WWT Welney

Welney Wetland Centre stands on 1000 acres of flat fenland in South Norfolk. The reserve belongs to the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and is one of the largest inland reed beds in eastern England. Water fills the ditches and scrapes that criss-cross the site, making it a magnet for birds that need shallow pools. The sky stretches wide, so migrants can circle before landing safely. Visitors walk on boardwalks that rise just above the water level. Over three hundred species have been recorded here, from ducks to dragonflies. Wigeon, teal and shoveler gather in winter flocks counted in their thousands. In spring the air rings with the calls of lapwing and redshank. Bitterns slip through the reeds, their presence announced only by a deep booming call. Swallows and house martins skim the surface at dusk, while dragonflies patrol the ditches in summer. The paths lead past hides where visitors can watch without disturbing the birds. A tower hide rises above the reed bed, giving a clear view across the water. Benches sit beside pools where mallard and gadwall dabble. The wind carries the scent of wet earth and growing reeds. At sunset the sky turns pink over the flat horizon, a quiet end to a day among the fens.