Nature at the London Wetlands Centre

By Lynda2 on March 15, 2014 in Garden Reviews, london wetland centre, Wildlife, wildlife garden

My family and I just love the London Wetlands Centre. We have enjoyed so many visits over the years. My son held his 6th birthday party there, when the sun shone for us even in January. Our visit on Sunday did not disappoint. In fact it was perfection and lovely to revisit it after a gap of about a year.

We turned left after the main entrance, checked out the gragonfly on the roof, had a quick roll of the dice at the giant snakes and ladders, and then popped over and said hello to the otters.

This fantastic bug skyscraper was new, what a clever idea.

These willow dens were on sodden ground, but I know they will look fantastic in the summer. We went to the wildlife pond to look for frogspawn. Alas we were not lucky with our sightings, but I know there will be some as there are always frogs there in the summer

My son said hello to and had a go at all his favourite activities

The trail of the duck feet marked on the ground leading to explore the children’s adventure play area called Explore.
The mock duck nest and its eggs, together with the ‘dinosaur’ bones.
The webcam set up in a pond, filming both on top and under the water. He always spends ages operating this, focusing, zooming in and out, and looking at the screen to see what he had found.
The running along the pathways that lead off the main pathways and then rejoin later on.
The raised ponds that are ideal for pond-dipping and, yes, we did spy a newt sunning himself.
The bug hotels in the rainwater garden.
All the fun and games in the Explore play area

There is some beautiful planting in the Explore play area (in fact, the whole reserve has fantastic native planting) and this time of year full of catkins and pussy willow. The scene above with its blue soft surface looks slightly out of place with all the natural landscape. But it does fit with the conservation mission of the centre depicting various ways you can cross a waterway, the stepping stones, wobbly bridge and balance beam.

The Centre is a great playground for children of all ages, including adults. It is full of fun activities with an educational twist. It’s summer evening bat walk is on our to do list for this summer.

I am linking this post up with Countrykids @Coombemill, because London doesn’t get any more countrified than this.