WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre

Located between Gloucester and Bristol, Slimbridge Wetland Centre is a great kids day out in all seasons. Home to exotic and rare birds, mammals and a large collection of amphibians, this wonderful wildlife reserve is packed with family things to do and see.

Make sure you buy some grain when you arrive so the kids can feed the ducks, geese and swans as you stroll through the grounds. Be prepared to meet geese so greedy they are more than happy to feed from visitors’ hands!

Then head for Flamingo Lagoon with a sunken observatory to see all six species of flamingo and don’t miss the tallest birds in the collection, the cranes. The Back from the Brink area is the place to see mammals such as otters, beavers or even a tiny harvest mouse. If you attend one of the commentated feeding sessions, you will be able to observe the otters at their most active.

Meanwhile, the pond zone offers a range of interactive activities and includes an indoor soft play area. Encounter exotic frogs, salamanders and newts during daily talks and handling sessions at Toad Hall.

Don’t miss the outdoor wet playground Welly Boot Land with fun kids activities such as constructing a dam or changing water flow by spinning on a roundabout!

How about a canoe safari? From spring to autumn you can hire canoes and spot wildlife from the water. Canoes take up to three people (minimum age is 3 years). Look out for dragon flies, water voles, ducks and warblers.

Finally, check the information board to find out what’s on when you arrive so you don’t miss anything. For instance, special events and activities include downy duckling days and duckery tours, summer Land Rover safaris and winter floodlit swan feeds.

Please see WWT’s website for more information.