWWC’s Monthly Newspaper, BWWC Wildlife Map and a Trip Planner. Copies of The Watcher, as well as a variety of Bird Magazines are in Guests bedrooms and The Daily Chirp, BWWC’s daily newsletter, is on each breakfast table. The hotel also has a boot wash, drying room, laundry room and “Early Birder” breakfasts for those heading out first-thing!

The newly refurbished GRANT ARMS HOTEL offers wonderful food, friendly staff and 50 high quality ensuite bedrooms.

All bedrooms come with hairdryer, colour TV, toiletries and coffee making facilities.

2015 SPECIAL BREAKS

What’s included:

4 nights from

O

RED DEER RUT Sat 26th Sept to Fri 2nd Oct 15 With trips to watch the Red Deer Rutting as well as other wildlife.

O

Fine Scottish Dining

O

Afternoon Tea & Coffee

O

EAGLES & SALMON

Special Diets accommodated

Programme of Talks, Walks and Wildlife Briefings, films and Quizzes WiFi

Sat 10th to Sat 17th Oct 15 The best time to look for Eagles and migrating Salmon as well as our incoming winter wildlife.

O

Complimentary Daily Newspaper

4 nights DB&B from £320 7 nights DB&B from £560

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Free use of BWWC’s private Slavonian Grebe Hide.

O

O

After Dinner Coffee & Tea O

TARIFF 2015/16 Apr - Oct

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Free Parking BWWC Osprey Suite

HOW TO GET THERE Nov - Mar

Apr - Oct

4 Night Break DB&B

£320

£260

£325

7 Night Break DB&B

£560

£450

£565

By Road: Grantown is situated just off the A9 Edinburgh- Inverness road.

TO BOOK CALL 01479 872526

www.bwwc.co.uk or email bookings@bwwc.co.uk Did you know you can fly EASYJET to INVERNESS from BWWC LTD, 25 THE SQUARE, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HF All programmes, talks, walks and rooms subject to availability and liable to change without notice.

CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND Wed 23rd to Sun 27th Dec 2015 Join us for a Christmas of fun and wildlife.

4 nights full board from £440pp

HOGMANAY IN THE HIGHLANDS

By Train: The nearest Station is Wed 30th Dec 2015 to Sat 2nd Jan 2016 Aviemore (14 miles) on the First Celebrate the New Year Highland style.

ScotRail Edinburgh - Inverness line. 3 nights full board from £395pp

Price per person. Excludes Christmas, New Year and other Special Breaks.

Other lengths of stay are also available. Dogs welcome £20 per room per stay.

By Plane: Inverness Airport (30 miles) - Flights Single, Twin, Double, Family & Wheelchair Accessible Rooms available. from most major UK airports. Other destinations Room supplements £pppn: Superior Rooms £15, Four Poster Rooms £30. available from Aberdeen Airport (75 miles).

Special Rates for Clubs, Tours & Conferences. Terms & Conditions apply.

To get the most out of the area you really need a car.

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7 nights from

£320pp DB&B £560pp DB&B

Breakfast Menu ranging from full Scottish to Kippers or Continental

GATWICK, LUTON & BRISTOL for around £50 RETURN

SPECIAL PACKAGE - Christmas and Hogmanay 10 night Break (7 nights full board and 3 nights DBB) from just £1,030pp. Enjoy

guest speakers, field trips, walks, films and fun. www. bwwc.co.uk

DOG FRIENDLY

05/06/2015 11:29

D O W N YO U R WAY Caerlaverock

Eastpark Farm, Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire DG1 4RS 01387 770200 info.caerlaverock@wwt.org.uk

WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre Highlights This summer, visitors can enjoy getting out and about in the wilderness, with lots of family-friendly events to help you discover the range of species thriving in Dumfriesshire. The beautiful wildflower meadow walk is the perfect tranquil escape, featuring a carpet of wildflowers frequented by butterflies and dragonflies. From there you can wander down to the Lochar Water – look out for otter tracks disappearing into the water.

There are more chances to discover the underwater world throughout the summer holidays. Young explorers can see water boatmen, beetles, dragonflies and damselflies on the pond-dipping events held every Wednesday, and can hold the creepy-crawlies in their hands for Beetlemania. There are also lots of themed activities so children can collect stickers for their Nature Explorer passport.

Dads feeling up for a challenge can channel their inner Ray Mears at the fantastic Dads and Kids Camp. Starting in early August, the campers arrive and pitch their tents before setting off on a night-time safari with reserve wardens. Back at the camp, it’s time to cook dinner on the fire and toast marshmallows.

On the bird front, July marks the beginning of the autumn wader passage, so visitors could spot little ringed plovers and Behind the scenes green and wood sandpipers making their way south. Sadly, the centre’s ospreys haven’t produced any eggs this year. A challenging weather system in late March delayed the arrival of many male ospreys across Britain. When Caerlaverock’s male arrived two weeks late, his mate was nowhere to be seen, and he had no luck with another female spotted on site. It seems Caelaverock’s feathered females like their men to be punctual!

Little ringed plover

‘We’ve seen quite a soap opera unfolding with the “will they, won’t they?” story of our ospreys this year! However, there’s still lots to see and do this summer, and we expect our Dads and Kids Camp to be a big hit.’ Brian Morrell, Centre Manager

Caerlaverock Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/caerlaverock) Daily Activities Guide in the Hide Our guides will point out the best wildlife of the day. See the ‘What’s on’ board in the visitor centre for information.

11am-3pm. WA UAA

Thurs 9 and Tues 14 July Meadows Discover the magic of our meadow and its flowers and wildlife.

Take part in games, arts and crafts. 10am-2pm.

Daily until Mon 31 August Nature Explorers Every day there’s a different themed activity. Collect stickers for your Nature Explorer passport. See website for details.

Thurs 16 and Tues 21 July Dragons and Damsels Take a closer look at the dragonflies and damselflies on the reserve. Play games and do crafts. 10am-2pm.

Wednesdays until 26 August Pond Dip Wednesdays See what different creatures you can find in the pond, using nets, bug pots and aquascopes.

11am-1pm. WA UAA

BE UAA WA

BE UAA WA

Thurs 23 and Tues 28 July Fairies and Flowers Look at the flowers on the reserve and use your imagination to create stories. Take part in arts

and crafts. 10am-2pm.

BE UAA WA

Thurs 30 July and Tues 4 August Beautiful Butterflies Use nets to catch butterflies and look at them up close. How many species can you identify? 10am-2pm.

BE UAA WA

Sat 1 to Sun 2 August Dads and Kids Camp Spend a night camping.

Take part in activities such as a night-time safari, open-fire cooking, tracks and signs, and fire lighting. Children aged eight to 14. Adults £15, children £7.50, includes entry, camping and food.

From 6pm, 1 August to 10am, 2 August.

BE RI IA

Wednesdays 5 August and 2 September Caerlaverock Kids Join our new group for parents and toddlers.

Take part in outdoor and nature activities.

