The Cotswolds stands as one of many world’s most pristine nature enclaves, offering for each folks and wildlife for generations. In 1966, the Cotswolds turned internationally acknowledged as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which formally designated this distinctive and valuable panorama as an intrinsic side of the United Kingdom. Located simply two hours northwest of London, the area is legendary for its pure landscapes, exuberant gardens, small natural farms and grand nation estates.
The Cotswolds are the best location for a relaxing retreat into nature. With trout-filled streams, beech forests and wildflower meadows, it’s the largest protected space in England and Wales. The Cotswolds covers almost 800 sq. miles and runs via 5 counties—Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. Eighty % of the land stays as farmland, and considerate stewardship of the land permits the habitat to help a various vary of wildlife.
The Cotswolds has an impressive historical past of conservation and is a haven for wildlife, particularly migratory birds. In 1946, celebrated artist, ornithologist and conservationist Sir Peter Markham Scott based the first-ever Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) within the United Kingdom. The Slimbridge Wetland Center is located within the Cotswolds on the River Severn in Gloucestershire and has turn into internationally acknowledged for a number of conservation wins. Since its formation, ten extra WWT websites have been opened throughout the UK, all with the mission to avoid wasting threatened wetland species from extinction and preserve their habitats.
Slimbridge Wetland Center: 76 years of Saving Wetland Bird Species
The Slimbridge Wetland Center spans 2,000 acres and helps 3,000 birds that signify some 200 distinctive species. Varied landscapes of pasture, reed mattress, lagoon and salt marsh present a luscious pure surroundings for these valuable birds. As a analysis middle, 1 / 4 of Slimbridge is reserved for captive birds and breeding inventory. Today, Slimbridge has the world’s largest assortment of captive wildfowl (geese, geese and swans) and maintains a wonderful breeding file. The refuge helps breeding colonies of 4 of the six recognized flamingo species and has a particular pavilion for unique geese and varied small birds.
“Nene” Hawaiian goose.
The nene, also called the Hawaiian goose, was saved from whole extinction, primarily as a result of Sir Scott and his imaginative and prescient for Slimbridge. In 1952, solely 30 people of the Hawaiian goose remained after struggling main inhabitants declines within the 18th century. Troubled by the potential extinction of those birds, Sir Scott introduced three birds from Hawaii to Slimbridge to start the primary captive breeding program for these threatened birds. Sir Scott was in a position to reintroduce 200 nenes again to Hawaii’s Maui Island by 1979. Today, the inhabitants is greater than 2,000, marking one of many reserve’s most profitable conservation wins. A go to to Slimbridge means seeing these uncommon birds whereas getting perception into the trailblazing methods and applied sciences that helped get better this threatened species.
Slimbridge is a Birder’s Paradise
Two Spoonbill, (Platalea leucorodia), preening at Slimbridge.
Some 15 million birds migrate to WWT websites throughout the UK each winter. The Slimbridge Wetland Center gives year-round alternatives to see uncommon birds from everywhere in the world. In the summer time, you possibly can absorb new life teeming throughout the reserve, equivalent to kingfishers, wading birds passing via on their migration and summer time warblers. In autumn, you’ll see tundra swans, inexperienced sandpipers, wigeons, golden plovers, pintails and lots of different wintering birds arriving on the estuary. Bird watchers and photographers will get pleasure from winter in Slimbridge as 30,000 wild wintering geese, geese and swans might be discovered feeding and roosting on the reserve. Spring brings new arrivals like swallows, home martins and summer time warblers. Listen for the songs of chiffchaffs, reeds, sedge warblers and the distinctive name of the cuckoo.
Mute swan and her cygnets.
When the Slimbridge Wetland Center opened, the general public was inspired to discover the reserve. In 1953, Sir Scott hosted BBC’s first-ever pure historical past program, streaming reside from his artist’s studio overlooking the lakes at Slimbridge. Curating experiences for folks to discover and really feel comfy in nature was Sir Scott’s mission, and it stays his legacy. Today, 23 million vacationers go to Slimbridge every year. WWT’s founder stays an influential drive even after his passing. His legacy lives on in continued efforts to make sure that the general public can witness and be a part of this thriving wetland ecosystem.
Pied avocet (recurvirostra avosetta)
The Ultimate Exploration of English Nature
Natural Habitat Adventures presents an in-depth journey throughout Britain’s basic countryside, together with a go to to Slimbridge, dubbed the Avian Serengeti. The Cotswolds: Exploring English Nature tour gives a serene retreat into nature with greater than 3,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways to discover.
© Hollie Galloway
The wealthy heritage of the Cotswolds leaves a lot to discover. The expansive farmland gives a harvest of high-quality native natural artisan cheese, cream, lamb, pork, trout, berries, honey, cider, ale and extra. At Honeydale Farm, you’ll study concerning the sustainable farming practices that native farmers pleasure themselves on. Explore the Cotswolds’ well-known nature reserves in addition to historic hardwood forests, wildflower meadows, marshes, streams and hedgerows, house to native wildlife like foxes and badgers.
Nat Hab’s Cotswolds journey options better-known highlights (equivalent to Slimbridge), in addition to excursions of charming non-public properties and a number of the best gardens within the UK. Enjoy guided retreats into royal gardens at Highgrove House and estates which are off-limits to the general public. This unique tour of English nature honors Slimbridge and the Cotswolds’ function in addressing species decline. This thriving ecosystem has stood as a testomony to conservation values and practices and has influenced world efforts to guard very important landscapes and wildlife.
Baby Greylag goslings consuming daisies in a meadow throughout spring on the WWT in Slimbridge.