People’s Postcode Lottery IMPACT REPORT Day out at WWT London Wetland Centre WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE The work we do at WWT has never been more important. Our wetlands, essential for life on earth, are disappearing three times faster than our forests. Thanks to the support we receive from players of People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL) we are able to continue our work to preserve this precious habitat for wildlife and people. Thanks to PPL funding we have not only been able to continue our proactive, hands-on approach to conservation but have also engaged people around the world to work with us to find solutions, an attribute that attracted wildlife TV presenter Kate Humble to become WWT’s new president this year. ‘This amazingly generous, long-term support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery helps WWT work towards a world where healthy wetland nature thrives and enriches lives.’ A wetland landscape for the Martin Spray, Chief Executive of WWT future at WWT Steart Marshes HELPING US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE PPL’s generous support means we can continue to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people and wildlife. In 2018 players’ support helped us look after our native wetland species, support our team of over 1,000 volunteers who contribute a staggering 300,000 hours of work each year, run our 10 wetland centres and reserves to which we welcomed over one million visitors and enabled our team of conservationists to save species from extinction. CREATING AMAZING SAVING EXPERIENCES THREATENED SPECIES Getting people closer to nature so they can Our vital conservation projects can mean the not only experience the wonder of wetlands difference between survival and extinction for and their wildlife, but also enjoy the health some of the world’s most threatened species. and wellbeing benefits, is at the heart of what Otters are the top predators in wetlands, so we do. Our new Wild Walk at WWT London 10% the discovery in December of new wild otter transforms the way our visitors see and cubs at WWT Slimbridge is a sure sign that connect with the natural world, taking them our wetlands are in great shape. on a wonderful physical and sensory journey through wetlands not otherwise accessible. CREATING THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR OUR 20% ANIMALS TO THRIVE 40% Our animals get the best possible care from our dedicated team. Thanks to PPL funding we successfully bred red-breasted geese at WWT Martin Mere for the first time in 15 years. SAVING WETLAND HABITAT 10% GROUNDBREAKING Wetland habitat is under serious threat and SCIENCE much of our wildlife is suffering, so we work We’re hugely proud of our scientists who, hard to protect as many wetlands as possible. assisted by volunteers, carry out internationally At WWT Arundel, we’ve successfully introduced 20% acclaimed research into the threats facing a plant once so rare in the UK it was only found wetlands and their wildlife. At WWT Slimbridge we in a patch smaller than a doormat. At WWT microchipped eels, enabling us to find solutions Washington, wading birds were given more to counter problems this critically endangered places to breed when we created a new species faces. Our scientists also started a long- shingle beach and improved existing shingle term project to better understand which wetland islands in the reserve’s biggest lake. features best protect communities from flooding. SUCCESS STORIES IN 2018 CRANES 54 Kestrels thrive after 22 reared HEADSTARTED SIX HECTARES SPOON-BILLED 25 CHICKS OF MEADOW 45,750 SANDPIPERS making it the crane’s improved at most successful year PUPILS released into the in the UK since the WWT Washington visited our centres wild in Russia 17th century for learning days At WWT London, a survey for the We reintroduced one of 1,000 the world’s rarest birds, the ENDANGERED VOLUNTEERS Over gave over... MADAGASCAR WATER VOLE POCHARD found... 14,500 into the wild for 300,000 NEW MEMBERS the first time of them on HOURS signed up 88 the reserve INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO THE JOYS OF THE NATURAL WORLD At WWT we know the value wetlands and For many, hands on experiences such as their wildlife bring to people. A key part of pond dipping are the most memorable part our work is spreading this message and one of their visit. Thanks to support from players of the most important ways we do that is of PPL, this summer we opened a new pond through our dedicated learning programmes. zone at WWT Martin Mere. Four new raised dipping ponds were built alongside Thanks to support from players of PPL, every an existing natural pond where visitors can year we enable thousands of children to get up close to our watery mini-beasts. learn about the joys of the natural world. A new teaching facility gives children the For many of our young visitors a school visit chance to see what they’ve caught under offers a rare, or even a first, opportunity to a microscope and learn about the science explore the great outdoors and our research of wetland nature. shows that it can ignite a passion for nature among these children. 98% 100% 100% of teachers rated their of teachers said their of teachers would class’ learning session group enjoyed recommend a trip to either good their learning WWT Martin Mere to or excellent experience a colleague ‘The organisation was superb and the activities magnificent. I already had high expectations for the day but the outcomes surpassed my expectations.’ Exploring the pond zone St. George’s Primary School, Manchester at WWT Martin Mere IT’S PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE We might be a wildlife charity but it is the people that really make WWT tick. Thanks to players’ support we are able to employ and train some of the most dedicated individuals you’ll ever meet. From an army of amazing volunteers to our dedicated staff including a team of world leading conservationists, it is these people who make the real difference. DAVE WALSH GILL PIPES PAUL ROSE VOLUNTEER WWT WASHINGTON RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Dave began volunteering at WWT CENTRE MANAGER Paul joined WWT six years ago Martin Mere over 20 years ago, Gill joined WWT as Trading as a PhD student, but has been which makes him one of WWT’s Manager in 2006 and took visiting WWT Slimbridge since longest serving volunteers. over as centre manager he was a child. eight years later. “My wife and I began coming “Coming to Slimbridge is one here, after our children “Seeing the impact our site of my earliest childhood grew up and left the family has on people is the most memories. I’ve since completed home, to take up bird rewarding thing about this a PhD on the birds that I saw watching. I was fascinated job. It’s genuinely good as a child that are still here. by the migratory whooper for the soul. Experiencing I don’t think that there are swans. We started taking the families having a fun and many people who could say numbers down and one day exciting day is remarkable. they made a scientific career we happened to be in the Also encountering people who out of the actual birds they Kingfisher Hide when one of may have had a rough time, saw as a kid. Without these the wardens saw me noting finding solace and peace here. birds at Slimbridge we would down the numbers and asked We’re a very busy team and know so much less about me what I did with them. I this always puts things into flamingos in the wild: the birds said ‘nothing really – it’s just perspective and reminds me we keep here are not just here a bit of a hobby’ so he asked how lucky I am to be doing for show. You can come here if I would let him have them. a thing I love in a place I and have a lovely day out I made a list so they could am genuinely proud of.” but don’t underestimate their add it to their data base. usefulness as they tell us a Research Associate It snowballed from there.” lot about these species.” Paul Rose at WWT Slimbridge HELPING SPECIES TO THRIVE Thanks to support from players in 2018, we’ve been able to create the best conditions for our animals to thrive and have been rewarded with some fantastic breeding success stories. A FIRST FOR ASIAN BULLFROGS SUCCESS TINGED WITH SADNESS In a world first, Asian bullfrogs have been The tiny spoon-billed sandpiper is critically successfully bred in captivity at our centre in endangered. After eight years creating the Slimbridge. Players’ support enabled us to design perfect breeding conditions for our spoon-billed a new breeding tank for these large burrowing sandpipers at Slimbridge we were rewarded with a frogs from Asia. It included rain shower heads, significant breakthrough in conservation breeding. thermostatic control and different flooding By manipulating the day length in the spoonies’ depths, all of which helped us mimic the Asian aviaries we were able to trick the birds into monsoon season. breeding six weeks earlier than in previous years. This meant the temperature was cooler, These features meant that when a UK summer mimicking more closely the temperatures the storm led to a drop in atmospheric pressure birds would experience on their breeding male frogs came out from their burrows and grounds in the wild in arctic Russia. began their mating calls to attract a female. Eggs soon appeared in the tank, turning into Two females laid a total of seven eggs and on day tadpoles a few days later.