Slimbridge Wetland Centre Review
Slimbridge Wetland Centre
Gloucestershire
Reviewed by Judy Cera
The Slimbridge Wetland Centre is situated in the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside, just off the A38 near the River Severn. It is the perfect place for the family to enjoy a day of adventure surrounded by wildlife and nature. There is something for everyone, of any age.
There is plenty going on at Slimbridge during the summer holidays. I took my two children, aged 7 and 11, on the first Monday of the holidays. We were made to feel welcome by the friendly, helpful staff. The first thing we did when we arrived was pick up our Nature Explorers passport. This contains a list of eight different activities that kids can take part in, and for each activity they will be given a sticker for their passport.
One of the most exciting new things at Slimbridge this summer is the LEGO animals trail. There are nine giant LEGO animals to spot as you go round. Each one has a sign telling you about the animal, how many bricks were used to build it and how long it took. When you have found them all you can vote for your favourite, and get a sticker in your Nature Explorers passport. Our favourite was Lottie the Otter who took 120 hours to build using 15,500 LEGO bricks. The LEGO animals will remain at Slimbridge until September 6th. LEGO fans can also take part in a LEGO workshop, or make their own minifigure in the shop.
We bought a bag of grain to feed the ducks, geese and other birds as we walked around. There are birds from all over the world here, and the centre is helping many endangered species to breed.
During your visit to Slimbridge you can see the animals up close and learn more about them by attending talks by the very knowledgeable members of staff. We went to watch the otters being fed and John, their keeper, told us a bit more about them as he fed them. We were introduced to three otters – Flo, the mother, and her two daughters, Mini and Haha. Otters may look cute but they have sharp teeth and can be very dangerous, so John had to go through a double security gate while we watched from the other side of a glass wall. They have to be kept shut away from the other animals in the centre because they eat not only fish but other creatures too such as frogs and mice, and they would happily eat the ducklings for breakfast if they were allowed near them!
We also attended a talk on amphibians where we got up close to some frogs and toads, and learned that amphibians are the most threatened animals in Britain, due to the loss of their habitats. Later we attended a fascinating talk on cranes. Cranes were re-introduced to Britain from Europe. Each year for the last five years, 20 cranes’ eggs have been brought to Slimbridge from Germany. When cranes hatch out they imprint on the first moving thing that they see. For this reason, wardens working with the cranes dress up as birds, so that when the chicks hatch they imprint onto something that looks like a crane rather than a human. The wardens then teach them how to swim and look after themselves before taking them to the Somerset levels where they can be released into the wild.
The most exciting activity of our day was the canoe safari. This had a small additional charge of £5 per adult (kids go free) for an hour. We put on our life jackets and spent an hour canoeing round the lake and trying to avoid colliding with the other canoes! It was great fun.
This summer there are various special explorer activities that change every week. This week they are on the theme of Really Wild Birds. The activities include making a bird feeder from a pine cone, and playing a game where my younger son Ben had to pretend to be a swan and complete various tasks which taught him all about the swans’ journey to Slimbridge from Russia.
Another favourite attraction at Slimbridge is Welly Boot Land. This is a lovely outdoor play area with a stream where children can paddle, build dams, and play in a fountain. A change of clothes is a good idea in case your child gets carried away with the water play!
If you have a good head for heights then the Severn View Observatory Tower is a must. Unfortunately the lift was broken so we had to climb up 70 steps, but it was worth it for the 360 degree panoramic views of the Severn Estuary. The weather was rather drizzly but on a clear day you can see as far as Wales.
We brought sandwiches with us, but there is a restaurant and various kiosks and cafes where you can buy food and drink. When it started to rain in the afternoon we headed to the Swan Café for drinks and a generous slice of homemade cake.
There is so much to do at Slimbridge that it is difficult to fit it all into one day. Other activities we could have done include pond dipping and a land rover safari. There is also a soft play area for younger children in the visitors’ centre, and a large outdoor play area with wooden play equipment.
All in all, we had a fantastic day at Slimbridge. There are so many exciting activities and you can learn a lot about nature and wildlife while having great fun. All the staff and volunteers worked really hard to make it a great day out for everyone.
The centre is well signposted from the A38 and easy to find. There is ample free parking.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost (without Gift Aid): Adult 11.43 (£10.40), Child £6.30 (£5.72), Family £32 (£29.09). Book online and save 10%.
For more information or to book tickets visit www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge.
WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT | 01453 891900
