WWT is England’s main charity to help restore and protect our wetlands. There are wetlands worldwide (like coral reefs, lagoons and mangroves). But England has many of the main types of wetlands which provide vital homes to birds and wildlife including:
- Wet grasslands (home to endangered curlews and wildflowers)
- Seagrass beds (vital as food for endangered sea turtles)
- Rivers and streams (vital to keep free of oil, litter and sewage)
- Reedbeds (home to bitterns, eels and harvest mice)
- Ponds (vital homes for amphibians: frogs, toads & newts)
- Peat bogs (home to dragonflies, damselfies & butterflies)
- Lakes (these are home to over 140,000 species)
- Estuaries (where freshwater and seawater meets)
- Ditches & scrapes (these small areas also support wildlife)
- Fens (fertile wetlands, mostly found in Eastern England)
The best way to help dragonflies and damselflies is to preserve remaining wetlands (their natural homes). In 1637, East Anglia had 3,380 square kilometres of wetland. In 1986 there was just 10 square kilometres left.
The charity is helping to create and restore 100,000 hectares of wetlands in the UK and is actively purchasing low-lying ground to create and restore new wetlands.
It’s also creating a new saltmarsh nature reserve in the Forest of Dean, which will be a haven for wildlife and also store carbon to help reduce floods and climate change.
Make Your Own Mini Wetlands
WWT has lots of help to create wetlands in your own back garden. This can as simple as creating a rain garden (above).
To keep wildlife safe, ensure ponds have sloping sides (never use netting in gardens, as it can trap birds & other creatures). Read tips on wildlife-friendly ponds. If you garden alongside animal friends, learn more on pet-friendly gardens.
Don’t Buy Peat Compost
Peat compost (still legal to sell) nearly always harvested from land that used to be habitat for dragonflies and damselflies (and endangered butterflies).
Learn how to make your own garden compost. Keep fresh compost away from pets (contains mould).
Removing it (or burning peat bogs which happens in the hunting industry) removes uneven land that soaks up rain. So retaining peat helps prevent floods.
Clean up Lead Residue in Wetlands
WWT has a campaign, asking us all to write to the Secretary of State, asking him to make history by taking action on the 7000 tons of lead ammunition scattered into our wetlands. Voluntary efforts have not worked, with hunters still using lead in ammunition to kill ducks and other birds.
This poisons birds, wildlife and people. Each year, lead ammunition kills 100,000 waterbirds in the UK and a million in Europe. It also finds it way into game meat and pet foods.
Ancient Marshy Fens of Eastern England
The Fens is one of England’s most unique landscapes, an area of wetlands mostly found in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The ancient peaty land covers around 600 square miles. not just wetlands, but rivers and drainage systems, in a low-lying region that offers a unique ecological habitat for birds and native wildlife.
Formed during the Ice Age (when glacial meltwaters creating extensive marshes), over centuries the clay land that holds water well, has created unique ecosystems. It not only supports migrating birds, otters and amphibians, but also many wading birds and rare plants.
Years ago, many people would grow barley and wheat here, and cattle and sheep would graze on lush grasses. The fertile soil and abundant water supply led to The Fens being a vital agricultural hub.
In the 17th century, much of the land was drained to create arable land, but this began to disturb the agricultural balance.
A Year Surrounded by Marshy Wildness
On the Marsh is a lovely book by Simon Barnes (who used to be a peaceful troublemaker writing for national newspapers). On hearing a Cetti’s warbler sing in Norfolk as he looked at a house for sale, he decided to move there with his family, as he feared that marshy land nearby would end up being lost to developers or intensive farming.
As he and his wife rewilded the area, this had beneficial effects for their son, who has Down Syndrome. A place of calm and inspiration for all.
The book follows triumphs (two harrier families arrive to use the marsh as hunting ground). And disappointments (chemical run-off from neighbouring farmland creates a nettle monoculture).
The Peaceful Norfolk Broads (wildlife & windmills)
The Norfolk Broads (manmade wetland waterways) are home to 25% of England’s birds and native wildlife (including rare Swallowtail butterflies). There are seven rivers and over 60 broads (bodies of water).
Read how to keep dogs safe by the water.
This patchwork of rivers and lakes, makes up one of Britain’s most famous wetland areas. More than 125 miles of navigable waterways wind through the countryside, linking pretty villages and old windmills.
The Norfolk Broads span over 120 miles of navigable rivers and lakes, created from flooded medieval peat diggings. These waterways connect small villages, market towns, and wild nature reserves.
Windmills shape the landscape and history of the Broads. Many have been restored, including Horsey Windpump and Thurne Mill, and some are open to the public.
Exploring the Suffolk Broads: An Idyllic Waterway
The Suffolk Broads shine as one of England’s most peaceful, lesser-known hidden gems. With winding rivers, charming villages, and stretches of untouched nature, these waterways gift visitors a slow pace and a chance to reconnect with the countryside.
These wetlands remain a protected National Park.
They are also home to wading avocets with their unique upturned beaks (the emblem of the RSPB). Alongside rare plants like milk parsley, you’ll also spot more birds cranes, bitterns, marsh harriers), swallowtail butterflies and the fen raft spider.
Unlike busier Norfolk, Suffolk’s Broads offer calm, open stretches with fewer crowds. Stop at riverside pubs and watch herons fish in the shallows. The pace is gentle and the views are always changing.
A Unique Wetland Landscape in Somerset
The Somerset Levels and Avalon Marshes form one of England’s most unique wetland landscapes. This patchwork of reed beds, open water, wildflower meadows, and ancient woodlands covers thousands of acres.
It’s an area packed with wildlife, rare plants, and traces of people from prehistoric times to today. Whether you’re a keen birdwatcher, history buff, or just want a wild day out, Avalon Marshes offers something memorable for everyone.
These top highlights will help you make the most of your visit.
Shapwick Heath is next to Ham Wall and just as full of life. Walk along paths and boardwalks through reed beds and old peat workings. In spring and summer, dragonflies, butterflies, and wildflowers fill the air.
Listen for booming bitterns and look for signs of water voles and grass snakes. You’ll also find the Sweet Track, Britain’s oldest timber track, built in the Neolithic era.
Westhay Moor is quieter but just as rich in wildlife. The site covers former peat diggings, now flooded and home to rare species.
In winter, watch for flocks of wildfowl. In warmer months, reed buntings and hobbies are common. It’s peaceful here, perfect for slow walks and quiet moments.
The Avalon Marshes Centre is the best place to start your adventure. There’s plenty of free parking, plus a visitor centre with maps and local advice. You’ll find interactive displays about wetlands, outdoor heritage reconstructions, and relaxing walking trails.