10-11am. BE UAA WA

Thurs 20 August Beetlemania See how many kinds of beetle you can find on the reserve. Play games and take part in crafts. 10am-2pm.

Thurs 6 and Tues 11 August Wildlife Photography for Kids Learn how to take photos of the wildlife at Caerlaverock and go on a photo challenge around the reserve.

10am-2pm. BE UAA WA

Sat 22 August Owls Learn about the owls at Caerlaverock.

Dissect owl pellets to see what they have been eating! Take part in owl-related arts and crafts. 10am-2pm.

Thurs 13 and Tues 18 August Treasure Hunt Take part in a nature treasure hunt around the reserve using maps.

10am-2pm. BE UAA WA

Sun 30 August Badgers Find out about badgers and what they get up to!

Take part in games and activities. 10am-2pm.

BE UAA WA

BE UAA OAA

BE UAA OAA

Mon 31 August to Sun 6 September Stars and Stripes Badger Watching Watch wild badgers feeding. Tea, coffee and biscuits available.

8pm. Adults £7.50, conc £5, children £2.50.

Tickets must be paid for in advance. BE RI OAA Sun 6 September In Focus Try before you buy the latest binoculars and telescopes. In Focus experts are on hand. The centre benefits from each sale. 10am-4pm. Free.

Sat 12 September Moth Trapping Check the moth trap to see what moths have been about overnight.

8-10am. BE UAA WA

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D O W N YO U R WAY Castle Espie

Ballydrain Road, Comber, Co Down BT23 6EA 028 9187 4146 info.castleespie@wwt.org.uk

WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre Highlights WWT Castle Espie is a firm family favourite, and this summer there’s a massive range of activities to keep little ones and parents occupied. The ever-popular Nature Explorers programme runs throughout July and August, with highlights including minibeasts, mammals, den building and pond dipping – see more on page 20.

Celebrate Minibeast Day on Tuesday 14 July. Search our woodlands for creepy-crawlies such as beetles, centipedes, slugs, woodlouse and ladybirds on a guided Minibeast Hunt, fashion some fun crafts and don’t miss Jump Jiggle and Jive’s lively minibeast dance parties in the afternoon.

If you’ve enjoyed getting to know the centre’s ducklings you’ll have one last chance for a behind-the-scenes peek, as the final Downy Duckling Tours set off on 11 and 12 July.

Out on the reserve our mute swans have laid eggs for the first time in five years, so there should be some cygnets on the water as well as nenes, Ross’s geese and pintails. If we’re really lucky, we might even see Barrow’s goldeneye, hooded merganser, teal and smew ducklings.

Castle Espie’s woodland is also home to some of Northern Ireland’s eight species of native bat. Taking place on 31 July, Bat Night is a great opportunity to catch a glimpse. In the past we’ve seen common and soprano pipistrelles, Leisler’s and Daubenton’s.

Moving into August, Castle Espie has teamed up with the Irish Astronomical Association for Solar Day on 2 August – a chance to visit the star dome and learn all about the sun and constellations. The busy summer is rounded off with Quackanory storytelling sessions on 12 and 13 September and Neolithic Know-how on 26 and 27 September. If all that’s not enough, we even have a new secret swamp. There’s so much to discover this summer at Castle Espie!

Children will enjoy the events at Castle Espie

Behind the scenes

‘The Secret Swamp is a haven where children can be in tune with nature and use their imaginations to explore features such as the old beech wishing tree, toadstool glade, the tall tree house and the secret mini tree doors marked with the woodland tree species.’

Sarah Clarke, Centre Manager

Castle Espie Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/castleespie) Daily until Sun 30 August On the Edge An exhibition by artists from Studio E. 10am-5pm. Free.

Daily until Mon 31 August Nature Explorers Fun-filled school holidays when young explorers can try nature activities and collect stickers for their Nature Explorer passport. WA Sat 11 and Sun 12 July Downy Duckling Tours

Meet the newly hatched ducklings inside the duckery on the final behind-the-scenes tours this year. 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm.

WA BE

Tues 14 July Minibeast Day Discover woodland insects and critters on a minibeast hunt, take part in minibeast crafts and bop along to the beats of the minibeast party with Jump Jiggle and Jive. 11am-5pm.

WA

Thursdays 30 July, 27 August and 24 September Birdwatch Morning Venture into the woods with guide Dot Blakely, and learn about woodland birds. In September it’s back to the lough to look for brent and waders.

10.30am-12.30pm. WA

detectors. 8.30pm.

Adults £12.50, children £7.50. BE IA

Fri 31 July Bat Night Experience an evening of wonder as we track down these masters of the night sky using bat

Sundays 6, 13 and 20 September Guide in the Hide Join Dot Blakely to find out about the birds at Castle Espie. 2-4pm. WA

Sun 2 August Solar Day Visit the star dome and learn about the sun with the Irish Astronomical Association. Star shows throughout the afternoon. 2-5pm. WA

Sat 12 and Sun 13 September Quackanory Join our storyteller for children’s classic stories inspired by nature.

12 noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. WA

Sat 19 and Sun 20 September Pond Dipping Join us in the Pond Zone for pond dipping and find out what lies beneath. 11am-1pm; 2-4pm. WA

Sat 12 September Industrial Heritage Talk Archaeologist Stephen Gilmore talks about the industrial heritage of Castle Espie, as part of the European Heritage Open Day. 12 noon and 2pm. Free. BE

Sat 26 and Sun 27 September Neolithic Know-how Step back 5,000 years to discover how the first farmers lived and help us build a huge Neolithic monolith stone monument.

11am-4pm. WA

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D O W N YO U R WAY Llanelli

Llwynhendy, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 9SH 01554 741087 info.llanelli@wwt.org.uk

WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre

Small red-eyed damselfly and (left) black-headed gull and chick

Male stonechat

Nature PL, Shutterstock

Highlights Last year, WWT Llanelli made the record books in Wales with some great breeding success stories. The centre’s Mediterranean gulls became the first in South Wales to successfully breed, following almost eight years of trying – it looks set to be the ‘will they, won’t they?’ story of the summer! The centre also became home to Wales’s first small red-eyed damselfly, and visitors will spot many more darting around the water.

The summer offers up everything from minibeast hunts and pond dipping to crafts and flamingo bingo – all part of our exciting Nature Explorers programme. But the evening reveals a whole new side to life at Llanelli. The extremely popular Bat Walk runs on 25 September, while High Tide Watch and Buffet on 27 September offers a chance to see hundreds of birds gather on the saltmarsh at high tide. Both events sell out fast, so book early to avoid disappointment.

High Tide Watch is always a hit with birdwatchers, who love Llanelli for its large flocks of black-headed gulls, black-tailed godwits and waders including greenshank, spotted redshank and curlew sandpiper. Last year there were even sightings of rarer birds, including two great white egrets and little stints.

For families, perhaps the biggest highlight of summer at Llanelli is the chance to get out and about on the canoe safaris and bike trails, which run from 21 July to 31 August.

