I've been taking my children to the WWT Slimbridge Wetlands since they were tiny, and it never loses its charm. Even though the children are now teenagers, we all still love a walk around to see the birds.
There's always been plenty for the children to do, and it's not just about seeing the beautiful birds. From little ones being able to climb and expend some energy in the playground and splash about in Welly Boot Land, to embarking on an adventure exploring the nature trails of the wetlands and learning about wildlife.
We don't visit as often as we used to. However, for us, it's an extra special time of year to go, as you can see the goslings and geese, swans and cygnets wandering around to see who has a bag of bird seed.
Not meaning to sound twee, yet it makes my heart sing to see the baby birds following behind their parents. The geese and swans are quite tame, and over the years If you look carefully, you can see where the nests are and watch the chicks while they are sleeping and nestled into their mum.
You can only feed the birds the seed which can be bought from the gift shop at the wetlands. There are certain areas where you can feed the birds so it is worth noting where these places are. Over the years, I have plucked up the courage to let the geese and swans eat from my hand and yes they may be a little eager to get the seed however it is a wonderful experience.
The flamingos are always a beautiful sight to behold. There are different species of flamingos at the Slimbridge Wetlands and you can read up about them on the poster boards in the Flamingo Lagoon Zone.
On another visit, we went to a Wonders of Wetlands Bird demonstration and sat as part of the audience in the outdoor theatre and listen to a talk and seen a pink-backed pelican. It was lovely to watch, even though the pelican had other ideas about what he would like to do on the day.
The otters always draw a crowd and onlookers delight watching the animals playing in the water . From behind a screen you can watch the otters swim together around their holts and if you are there at the right time you may be able to take in an otter talk from staff at the centre.
There are toilet facilities across the park, and handwashing is a must before you have something to eat and drink. You can buy an ice cream, snacks and a drink while you are there, however we take a picnic as the prices can be a little steep.
Its a hot spot for photographers looking to capture beautiful pictures of the birds at the centre and there are a dozen or so hide lookouts for keen bird watchers.
In all I would say WWT Slimbridge Wetlands is perfect for everyone and is disabled access friendly.
Have a look at the memberships too. The centre needs our support and for the price of taking a family, it does not cost much more to sign up for a membership for the year.
We love it there. I would recommend you going to the WWT Slimbridge Wetlands and exploring everything it has to offer.
We have not been disappointed yet.
