Welney Wildfowl
and Wetlands Centre
Nr Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
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Location Guide |
Covering 1,000 acres the reserve plays host
each winter to around 9,000 migratory
Whooper
 and
Bewicks
swans from Arctic Russia and Iceland along
with tens of thousands of other wildfowl. These dramatic wetlands at Welney, on the Ouse Washes, are home to some of the
most spectacular winter gatherings of wild swans.
In the summer, Welney offers a relaxing opportunity to see rich varieties of
rare waders and other wildlife.
Occasionally, during the winter months, the
A1101 between Welney village and Suspension bridge is flooded. This flooding can
also affect access to some parts of the reserve. At these times, regular updates
will be posted on the website. In times when there is no flooding, no further
notice will be posted. If you are unsure about the current conditions, or would
like further information, please call the centre on 01353 860711 before you
leave home.
Reasons to visit
Spring
Rare wading birds arrive
with the breeding season. Guided walks give you closer views of Avocet, Lapwing,
Snipe, Common Tern and Little Ringed Plover on their nests and raising chicks.
Summer
Discover over 40% of all British wetland plant and flower species alive with
butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. The Summer Walk takes you to parts of
the Washes only accessible for 3 months of the year.
Autumn
En route to warmer areas, a range of birds stop-off on the Washes including
ruff, Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint. Dazzling sunsets ripple on
the flooded lagoons.
Winter
Watch from the centrally-heated observatory as 3,000 Whooper swans from Iceland
join over 4,500 Bewick’s swans arrive from Arctic Russia to take refuge amongst
thousands of ducks, geese and other water birds. From October through to
March you can also enjoy daily swan feeds - see their website for details on
times.
As well as the outdoor experiences they also
have the:
-
Pond
room which displays giant sized models of the creatures that live on the
reserve.
-
Fenlands Worlds which through displays and models explains how the Ouse Washes
were formed and about the lives of the Fen Tigers.
| Further information Grid
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Location: |
Welney WWT, nr Wisbech,
Cambridgeshire |
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Ceremonial County: |
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Grid Reference: |
TL546944 |
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Map Link: |
Multimap
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Aerial photo: |
Aerial Map
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Route(s):
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Best Times to Visit: |
Any
time of year, different times will see different wildlife visitors. More
activities for children available during the summer months and school
holidays. |
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E-mail: |
info.welney@wwt.org.uk |
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Website: |
Visit Welney
WWT
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Other useful
websites: |
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Nearby Locations: |
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Other Relevant pages: |
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Planning Grid
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Location: |
Welney WWT, nr Wisbech,
Cambridgeshire |
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Grid Reference: |
TL546944 |
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Getting there: |
12 miles north of Ely, it is 2 miles south of
Welney village turning off the A1101 at the New Bedford suspension Bridge,
signposted Ten Mile Bank. |
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Access: |
Tarmac and hard-surfaced paths. |
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Parking: |
Free car park. |
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Facilities: |
Cafe (serves hot food between 11am and 2.30pm),
gift shop and art gallery. Picnic area. In Focus optics shop stocking
binoculars, telescopes and everything you need to watch wildlife. |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
Wetland wildlife, butterflies, wild flowers, buildings, reed beds and other
activities. Fenland World exhibition of why the Ouse Washes were formed and
learn about the lives of the Fen Tigers. |
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What to take: |
Telescope, binoculars, long lenses for when in hides, polarizer may be
useful on sunny days when doing wider views. During winter months wrap up
warm most of the site is outdoors. |
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Nature highlights: |
Waders,
Raptors, Wildfowl, butterflies, dragonflies and wild flowers. |
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Address: |
WWT Welney Wetland Centre
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Hundred Foot Bank
Welney
Nr
Wisbech
Cambs |
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Postcode: |
PE14 9TN |
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Telephone: |
01353 860711 |
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Opening times: |
Open daily 9.30am
to 5pm during the Summer
Winter (1st Nov 10- 27 Feb 11) Mon, Tue and Wed 10am-5pm; Thurs-Sun 10am-8pm.
Late night last admission 6.30pm.
Closed Christmas Day. |
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Charges: |
Free to WWT Members
Adult £6.70;
Concession (Students, Over 65 and unemployed) £5.05, Child £3.30 (4-16 years);
Family (2+2) £17.90
There are also special Group Admission Prices
and Gift Aid prices. |
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Photo Restrictions: |
Commercial and stock photography must be agreed in advance and is subject to
a fee. |
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Other Restrictions: |
Keep to the paths at all times. |
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Special Needs Access: |
Level access to all areas. Car park has
reserved bays. |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
Disabled toilet in main visitor centre, free
wheelchair loan. |
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Children Facilities: |
During weekends and school holidays activities
are put on for the younger visitor. Baby changing facilities. |
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Dogs Allowed: |
Dogs are not allowed in WWT Centres except
guide/trained assistant dogs. |
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Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of
course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have
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then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you
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Please submit information on locations you discover so
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