From the canoes, you might spot kingfishers, water vole, dragonflies and damselflies, warblers, ducks and little grebes, while the bike trail offers 2.5 miles of trail to explore around the Millennium Wetlands.

Behind the scenes

‘For me, the High Tide Watch is the reserve at its very best. Watch the tide come in then witness the spectacle of hundreds of birds coming together. With a buffet, too, it’s a lovely sociable evening.’ Nigel Williams, Centre Manager

Llanelli Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/llanelli) Every Monday During Term Time (July, recommences 7 September) Monday Munchkins Come along with your toddlers to take part in activities, with a different theme every week. Activities include a minibeast hunt, crafts and feeding the birds. 11am-12 noon.

UAA WA

July Weekends – up to school holidays Minibeast hunt – 11am-12 noon; flamingo talk – 1pm; flamingo watch with

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telescope – 1-2pm; pond dipping – 2.30pm; craft workshops – times vary (small charge to cover materials).

UAA WA

July Weekdays – up to school holidays Flamingo talk – 2pm; flamingo watch with telescope – 2-3pm.

UAA WA

Saturdays 11 July and 12 September Janet Bligh Painting Days For all adult artists.

A little basic knowledge is preferable. Bring

your own materials.

10am-4.30pm. £30PP. IA BE

Sat 18 July to Mon 31 August Be a Nature Explorer Minibeast hunt – 11am-12 noon; canoe safari and bike trails – 12 noon-4.30pm (last canoe/bike out at 4pm); flamingo talk – 1pm; flamingo watch with telescope – 1-2pm; pond dipping – 2.30pm; craft workshops – times vary (small charge to cover materials).

UAA WA

Sat 8 and Sun 9 August Flamingo Fun Days Flamingo-themed activities including flam-bingo, facepainting, flamingo watch with telescope, trails and crafts (small charge to cover materials). 11am-5pm.

UAA WA

Weekdays in September Guide in the Hide Autumn is a great time for birdwatching, with lots of migratory birds to see. Our guide will point out species, and

provide binoculars and a telescope. For adults and children, and beneficial to those wishing to improve their bird identification skills.

2-3pm. UAA WA September Weekends Minibeast hunt – 11am-12 noon; guide in the hide – 1pm; pond dipping – 2.30pm; craft workshops – times vary (small charge to cover materials). UAA WA Fri 25 September Bat Walk Join us for a bat walk to look and listen for

bats. Craft activities for children from 6.30pm; bat walk at 7pm; hot drinks and biscuits at 8pm. £4PP. BE RI

Sun 27 September High Tide Watch and Buffet Discover the sights and sounds as the advancing tide pushes the birds closer to the hides. Our guide will help you identify them.

Starts 5pm, buffet 6.45pm. £15PP, £10PC. BE RI

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London

Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, London SW13 9WT 020 8409 4400 info.london@wwt.org.uk

WWT London Wetland Centre Highlights Building dens, hunting for bats, stargazing, storytelling and marshmallow toasting… you’re in for quite a treat if you venture down to WWT London Wetland Centre on a summer’s evening. The family Night Safaris take place on 14, 21 and 28 August and offer a rare opportunity to discover the delights of the wetland world after dusk.

The ever-popular Bat Walks will also run on Thursday evenings throughout August and September. With the help of a detector, you can hear the chattering of up to seven species of bats across the reserve and discover more about these fascinating creatures in our expert talks.

If you’re seeking activities for a fun-packed day, our Nature Explorers events are running from 25 July to 30 August.

Youngsters will enjoy completing nature-related challenges and, for each one, will receive a sticker for their passport.

There’s a distinctly arty theme to the summer, too, with photography and drawing workshops for all abilities. The Summer Wildlife Photography Course on 11 July gives beginners and intermediate photographers the opportunity to capture great shots of summer wildlife such as butterflies, terns and frogs. There’s also an Introduction to Wildlife Photography on 12 September.

So plenty to do and – as always – plenty to see. There’s a new tern raft on the wader scrape so you should keep your eyes peeled for the flash of a long silver tail gracefully hovering above the water. You may also see little ringed plovers, swifts and sand martins.

Or watch out for some unusual birds for London dropping in; so far this year we’ve seen stone curlew, wood sandpiper and a ring-necked duck.

Ducklings splashing in the sun by day, and marshmallows toasting on a campfire by night – what’s not to love?

Common noctule bat

Behind the scenes

‘Our Explore playground has had a wash and brush up, plus a couple of new games added, so we hope kids will love it even more this summer.’

Catherine Starling, Marketing Manager

London Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/london) Sat 11 July Summer Wildlife Photography Course Photograph the summer wildlife with guidance from photographer Iain Green. Begins with an introductory session inside before heading out. For beginners and intermediates. 10am4pm. £60PP. BE UAA Sun 12 July Drawing Workshop Learn basic sketching techniques – materials will be provided. Artist Judith Gordon will begin with an introduction to drawing materials and

techniques. Adults aged 16 and over. 10am-4pm. £40PP. BE UAA

with using microscopes to look at the creatures.

1pm. £2. BE UAA

Sat 25 July to Sun 30 August Be a Nature Explorer Children can collect a passport with activities on it and get a sticker for every challenge they complete, making them an official Nature Explorer! WA UAA

Fridays 14, 21 and 28 August Night Safaris Build a den, listen to wildlife, look for bats and enjoy stories around a campfire, toasting marshmallows. Suitable for children aged seven-plus. £20PC, including one accompanying adult: each family must be accompanied by one adult. Price includes admission to the centre after 6pm. BE

Sat 1 August Members’ Talk: Pond Dipping for Adults Grab a net to find out what lives in the water.

Combines pond dipping

Thurs 27 August Evening Wildlife Photography An opportunity to enjoy the centre when most visitors have left. Starts with an introductory session before heading out with photographer Iain Green. 4-8.30pm. £45PP. BE UAA Thursdays 6, 13, 20 and 27 August, and 3, 10, 17 and 24 September Bat Walks Learn more about bats with a talk by an expert before heading out with bat detectors. Adults and children over eight years.

Times vary with sunset, check website. £10. BE Weekends from Sat 5 September to Sun 18 October Incredible Journeys Incredible journeys are made during migration.

Autumn is one of the best times to visit the centre because the UK’s most colourful ducks return. Look out for teal and shovelers. WA UAA Sat 5 September Members’ Walk: Damsels & Dragons Dragonflies have been about since the time of

Londo the dinosaurs. Learn more about them – and their cousins, damselflies – on this 30-minute walk. 1pm. £2. BE UAA Sat 12 September Introduction to Wildlife Photography Photographer Iain Green will explain your camera’s settings – and then show you how to turn off the ‘automatic’ mode, but still get fantastic photos. Begins with understanding your camera and composition, followed by a practical session outside. 10am4pm. £60PP. BE UAA

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D O W N YO U R WAY

C E LE

B R ATI NG

40 YEAR S

Martin Mere

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre Highlights WWT Martin Mere is a firm family favourite, and this summer there’s a massive range of activities to keep little ones and parents occupied. The ever-popular Nature Explorers programme runs throughout July and August, with highlights including mini-rafts, wild walk adventures, minibeast hunts and pond dipping – see more on page 20.

