WWT Washington Wetland Centre

I must admit to having a soft spot for WWT Washington Wetland Centre. Some of my earliest memories are of days out at WWT reserves including Washington, Martin Mere and Slimbridge, and my love of waterfowl has always remained.

WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) is a charity that works to protect and conserve wildfowl and their wetland habitats. They run 10 wetland reserves in the UK, including WWT Washington Wetland Centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear. You can find out more about the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) on their website, www.wwt.org.uk, where you can also become a member.

The Birds

After a few years of changes at WWT Washington, it was nice to see that a good selection of birds were back at the front of the reserve and easily visible from inside the visitor centre.  At a glance we could see barnacle geese, common shelduck, common mallard, common moorhen and xxx.  

The captive collection at Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands is extensive, and though there are not many individuals of all species, there were a good variety on display and it was easy to see most of the birds.  Those less familiar with waterfowl could make use of the excellent signage boards to identify the species. 

The highlight of our visit this time was a pair of black swans together with their two newly hatched cygnets.  Mandarin ducks, goldeneyes, baikal teal, chiloe widgen, paradise shellduck, flamingo, Andean geese, bar-headed geese, smew, bufflehead, red-crested pochard, feruginous duck, eider duck. Noticeably absent were the Hawaiian (Nene) geese, the red-breasted geese and the cranes.  

The condition of the collection was excellent, all the birds seemed to be in good health and their plumage was full and glossy.  

Washington Wildfowl has a large wild area with several hides, the closest of which is the Woodland Hide, from which we saw chaffinch, woodpecker, goldfinch, wood pigeon, collared dove, blackbird, wren, robin, and pheasant.  Many more species frequent the woodland hide at Washington, but even with our 9 year old in toe we were able to see plenty on our visit.  The lagoon hide and path take you along the river wear where more wild birds can be spotted including black-headed gull, cormorant, grey heron and tufted duck.  

Other animals: asian short-clawed otters.

Bird rating (condition, number, variety & visibility):
(5 / 5)

Visitor Facilities

Cafe

The cafe has a lovely view out over the lake and it is possible to sit inside or outside.  The food menu was very limited and a little disappointing.  

Toilets

There are toilets in the main visitor centre building, just across from the cafe, adjacent to the gift shop.  These were clean and tidy and there was plenty of space available.  Do be aware that these are the only toilets on site, and it is quite a long way from the nature reserve area.  

Gift Shop

It was nice to see a range of gifts that was relevant to the wetland centre, and also with a good range of price points.  The offering includes homewares, stationery, books, toys and art.

Visitor facilities:
(3 / 5)

For Families

Children of all ages are welcome at WWT Washington Wetland Centre.  On our visits we see a mix of young families, couples with prams and pushchairs, school age children and grandparents with their children and grandchildren.  All the paths are pushchair-friendly and there are short cuts signposted which helps if your party isn’t able to manage long walks. 

The ducks and geese are the draw, but kids are well catered for on all fronts once they arrive.  There are free maps and bird checklists available, along with colourful signage around the enclosures. 

There is a good-sized playground with a slide, climbing net and obstacle course.  There’s also a great water play area including a working Archimedes’ screw which will amaze children with its ability to move water uphill! 

Families:
(5 / 5)

Accessibility

A great deal of work has gone into the infrastructure at WWT Washington to make not only the enclosures but also the wild areas accessible to as many people as possible.  For the most part, paths are smooth, wide and gently sloped.  The topography of the site does mean that a few of the paths are quite steep, but there are no steps to navigate and alterative routes are well signposted.   Wheelchair users may struggle on the steeper areas of the site. 

As ever, I write this as an able-bodied visitor and as such I am aware that I may miss elements of accessibility that are either present or absent.  Please do get in touch if there is something I should mention.

Accessibility:
(4 / 5)

Location, directions & parking

WWT Washington Wetland Centre is on the outskirts of Washington, Tyne and Wear.  Easily accessible from both the A1 and A19, it is also signposted from nearby with a brown ‘duck’ sign.  There is plenty of free parking including overflow parking for busy days.  Accessible parking bays near to the entrance with a sloping path down to the visitor centre.

Location:
(5 / 5)

Value for money

Entry is free for WWT members, and the monthly or annual fee is great value, even if you visit only the one WWT centre (though I wholeheartedly recommend visiting more of them!).  For non-members the entry fee is rather steep at £ and £ for children, given that it is at best a 2-3 hour visit. 

Value for money:
(4 / 5)

Recommendations

WWT Washington Wetland Centre is a must if you live in the local area, and great value if you have membership.  I’d skip the cafe and bring a picnic, or perhaps just grab a hot drink instead.  Enjoy the ducks and geese and make sure to go in at least one of the wild hides for a different view of Washington Wildfowl.  

I’d have loved to have given WWT Washington Wetland Centre 5 birds, especially since the birds are in great condition and the environment is so pleasant.  It drops one bird due to the visitor facilities, specifically the catering options.  

Overall rating:
(4 / 5)

• About
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Catalina Tate

I’m Catalina and I’ve always loved birds.

Outside, inside, wild or domesticated.

There’s something about birds that makes the world seem more alive and makes my life richer.

The past

It began with bird-watching trips with my parents from the age of 4 and continued throughout my childhood with trips to zoos and nature reserves both at home and abroad. I could name over fifty species of exotic waterfowl while I was still at primary school (cinnamon teal anyone?) and my fascination never waned.

Despite the plethora of other pets at home (cat, stick insects, hissing cockroaches, gerbil, dwarf hamsters), birds never featured in the line-up. Perhaps partly because my Dad accidentally trod on his own pet budgie at the age of 11?

The present

My first pet birds were chickens. A wedding present from friends, we were given three beautiful blue-laced bantam Wyandotte pullets. These were soon followed by three friendly-but-dim light Sussex bantam pullets and two buff rock bantam pullets. Hens have been a permanent feature in our garden ever since.

My husband and I purchased our first parrot in 2011 – Jo, our blue-fronted Amazon. By this point we had established our own bird supplies shop in Boldon http://www.gardenfeathers.co.uk, so we knew she could be with us 24/7.

The flock soon expanded to include a rescue cockatiel (Paul), a yellow-thighed caique (Skippy), a donated African Grey (Jimmy), two rainbow lorikeets brothers (Bert and Ernie), several pairs of Celestial Parrotlets and most recently a pair of black-headed caiques.

The future

I don’t know where life will take me, but if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that birds will always be a part of my past, present and future.

Catalina Tate

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