New state-of-the-art 'ESTUARY' HIDE BEING OPENED at WWT Slimbridge
12 November 2019
A brand new, fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible bird-watching tower is being opened at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), Slimbridge at 11.30am, Saturday 16th November.
The opening of the 10m high, ‘Estuary Tower’ will be performed by well-known naturalist and natural history TV producer, Mike Dilger.
The Estuary Tower sits on edge of the tidal reaches of the River Severn and replaces the old Holden Tower, which had poor access for people with physical disabilities. The integrated lift means that for the first time, anyone, whatever their level of ability or mobility, will be able to see for themselves the magnificent Severn vistas and the birds that feed, nest and roost on the tidal mudflats below.
The new architect-designed two-storey tower has a comfortable indoor first-floor platform, complete with low-height glass. Meanwhile, the open-air top floor platform provides visitors with magnificent, previously unseen panoramas up, down and across the Severn Estuary, and back over the Slimbridge reserve.
The opening of the Estuary Tower is one of a series of special events at WWT Slimbridge over the weekend of 16th and 17th November.
There will be demonstrations of how a specially trained dog is used to lure wild birds into the historic duck decoy, an opportunity to try out willow weaving, a chance to see the famous floodlit bird feeds, guides in hides, and talks by a number of WWT experts on a range of topics from the Severn vale waterscape, our work to repair, restore and conserve the UK’s precious wetlands, and how we work with farmers and landowners to help bird conservation. In the evening, Mike Dilger will be giving an illustrated talk about his exciting wildlife encounters, as well as a whistle-stop tour of what a day in the life of a wildlife presenter is truly like.
The construction of the new Estuary Tower is just one part of an exciting period of developments at the reserve funded by lottery players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Entitled Slimbridge 2020, this 3-year project will deliver eight new inspirational and immersive wildlife experiences and activities. These new exhibits will allow visitors to explore the amazing world of wetlands, feel closer to nature and hopefully be inspired to take action to conserve wildlife for generations to come.
Gary Haseley-Nejrup, General Manager at WWT Slimbridge said:“The new tower will give unparalleled views across the Severn estuary for bird watchers, nature-lovers and families. It was these views and the wildfowl that made the estuary their home that attracted Sir Peter Scott to Slimbridge, and we’re delighted that this new tower will help make that world accessible to all of our visitors.
“To ensure that there is plenty of birdlife around the tower, we’ve created new shallow ponds at the foot of the tower to provide links to existing water courses providing refuge and food for a wide range of wetland wildlife.
"Each day we’ll have expert guides on-hand in the tower to help beginners identify wetland birds, provide information on the estuary and explain why it is such a site of international importance for wildfowl."
More info > wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/experience/estuary-tower-hide
The opening of the 10m high, ‘Estuary Tower’ will be performed by well-known naturalist and natural history TV producer, Mike Dilger.
The Estuary Tower sits on edge of the tidal reaches of the River Severn and replaces the old Holden Tower, which had poor access for people with physical disabilities. The integrated lift means that for the first time, anyone, whatever their level of ability or mobility, will be able to see for themselves the magnificent Severn vistas and the birds that feed, nest and roost on the tidal mudflats below.
The new architect-designed two-storey tower has a comfortable indoor first-floor platform, complete with low-height glass. Meanwhile, the open-air top floor platform provides visitors with magnificent, previously unseen panoramas up, down and across the Severn Estuary, and back over the Slimbridge reserve.
The opening of the Estuary Tower is one of a series of special events at WWT Slimbridge over the weekend of 16th and 17th November.
There will be demonstrations of how a specially trained dog is used to lure wild birds into the historic duck decoy, an opportunity to try out willow weaving, a chance to see the famous floodlit bird feeds, guides in hides, and talks by a number of WWT experts on a range of topics from the Severn vale waterscape, our work to repair, restore and conserve the UK’s precious wetlands, and how we work with farmers and landowners to help bird conservation. In the evening, Mike Dilger will be giving an illustrated talk about his exciting wildlife encounters, as well as a whistle-stop tour of what a day in the life of a wildlife presenter is truly like.
The construction of the new Estuary Tower is just one part of an exciting period of developments at the reserve funded by lottery players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Entitled Slimbridge 2020, this 3-year project will deliver eight new inspirational and immersive wildlife experiences and activities. These new exhibits will allow visitors to explore the amazing world of wetlands, feel closer to nature and hopefully be inspired to take action to conserve wildlife for generations to come.
Gary Haseley-Nejrup, General Manager at WWT Slimbridge said:“The new tower will give unparalleled views across the Severn estuary for bird watchers, nature-lovers and families. It was these views and the wildfowl that made the estuary their home that attracted Sir Peter Scott to Slimbridge, and we’re delighted that this new tower will help make that world accessible to all of our visitors.
“To ensure that there is plenty of birdlife around the tower, we’ve created new shallow ponds at the foot of the tower to provide links to existing water courses providing refuge and food for a wide range of wetland wildlife.
"Each day we’ll have expert guides on-hand in the tower to help beginners identify wetland birds, provide information on the estuary and explain why it is such a site of international importance for wildfowl."
More info > wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/experience/estuary-tower-hide
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