Summer also brings some favourites for bird spotters. The centre’s seven barn owls have been busy feathering their nests, so the team hopes to see a number of new chicks this season. The ever-popular Bat and Barn Owl Barbecue nights run every Friday in August, kicking off with a barbecue at 7.30pm before the group takes a guided tour of the marsh in search of barn owls and bats.

The owls aren’t the only birds to be feathering their nests, and come the summer, you should spot lapwing and avocet chicks, as well as a number of baby flamingos.

All the entries for the Martin Mere 40th anniversary photography competition will be on display over July and August, showcasing the amazing wildlife here.

Martin Mere is quite the menagerie this summer, with a diverse range of animals to meet. The Animal Magic events enable visitors to get close to skunks, meerkats, reptiles, birds of prey, donkeys, retired police dogs and all kinds of other weird and wonderful creatures.

Canoe Safari and (left) a meerkat

WWT / Liz Gough, Nature PL, Shutterstock

Burscough, Ormskirk, Lancashire L40 0TA 01704 895181 info.martinmere@wwt.org.uk

Behind the scenes

‘It’s all go this summer, and we’re particularly excited that construction work will begin on a fantastic new Swan Link discovery hide, due to open in the autumn for our Swan Spectacular season.’

Victoria Fellowes, Marketing Manager

Martin Mere Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/martinmere) Daily Activities Otter Talk Come and meet our friendly family of otters at 11.30am and 2.30pm every day. WA Flamingo Talk Come and learn all about our greater flamingos. Why are they pink? Why do they stand on one leg? All will be revealed at 12.45pm every day. WA Canoe Safari Our self-guided canoe

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safari is a fun way to explore the reedbed habitat and its rich biodiversity. Enjoy spotting some of the UK’s most threatened species, ranging from water voles to reed buntings. 12 noon4pm weekdays and 10.30am-4pm weekends/holidays. £6 per canoe (seats up to three). UAA Guided Boat Tours Take a peaceful tour of our wetlands and learn

all about Martin Mere.

Enjoy watching wildlife, spotting dragonflies, listening for warblers and admiring the wildflowers. Please check at the information desk for times. £3PP. UAA Fri 10 July Birdwatching Morning Join Andy Bunting from In Focus to develop your bird identification skills in the field and receive expert advice on using guides and

choosing binoculars and telescopes. 7am12 noon. £22 PP. BE Weekends until Sun 19 July Duckling Nursery Wander through the duckling nursery seeing the cute sights of our baby birds as they grow.

Chat to our volunteers and find out all about the egg to duckling process and how our work contributes to WWTs conservation work across the world.

Sat 11 July Wildlife Photography Workshop A fascinating workshop with Andy Bunting from In Focus introducing you to the finer points of wildlife photography, going beyond automatic settings to create truly spectacular images. 10am-4pm. £65PP. BE Sun 12 July Drawing and Painting Birds

Join award-winning local artist and illustrator Tony Disley to explore the process from drawing through to a finished painting of a bird subject.

10am-4pm. £50PP. BE

Sun 19 July Meet Reptiles Come along and meet reptiles from the North West Reptile Society in our lecture theatre. 12 noon-3pm.

WA

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RS

Barn owl

Wed 22 July to Thurs 3 September Summer Nature Explorers Collect stickers as you undertake a variety of ranger training activities to become a nature explorer. Activities include pond dipping, bug hunts, mini-rafts, boat tours, handfeeding birds and geo-caching. All day. WA Fridays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August

Bat and Barn Owl Barbecue Enjoy a barbecue before venturing out to spot barn owls on the reserve and taking a bat detector to search for bats when it becomes dark. Starts at 7.30pm. £17. BE

Tues 1 to Sun 27 September Exhibition: One Step On An exhibition by the West Lancashire Textile Group. The exhibition will be located in the exhibition hall at the centre. All day. WA

Sun 16 August Meet Reptiles Come along and meet reptiles from the North West Reptile Society in our lecture theatre.

12 noon to 3pm. WA

Fri 4 September Birdwatching Morning Join Andy Bunting from In Focus to develop your bird identification skills in the field and receive

expert advice on using guides and choosing binoculars and telescopes. 7am12 noon. £22 PP. BE Sat 5 September Wildlife Photography Workshop A fascinating workshop with Andy Bunting from In Focus introducing you to the finer points of wildlife photography, going beyond automatic settings to create truly spectacular images.

10am-4pm. £65 PP. BE

Sun 6 September Drawing and Painting Birds Join award-winning local artist and illustrator Tony Disley to explore the process from drawing through to a finished painting of a bird subject.

10am-4pm. £50PP. BE

Sat 12 and Sun 13 September Animal Magic Get close to a host of weird and wonderful

creatures including reptiles, birds of prey, skunks, meerkats, donkeys, retired police dogs and much more.

All day. WA Sun 20 September Meet Reptiles Come along and meet reptiles from the North West Reptile Society in our lecture theatre. 12 noon-3pm.

WA

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The LEGO® brick otter

Slimbridge Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/slimbridge) Daily Activities (except Christmas Day) Otter Talk – Back from the Brink Meet our friendly family of Otters – Flo, Minnie and Ha Ha – and hear a talk as they tuck into a tasty fish supper. Talks are at 11.30am and 3pm every day. WA Toad Hall Talk Come to Toad Hall and hear Jay Redbond, our amphibians expert, give an insight into the world of amphibians and their habitats. If you are brave enough you will have the opportunity to hold some of his collection of frogs, toads and newts, and ask all those questions you have always wondered about.

2.15pm daily, plus

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12.30pm at weekends and school holidays.

WA

Guided Walk Join one of our volunteers as they take you on a walk through the grounds, telling you about the history of the centre, the birds that you can see and the other things you might like to see or do. 11am – although times do sometimes vary, so check on the noticeboard on the day. WA Saturdays and Sundays and school holidays only until Sun 27 September Land Rover Safari Enjoy the opportunity to go out into the reserve in the company of an expert warden

and enjoy views of the wild birds that live on the banks of the Severn – all from the comfort of a seat in the covered trailer.

Book tours on arrival at the Admissions area. Please wear sturdy footwear and warm protective clothing especially during cold and/or wet days. 2pm. Adults £5PP, children £3PC. WP

Thurs 9 July Advanced Birder Learn to assess fine details such as plumage, weather conditions and habitats to take your skills to a new level.8am-12 noon. £27.95PP, includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll. BE RI

Fri 10 July Beautiful British Bees – Cath Hodsman This absorbing and enjoyable day will give participants the chance to study different types of British bees in a way that they have never been able to before.

Each student will have the use of high-powered microscopes to study the anatomical beauty of bees. Participants will then use either a microscope or macro photographic material to produce a detailed and unique piece of art.

