DAY OUT: Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire
Roam the Avian Serengeti
From nest-building kingfishers and singing warblers to flamboyant flamingos, this Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve is perfect for a spring day out with the family, writes Abigail Whyte
Visit WWT Slimbridge on a spring day and it’s easy to see why founder Sir Peter Scott referred to this place as the “avian Serengeti”.
Son of Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Peter created a patchwork of wetland habitats on this vast stretch of land by the Severn estuary in the 1950s. He even built his family home here, with his huge living room window overlooking the lake.
Sir Peter grew his collection by bringing in water birds and wildfowl from around the world, and within a few years wild birds began to appear. Many thousands now make Slimbridge’s wetlands their temporary home during their annual migrations.
SPRING SONGS
While wintering birds are a star attraction of Slimbridge, the reserve teems with birdlife in spring too, from kingfishers excavating nest holes and cranes breeding, to chiffchaffs and warblers marking their territory with riotous song.
The reserve also hosts a range of activities for all ages throughout spring and summer, including an Easter trail, pond dipping and wildlife photography courses.
It’s worth spending the entire day here, meandering between the different habitats and bird hides – places that invite you to slow down, peer through binoculars and watch the frenzy of activity going on across the lakes, salt marsh and sedge beds.
Children will love ogling at the harvest mice, the rollicking otters and, of course, the flock of flamingos in the South American pen, flagging their heads in a dazzling courtship display. Another popular activity for visitors is to feed the geese and ducks, but at the time of writing, hand-feeding is temporarily suspended to prevent the spread of avian flu. Some bird collections are temporarily housed, too.
However, with safari-like guided tours, the Scott House museum, play areas, amphibian exhibit and an incredible 809 hectares of wetland to explore, there’s plenty here to keep the family amused.
Abigail Whyte is a writer and editor who loves taking her children on wildlife adventures.