WWT London, a non-twitchers view

I am not a hardcore, or even medium core, twitcher. I like big obvious birds, colourful birds, impressive birds and birds in huge numbers, occasionally. LBJs don’t do it for me. So I thought I would go and have a wander round.

First off is a kind of bird zoo, various rare and unusual waterfowl that are here for a reason, usually as part of a captive breeding programme as they are endangered in the wild.

 Once beyond the themed areas I entered the 'Wildside', and Wildside does it for me. As much as anything, it is a nice walk, marked trails and boardwalks passed ponds, over lagoons, beside marshes and under trees and shrubs. A few small benches provide rest spots, and several hides looking out over some of the main lagoons provide library like atmosphere and windows onto the expanse of water that used to be water treatment ponds. Amazingly it is peaceful here, a small, quiet oasis in the middle of a huge metropolis, and right in the Heathrow flight path!

Birds rule here, but they are not the sole occupants. Water voles, foxes, several species of dragonflies, reptiles, insects, fish, amphibians and molluscs have all moved in, and continue to do so as more new species move in every year. Some of them come into the category of things I can look at, big obvious herons, colourful kingfishers, impressive woodpeckers and huge numbers of waterfowl of various sorts, but there are also many more that pass me by, yet the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. It is just a good place to go.

One question though, and I am sure there is a good reason, but how much better would the café/restaurant be if you could sit out overlooking the lagoons and the business end of the reserve, even through some smoked glass, rather than out towards the bus stop?

The award-winning London Wetland Centre is the first project of its kind in the world. More than 40 hectares of created wetlands in the heart of a capital city. In February 2002 the centre was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), supporting nationally important numbers of Gadwall and Shoveler duck. Opened in May 2000, the centre offers visitors the chance to see rare and beautiful wetland wildlife just a stone’s throw from central London.

Location: WWT London Wetland Centre
Queen Elizabeth’s Walk
Barnes, London SW13 9WT
Grid reference: TQ226768
Tel: 020 8409 4400

Opening times: Open daily 9.30am-5.00pm in Winter, 9.30am-6.00pm in Summer. Late night opening every Thursday until 21 September . Half price after 6.00pm, last admission 8.00pm. Closed Christmas Day.

Admission prices: Free to WWT members