9.30am-4.30pm. £60PP, includes tea/ coffee and biscuits.

BE RI

Sat 18 July to Mon 31 August Nature Explorers

What will you discover in the wetlands? This summer, set sail on a voyage of discovery through our wetlands.

Pick up your passport on arrival and start collecting stickers as you take part in fun activities. Complete them all to receive the special gold sticker.

9.30am-5.30pm.

WA

Fri 24 July Evening Safari Enjoy an exclusive tour of the Slimbridge reserve on a summer’s evening, from the comfort of your seat in the Slimbridge reserve safari trailer.

Watch the gulls roosting along the sea wall and see waders on the banks of the Severn Estuary. Our experienced guide will pick out wildlife

highlights along the way. 7pm. £12PP. BE Thurs 30 July Evening on the Estuary Reserve wardens are real enthusiasts for gulls, believing that they are nature’s survivors. They will lead a small group to the sea wall at the centre, where one of the biggest gull roosts in the South West is situated, and help you to identify up to seven species of gull with differing plumage. 7pm, lasts approx three hours. £15PP. BE Sat 1 August Birdwatch Morning Join the warden as he walks out on to the reserve to watch the high tide bring hundreds of birds

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D O W N YO U R WAY Slimbridge

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre Highlights When you head down to WWT Slimbridge this summer, don’t be surprised if you’re greeted by a giant LEGO® brick otter!

This friendly chap is one of 10 LEGO brick animals featuring in a fun new sculpture trail. Each depicts a different species and provides fun facts for junior explorers. See if you can spot his friends and discover more about the world they inhabit.

There are also lots of events in our Nature Explorers programme. Collect stickers for each nature-themed challenge you complete. And if that puts you in the mood for an adventure, you could try one of our popular safaris. Daily Land Rover safaris take visitors on a tour along the Severn Estuary, taking in the spectacular views, to spot wild birds that live on the banks of the river. Or there’s the fun canoe safari that paddles past water voles, dragonflies, ducks and kingfishers.

Flamingo Lagoon is also not to be missed this summer.

A number of eggs have been incubated from the flamingos’ nesting island, so visitors will hopefully get a great view of some baby flamingos from the sunken observatory.

Summer at Slimbridge is nothing short of idyllic. A carpet of wildflowers covers the ground, punctuated by exotic orchids.

Up to 15-plus species of dragonfly can be seen flitting through the air, and roe deer graze in the sun. Bird lovers will also spot the first autumn passage waders, and Slimbridge is home to one of the most important staging sites for green sandpiper in the UK.

closer to the shore.

Also look out for many of the waders who are in the process of migrating, using Slimbridge as a resting place along the way.

8am. £15.95PP, includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll.

BE RI

Fri 14 August Evening Safari Enjoy an exclusive tour of the Slimbridge reserve on a summer’s evening, from the comfort of your seat in the Slimbridge reserve safari trailer.

Watch the gulls roosting along the sea wall and see waders on the banks of the Severn Estuary. Our experienced guide will pick out wildlife highlights along the way. 7pm. £12PP. BE

Sun 30 August Severn Bore Safari Head out along the estuary to watch the bore go by and the tide come in. Wildlife/ birdwatch and a full English breakfast afterwards. Our experienced guide will pick out wildlife highlights along the way. 8am. £19.95PP. BE RI

Tuesdays 8 and 22 September Slimbridge Cygnet Session Join our fun toddler group and meet lots of other mums.

With new activities, extra dates and Cygnet membership benefits, there will be something for every toddler.

8 September theme is: Pond Dipping; 22 September theme

is: Leaf Collage. The event will now run on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month during term time. 10.30am arrival for 11am activity. £1.50PC, plus the adult admission fee if a non-member; free to adult members.

BE

Fri 11 September Advanced Birder Learn to assess fine details such as plumage, weather conditions and habitats to take your skills to a new level. 8am-12 noon. £27.95PP, includes tea/ coffee and a bacon roll.

BE RI

Fri 11 September Wildlife Photography for Beginners with Iain Green Starting with

Canoe safari

Behind the scenes

‘Families will love following our new LEGO brick animal sculpture trail and we can’t wait to unveil it in the summer holidays.’

Sally Munro, Marketing Manager

an illustrated introductory session, you will then head outside for a practical session of nature photography. Through the day, Iain will guide you through key camera techniques and photographic skills. This course is suitable for users of all types of cameras and the content will be tailored as appropriate.

10am-4pm. £60PP, includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

BE RI

Sundays 13 and 27 September Birdwatch Morning Join the warden as he walks out onto the reserve to watch the high tide bring hundreds of birds closer to the shore.

Also look out for many of the waders

who are in the process of making their migrational journey using Slimbridge as a resting place along the way. 8am. £15.95PP, includes tea/ coffee and a bacon roll.

approach wildlife without disturbance.

7.30am-1pm. £60PP, includes tea/coffee and a bacon roll.

BE RI

BE RI

Tues 15 September Nature Photography on Tour Our reserve warden and wildlife photographer James Lees will take groups of keen photographers out onto our 800 acres of wild nature reserve in a Land Rover.

His inside knowledge of all the best wildlife spots provides numerous opportunities for taking unique photographs and you’ll learn about the best ways to

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WWT / Ben Langdon

Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT 01453 891900 events.slimbridge@wwt.org.uk Prebook all paid events on 01453 891223

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D O W N YO U R WAY

C E LE

B R ATI NG

40 YEAR S

Washington

WWT Washington Wetland Centre Emperor dragonfly

Shutterstock

Highlights WWT Washington bursts into life in the summer, with dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies filling the air around the wildlife ponds and insect garden. Visitors can see a huge variety of species up close, and if you’re really lucky a dragonfly might decide to take a little rest on your hand.

Beyond insects, the big story for Washington is the Chilean flamingos, which laid their first eggs in eight years in 2014.

Previously, the centre took flamingo eggs from Chester Zoo, and they were hand reared by the Washington team – no small task, since a baby flamingo needs feeding every three hours!

Thankfully, the tough task of parenting has now passed to the flamingos themselves and there are now more than 60 flamingos at the centre.

On the wild side of the reserve, summer visitors can spot godwits and greenshanks, and waders such as curlew, redshank and the oystercatcher. Whole families of tits, finches and woodpeckers show up at the Hawthorn Wood feeding station, creating an exciting sight as the sparrowhawk eyes his prey.

There’s also plenty of family fun on offer at Washington and our Nature Explorers programme is particularly popular. From 18 July until 31 August, youngsters can take part in naturethemed challenges and gain a sticker for their passport for each one they complete.

As autumn begins to close in, you may spot a lively little siskin, hear the excited chatter of the long-tailed tit or see a redpoll hanging upside down from a nearby tree.

There will be a few improvements on site, too, including a new goose feeding area, called Ganderland, with improved access and visibility, and a composting toilet at Northumbrian Water Hide. Come along to see the new attractions for yourself.

