The wild, wild life of conservation
12:41pm Saturday 11th November 2006 in News By Gayle McBain
BIRDS have been flocking to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust for 60 years at Martin Mere. As the organisation celebrates its 60th birthday Gayle McBain takes a look at what it has achieved . . .
There is much concern these days about the disappearance of wildlife. So many species have gone or been hunted out of existence.
Awareness of the importance of conservation does, finally, now seem to be on the increase, especially among the young.
The result is that more people are now beginning to sit up and take notice of the work of organisations such as the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
The Trust - with a hugely popular centre at Martin Mere in Burscough, near Southport - has certainly done its bit to help preserve wildlife for future generations to enjoy, and this weekend celebrates its 60th birthday.
It is the UK's only specialist wetland conservation charity with a national network of visitor centres and is a world leader in the protection of ducks, geese, swans and flamingos in the wetlands they inhabit.
The organisation was founded in 1946 by the artist and naturalist Sir Peter Scott and over the past 60 years has ensured all work is based on sound scientific knowledge and research.
There are nine wetland visitor centres across the UK with 22 million people passing through their gates over the years.
The Trust is set to move forward in the coming years. Future works include a major community wetland project in Nepal, research and campaigns to protect the Red-breasted Goose and Common Scoter and a multi-agency project to reintroduce cranes to the United Kingdom.
WWT chief executive, Martin Spray, said: "WWT is an organisation that can look back over the past 60 years with tremendous pride at what it has achieved.
"We continue to have a major role to play in tackling many environmental problems, such as climate change, poverty, pollution, species extinction, the conservation of wetlands and their wildlife and WWT will remain at the forefront of research and practical action.
"With some of the best scientists in the world, and our unique date we have gathered over the decades, no-one is better placed than WWT to push forward the boundaries."
Martin Mere's Waterfowl Garden is home to more than 100 species of rare and endangered ducks, geese, swans and flamingos. Inquisitive Hawaiian Geese will nibble grain from your hand while you tour the wetlands.
You can watch, from the comfort of 10 lookout hides, internationally important numbers of ducks, geese and swans gathering for the winter to form spectacular feeding flocks on seasonally flooded wetlands.
It is a great opportunity to see birds you might not usually see around Bolton and in a natural habitat.
The good news is that anyone over the age of 60 can visit Martin Mere for free until this Sunday to help celebrate the trust's special birthday. There is free entry for everyone today.
The 60th person to enter the centre - which recently featured in the BBC 2 TV series Autumnwatch - today will be presented with presenter Bill Oddie's newest book, "How to Watch Wildlife", and there will be craft activities for children, a Martin Mere exhibition and a WWT DVD playing in the lecture theatre throughout the day and the weekend.
It was during a birdwatching expedition to Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, in December 1945, that Sir Peter Scott decided to set up his bird reserve.
That was followed, the next year, by the Severn Wildlife Trust which later became the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
Over the past six decades WWT has helped save the Hawaiian Nene and protect the Greenland Lesser White Fronted Goose.
It has carried out vital research into Beswick's Swans, Brent Geese and Lesser Flamingos and created new wetland habitats at home and abroad. In total more than 4,000 acres are managed by WWT, including seven sites of Special Scientific Interest, five Special Protection Areas and six Ramsar sites - a statutory nature conservation designation - supporting more than 150,000 waterbirds.
l Martin Mere is open, daily, from 9.30am to 5.30pm (5pm from November to February) and is closed on Christmas Day l For visitors with disabilities there is excellent access throughout the centre, including the hides and toilet facilities. There is free wheelchair loan, a special parking area, a braille trail and the loan of audio cassettes and players. Talks and tactile exhibits can be organised by prior arrangement and there are reduced rates for helpers l You can help to save wetland birds and their habitats by becoming a member of WWT. Ring 01453 891198 or email membership@wwt.org.uk l To contact Martin Mere ring 01704 895181 or email info.martinmere@wwt.org.uk
