Wetland winners
Here are some of the best wetlands to visit in the British Isles.
Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire
David Attenborough is an environmental icon, so it is no surprise that a reserve has been named after him.
The Attenborough Nature Reserve was established in 1966 and was even opened by the man himself. During the winter months, starlings take to the sky in great numbers, which is a beautiful sight to behold.
The 60-acre reserve also hosts a range of activities for children to teach them about the importance of nature. You might well spot great crested grebes, otters, bats, butterflies, shrews and harvest mice.
Castle Espie, County Down
This wetland on the shores of
Strangford Lough is a 60-acre haven, home to Ireland’s largest collection of native and exotic waterbirds.
“At this time of year, the real selling point for the site is that it attracts thousands of migratory birds and one of the special species is brent geese,” says Kelly Lewis, marketing officer at WWT.
Castle Espie also recently attracted TV cameras, as it was one of three live locations to host BBC Two’s Winterwatch 2022.
Llanelli Wetland Centre, Carmarthenshire
“Caribbean flamingos [are] a real draw to the site and are really popular with visitors,” says Lewis. Black-tailed godwits and lapwings can also be found at the 450-acre Llanelli Wetland Centre.
“During the summer holidays, we’ve got a canoe safari that opens so visitors can go out and have their own little explore,” Lewis adds.
The site also has a puddle-jumping championship, when competitors battle it out to make the biggest splash by jumping into a puddle.
Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, County Kerry
Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre is a Natura 2000 site, meaning it is part of a network of nature protection areas in the European Union.
Habitats at this 8,000-acre reserve include coastal reedbeds and marsh and river channels.
Wintering wetland birds found here include whooper swans and pale-bellied brent geese, which feed on the extensive eelgrass beds which cover the Eastern part of the bay.
Take a guided tour to fully absorb the picturesque views and landscape, while the wetlands are particularly stunning at sunset.
London Wetland Centre, Barnes, London
London may not initially spring to mind when one thinks of a wetland, but the 105-acre London Wetland Centre is home to an array of wildlife.
Fewins says this is the perfect time of year to visit as “you get to see wigeons, which are ducks which migrate over from the east and they are big, chubby charismatic birds with beautiful brown heads, with a big sort of yellow plume down it, and you only see them at a certain time of year”.
You can also see peregrines and ground-nesting lapwings, which are quite “spectacular”.
Cley and Salthouse Marshes, Norfolk
Cley Marshes is the oldest Wildlife Trust nature reserve in the UK.
The 371-hectare site was first purchased in 1926 to act as a bird breeding sanctuary for species such as avocets, bearded tits and marsh harriers, and it attracts up to 110,000 guests each year.
The reserve is made up of coastal shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoons, freshwater grazing marsh and reedbeds.
Across the year the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre hosts free exhibits with a nature theme from local artists.
And if you’re heading to the Sunshine State...
Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
An international superstar in the world of wetlands, Everglades National Park encompasses 1.5 million acres and is a UNESCO world heritage site, an international biosphere reserve and a wetland of international importance.
Its coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and flat pinewoods are home to hundreds of animal species including the elusive Florida panther, West Indian manatee, American crocodile and American alligator.