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

Behind the scenes

‘There’s so much going on that I can’t believe how excited I am about our new composting toilet! It will improve facilities and provide fertiliser for our reserve.’Gill Pipes, Centre Manager

Washington Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/washington) Daily Activities Otter Feeds Meet our playful otters at commentated feeds.

11.30am and 3pm. WA

our expert warden as he opens his moth trap to the public. Meet at the barn near the play area at 10.30am. WA WP

Flamingo Feeds Learn more about our fabulous Chilean flamingo flock and hear all about how they raised five chicks in 2014 for the first time in seven seasons!

11.45am and 3.15pm.

Sat 11 July Bugs ‘n’ Stuff Be amazed by the creatures of the bug world with expert Guy Tansley. Try and spot a stick insect camouflaged among leaves or a praying mantis on twigs. See giant tarantulas, snakes, frogs, beetles and more! For more information about Guy’s work, visit bugsnstuff.com.

Sessions in the barn at 11-11.45am, 12 noon-

WA

Throughout July Please check social media accounts and the website for details.

Moth Mornings See an array of moth species up close with

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12.45pm, 1-1.45pm and 2-2.45pm. WA Saturdays 11 July and 12 September Junior Members Club Join junior members for monthly sessions to discover the natural world in a fun and creative way. For young WWT members aged eight to 12. 10am-12 noon. Call Joanne Newbury on 0191 419 5933 or email joanne. newbury@wwt.org.uk for details.

Sat 18 July to Mon 31 August Nature Explorers Calling all nature explorers – your

passport is issued, your expedition is set, your summer adventure is waiting! Get back to nature with fun family exploration and activities throughout the school holidays (please check ahead for details of each day’s events), plus craft activities. Throughout the day for Nature Explorers; 1-3.30pm for crafts. WA for Nature Explorers (small costs apply for crafts).

Saturdays 18 July, 15 August and 19 September Walk with a Warden Join our wildlife reserve manager as he

leads a guided tour around our site, taking in the sights, sounds and seasonal wildlife.

Meet in the picture window at reception at 2pm. WA Saturday 25 July Family Fun Day Fun for all the family (TBC). Throughout the day. WA Sundays 26 July, 23 August and 27 September Walk with a Warden Take a walk with our wildlife reserve warden as he shows visitors the latest seasonal highlights from around the site. Meet in the

picture window at reception at 2pm. WA Sundays 26 July, 23 August and 27 September In Focus Don’t miss your chance to check out the latest in optical equipment and chat to the friendly In Focus experts.

Test, select and buy state-of-the-art binoculars and telescopes under field conditions. Part exchanges are always considered and used stock is available.

Plus, a percentage of every sale is donated to WWT, helping us

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Chilean flamingo and long-tailed tit (below)

to continue our valuable conservation work. Throughout the day in the picture window.

Monday 27 July Free Cricket Match for WWT Members WWT Washington Wetland Centre and

Durham County Cricket Club have joined forces to give WWT members a sporting treat this summer. Durham CCC, based at Emirates Durham ICG, in Chester-le-Street, is offering WWT members the chance to watch the Royal London One-Day Cup fixture against Worcestershire.

The match starts at 10.30am and you must produce a valid WWT membership card on arrival. Please visit the Durham CCC website for further details on durhamccc. co.uk. WA

Saturdays 1 and 8 August Den-building and Campfire Cooking Try your hand at cooking in the great outdoors with help from our education staff. Build a den out in the woods and decorate a bark canvas, before making popcorn, roasted bananas and a savoury surprise over the fire!

11am-12 noon and 1-2pm. £3 per family.

UAA

Saturdays 1 August and 5 September Walking With Wildfowl Learn fascinating facts about our rare and

endangered waterbird collection on a guided walk with our aviculture expert and hear about how WWT’s conservation breeding programmes are playing a vital role in their survival. Meet in the picture window at reception at 2pm.

WA

Saturdays 1 August and 5 September Guide in a Hide Discover more about our diverse wild bird species with the help of our volunteer guide.

The guide will be on site from 10am-12 noon and 2-4pm. Please check on arrival for

details of which hide they’re in. WA Sat 15 August Birds of Prey Day Get up close to various species of magnificent eagle and vulture at WWT Washington with the experts from Birds of Prey Displays. For more info about Birds of Prey Displays, based in Thirsk, please visit birdsofpreydisplays. co.uk. 10am-4pm.

WA

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THE BIRDERS STORE

The Midland’s premier optics specialist stocking an extensive range of leading brands for all budgets including Barr & Stroud, Celestron, Country Innovation, Cullmann, Eagle, Hawke, Kite, Kowa, Leica, Minox, Optech, Opticron, Skua, Steiner, Swarovski, Tilley Hats, Vanguard, Velbon, Viking, Vortex & Zeiss plus an extensive range of birding books & DVDs.

Unit 7 King Charles Place, St John’s, Worcester, WR2 5AJ

Tel: 01905 312877 | Open: 9.30am to 4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday Website: www.birders-store.co.uk Email: sales@birders-store.co.uk

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Small group and custom-made birding adventures worlwide

info@birdingecotours.co.za . www.birdingecotours.co.za

03/06/2015 11:01

05/06/2015 11:28

D O W N YO U R WAY Welney

Hundred Foot Bank, Welney, Nr Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE14 9TN 01353 860711 info.welney@wwt.org.uk

WWT Welney Wetland Centre Highlights Dragonflies and damselflies rule the roost at WWT Welney in the summer. The centre is home to 21 different species. First to arrive are usually the azure damselflies and hairy dragonflies, but you may also see darters sunbathing on the footpath and hawkers draped over nettles like jewels. The beautiful wildflower meadows also attract several species of butterfly, and you can spot them all at the Big Butterfly Count in July.

They may not be as glamorous as butterflies and dragonflies, but don’t forget about the humble moths. They play a vital part in the wetlands ecosystem and you can discover all about how they fit in with other nocturnal wildlife at the Bats and Barn Owls events (see below). These popular bat-spotting trips just got even better, with new bat detectors donated by the Friends of Welney supporters’ group. The detectors will help visitors pick out different species of bat. Previously it was hard to make out the difference between the common and soprano pipistrelle, but these pick up the higher-pitched soprano for all to enjoy.

Pond-dipping excursions are another summer highlight, as well as the Wetland Safari, which offers guided activities to get you closer to nature. Children can also pick up a passport and take part in various challenges in our Nature Explorers programme to gain stickers to put inside it.

On the bird front, spring was breeding season for lapwings, redshanks and snipe, and Welney had 21 pairs of avocets nesting, so summer will bring plenty of chances to glimpse their young. By September, the waders will stop by on their journey south. If you’re really lucky you might glimpse curlew sandpipers, little stints or a pectoral sandpiper.

Curlew sandpiper

Behind the scenes

‘Many of our events this season are part of Ouse Fest, which celebrates the fascinating habitat of the Ouse Washes. Come along and learn what makes it so special.’

Emma Brand, Marketing Manager

Welney Events (See page 49 for key. Events are subject to change, so for up-to-date information, please visit wwt.org.uk/welney) Hare walks may be making a reappearance this July due to popular demand, so check the website for more details.

Sat 18 July, and Wed 12 and Fri 14 August Bats and Barn Owls Join our guide to watch barn owls coming out to hunt, listen to bats with the detectors and see which insects visit the traps. 8.30-11pm. Adults £10, children £5.

Wed 22 July to Wed 2 September Nature Explorers Family Fun Become a nature explorer this summer, collect your passport and fill it with stickers as you complete challenges. WA

Mon 31 August Wetland Safari Get closer to the wildlife on the reserve with activities and tours; meet the cattle, learn about underwater creatures with pond dipping, improve your bird identification skills and more. WA Tues 8 September Friends of Welney Talk Night Take a tour of northwest Argentina with Joan and Richard Munns. All welcome. £3 (£2 Friends of Welney members).

Sun 20 September Ouse Washes Experience Take a run or cycle for charity along the

beautiful Ouse Washes.

Organised by the Ely Hereward Rotary Club.

The visitor centre is the base for this event, with registration and finishing within the building. Registration from 9.30am. No entry fee, but a donation made to the club’s chosen charities.

As part of OUSE FEST Mon 20, Thurs 23 and Mon 27 July Walk on the Washes Take a guided tour of the Ouse Washes to find out about the wildlife this wetland is important for. 11am-12 noon and 1-2pm. WA Thurs 23 July and Sun 2 August How to Film Wildlife

Get hands on with the equipment the Great Ouse Wetland team uses to get amazing footage of the reserve wildlife.

Drop-in workshops throughout the day.

WA

Sat 25 July History Walk Take a guided tour of the Ouse Washes to find out how they were created and what was here before them. 1-2pm and 3-4pm. WA Sat 25 July Wire Sculpture Workshop Learn from expert Yvette Parfett how to create wire sculptures.

This is a taster session of working with different types of wire

and a few of the techniques used.

10am-4pm. £50PP, includes morning refreshments. BE Sat 25 July A year in the Life of the Great Ouse Wetland Find out about the work of the Great Ouse Wetland filming volunteers and watch some of the stunning footage they have managed to capture.

6-8pm. £5PP. BE Sun 26 July Wetland Safari Explore the reserve with guided activities to learn about our wildlife and how we manage the reserve. 10am-5pm.

WA

Fri 31 July The Life and Migration of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans Welney warden Louise Clewley will give a talk on the life and migration of the Bewick’s swans that spend the summer in Arctic Russia, and the whooper swans that spend their summer in Iceland.

1-2pm. WA Sat 1 August Big Twitch Take advantage of the reserve being open early and closing later to tick off as many species of bird, insect, plant and mammal in one day! 6am-7pm.

WA.

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Classified directory

To advertise please contact Daniel Haynes on 020 3771 7214 or daniel.haynes@thinkpublishing.co.uk

ACCOMMODATION

ABBOTSLEY CAMBRIDGESHIRE

AA 3star Hotel The 250 acre site is a bird spotters’ haven Dogs welcome 2 golf courses ....but.... we love non-golfers ! www.abbotsley.com 01480 474000

SLIMBRIDGE TUDOR ARMS

MARTIN MERE, LANCASHIRE CROOK HALL FARM COTTAGES Quiet, peaceful area, perfect for walking and bird watching. Ideally placed for visiting Martin Mere and Mere Sands Wood nature reserves and Formby Point on the coast. 4* Barn Owl Cottage sleeps 4, Maltkiln Cottage sleeps 2. www.crookhallfarmcottages.co.uk

01704 822389

Real Ale, Real Food Pub with 18 well appointed ensuite bedrooms ETB4* 10 Minute Stroll from WWT Slimbridge and situated adjacent to Gloucester-Sharpness Canal CAMRA awards 2007-2013 T: 01453 890306 E: enquiries@thetudorarms.co.uk W: www.thetudorarms.co.uk

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Caerlaverock, Blossom Cottage

Set in 0.25 acres of secluded private gardens with views out over the solway firth, 4 star accommodation for 7 + 1. Situated 1 mile from Caerlaverock Castle. Wildfowl and Wetlands trust (WWT), National Nature Reserves and Caerlaverock Estate all within 1/4 mile.

The Barnacle Geese can be seen from the comfort of the sun room in the field at front along with an abundance of wildlife including bats, badgers and deer.

www.hollinscottage.co.uk (sleeps 4) also www.blossomcottage.co.uk (sleeps 8) E-mail: jamiecowan2000@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 07711583320 Web Site: www.blossomholidaycottage.co.uk

CAERLAVEROCK

In a lovely valley in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Victorian-built Rosemoor offers characterful accommodation in spacious grounds. Unpolluted beaches, Skomer and tidal wetlands nearby (2 miles). Our own 30-acre Nature Reserve is home to badgers, otters and a great variety of birds and plants.

John M. and Jacqui Janssen Rosemoor Country Cottages & Nature Reserve Walwyn’s Castle Haverfordwest SA62 3ED

Self-catering ground floor flat in Glencaple close to WWT. Sleeps 2 - double bedroom and multi-fuel stove. Recently renovated to high standard. In winter Barnacles are ever-present. A nature-lover’s paradise.

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01556 504030 discoverscotland.net

Tel: 01437-781326 Fax: 01437-781080 E-mail: rosemoor@walwynscastle.com www.rosemoor.com

PRIDING ON RIVER SEVERN

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09/06/2015 09:56

ROSEMOOR COUNTRY COTTAGES

18th-century former village Inn five minutes from Slimbridge. ETC 3 star.

Laura Ashley beamed spacious ensuite bedrooms. Stay Sun - Fri any three nights for £30 per person per night.

Stay 4 nights get 5th for £20.

1 nt £74 dble £50 single Many attractions including NT in easy travelling distance.

Vicky Jennings T: 01453 549996 E: foresters@freeuk.com W: www.forestersbandb.co.uk

06/09/2013 10:30

The Old Cider House 3* Cottage sleeps 2 one double bedroom Paradise for walkers and birdwatchers, tranquil location on the Severn Way, watch the Severn Bore, picnic or BBQ beside the river. In the evening listen to the Owls and see the stars, walk along the river-bank to the Pub. www.pridingfarm.com 01452 741613 EQUIPMENT

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POWYS, WALES MACHYNLLETH

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Self-catering slate cottage, 1 bedroom, woodburning stove, fully modernised. Ceinws/ Esgairgeiliog village, near Centre for Alternative Technology, south of Cader Idris. £175-£260 per week.

• A cosy, 4 star self catering, first floor apartment suitable for 2 adults • Views over private lake, WWT lagoons and extending, to Strangford Lough, from every room • Two minutes walk from Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in stunning Co Down

Tel 020 8572 5571 Mob 0774 051 9080 www.dulascottages.co.uk

Full details on our website: www.theloftcastleespie.com Mob: +44 (0) 79 7197 3939 Email: jennymorrowhome@yahoo.co.uk

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16/06/2015 08:29

CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY

DAYS OUT

EQUIPMENT

THE BIRDERS STORE We stock one of the largest ranges of optics, books, DVDs and accessories including Barr & Stroud, Celestron, Country Innovation, Cullmann, Eagle Optics, Hawke, Kite, Kowa, Minox, Optech, Opticron, Steiner, Swarovski, Tilley, Velbon, Vortex and Zess.

7 King Charles Place, St John’s, Worcester WR2 5AJ Tel: 01905 312877 Email: sales@birders-store.co.uk Open: 9am to 4am Tuesday to Saturday WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS Birders Store_WWT_Jul Sept_15.indd 1

17/06/2015 08:51

BIRDING IN ANDALUCIA

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Our Andalucian farmhouse provides the ideal setting for the bird-watching holiday you deserve.

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CRUISE THE HEBRIDES

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Puffins, porpoises, deer & dolphins & seals, seabirds, whales & wild flowers,

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Quote NTW1 for your special offer when booking.

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22/08/2014 15:28

Wales, puffins, red kites and thousands of starlings, seals, otters, dolphins sights and sounds to remember forever From single days out to week-long holidays throughout the year, contact: 0845 052 3533 info@welshwildlifebreaks.co.uk www.welshwildlifebreaks.co.uk

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All inclusive tours exploring a wide range of stunning habitats from S. French Alps, Crau & Camargue wetlands for Eagles, Wallcreeper, Vultures, Beeeaters, Eagle Owls, Flamingos, Beaver, Orchids & Butterflies.

All ages & abilities welcome!

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Waterlife

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17/06/2015 08:52

B AC K C H AT

TAKE THE PLUNGE

There are amazing creatures under the water, says Nick Baker, just waiting for you to discover them. Welcome to the wonderful world of pond dipping

WWT/Heather Tait, Nature PL

I remember a day a few years back, when

I was introducing a group of children to pond dipping. They weren’t particularly enthusiastic at first, so I suggested to them that they bring me the dullest thing they could find. Off they went, and one of them came back with a water mite – a tiny little dot of a creature.

‘That’s pretty dull,’ he said. I put it under the microscope, zoomed up the magnification, and showed it to him.

‘Wow,’ he yelled, and literally jumped back a pace. Suddenly, that dot had been transformed into a monster, all legs and bulging body. Within moments, I was surrounded by a gaggle of children, all eager to get a closer look at what they’d found. They were hooked.

To be honest, I’ve always thought that ‘pond dipping’ is rather a tame way of describing this addictive pursuit. ‘Pond exploring’ sums up the experience so much better, because it’s the exploration that’s the real point. There are creatures under the water that are just waiting to be discovered, and the more you find, the more you want to find.

You’re delving down, deeper and deeper, and bringing up beasties that look almost alien, with their asymmetrical bodies, weird legs and strange eyes.

I started young, and I’ll never forget my first stickleback, for example. Here was this tiny little fish that actually built a nest! It could change its colour, it had blue eyes, a ferocious red belly, and it darted about like an underwater warrior.

Who needs sci-fi movies when you’ve got mini-powerhouses that are the real deal?

As a kid, I used to put buckets of water into the lawn just to see what might turn up. Old cattle troughs were pretty good sources of fascination, too. I also found that seasons were no barrier, either: yes,

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Nick Baker has always loved exploring under the water and wants to encourage children and adults to go pond dipping, too Inset below: a water mite

There are creatures under the water that are just waiting to be discovered, and the more you find, the more you want to find the water’s pretty cold in the winter, but the underwater life is still there.

Not that you have to be a youngster to make your first foray. I’ve often seen parents distractedly watching their children pond dipping, and encouraged them to have a look themselves. They come over with a patient smile, expectations low. Something catches their eye, and they lean forward a bit farther. Their kids show them something extraordinary and they chat about it.

Within minutes, they’re asking for a net of their own and rolling up their sleeves.

Pond dipping: it’s never too late to start. And if you want a bit of help, then at a WWT centre you’re surrounded by the right type of people. All the equipment is there and it’s one of the best places to kick off the adventure.

But don’t just take my word for it. Get out there, start pond dipping, and soon you’ll be pond exploring.

Nick Baker’s latest book, The Complete Naturalist, was published in May.

JULY/SEPTEMBER 2015

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YOUR MISSION. OUR VISION.

NATURE-TREK 8x42 £129.99

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SAPPHIRE 8x42 £379.99

ENDURANCE ED 20-60x85 £629.99

MULTI AWARD WINNING OPTICS

05/06/2015 11:31

Binoculars & Telescopes Discovery WP PC

Verano BGA HD

Using an ultra-compact optical design, the Discovery WP PC series are among the smallest waterproof roof prism binoculars available on the market today.

100% made in Japan and featuring an HD optical system for sensational images and superb colour contrast, the Verano BGA HD guarantees you the highest levels of comfort and performance whenever and wherever you use them.

With a host of features including WA eyepieces; 7.5˚ (8x32), 7.5˚ (8x42), 6.0˚ (10x42) plus excellent close focus ability, each model offers the value conscious user a stylish and user friendly field glass.

Models 8x32, 8x42, 10x42, 8x50, 10x50.

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Models 8x32, 8x42, 10x42. Prices from £399

MM3 GA ED Digiscoping Kits

A new level of performance for less than you might think, the MM3 GA ED are the latest evolution of the travelscope concept pioneered by us nearly 20 years ago.

Phonescoping Adapters

At 600g (50mm) / 730g (60mm) without eyepiece an MM3 GA ED weighs around the same as pair of 42mm binoculars and can be used without a support for crystal clear flat field observation at magnifications below 20x.

Unlike binoculars, an MM3 GA ED continues to deliver stunning clarity and definition up to 36x (50mm) and 45x (60mm).

Affordable and easy-to-use these digiscoping kits include an Olympus VG-180 camera plus all the mounts needed to fix it to compatible HR2, HDF T or SDL eyepieces. £189 Opticron smartphone photoadapters are a convenient and inexpensive way of attaching your smartphone to your Opticron spottingscope eyepiece and shooting high magnification photos and video.

Available for iPhone 4/4S, 5/5S & 6, Samsung Galaxy S3/S4/S5. Prices from £49.95

READ THE

REVIEWS opticron.co.uk /reviews

Available in straight or 45˚ angled bodies with a choice of interchangeable eyepieces including HDF and SDL. Bodies: MM3 50 GA ED £299, MM3 60 GA ED £399 Recommended eyepieces: HDF T 12-36x/15-45x £199, SDLv2 12-36x/15-45x £289

Opticron equipment can be tried, tested and purchased at WWT centres and good optical retailers nationwide. For product information, your nearest stockist and to order a Product Guide, phone us on 01582 726522 or visit us online at www.opticron.co.uk Opticron. Unit 21, Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds, LU4 8EF UK Fax: 01582 723559 Email: sales@opticron.co.uk

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05/06/2015 21/05/2015 11:31 11:38