Header image: WWT Chief Operating Officer Kevin Peberdy
Amazingly, 80 years have passed since Peter Scott founded the Severn Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge. Since then, WWT has grown to become one of the largest wetland conservation organisations in the world, working tirelessly to protect wetlands and wildlife and engage people with these watery wonderlands and the many benefits they provide.
As WWT Chief Operating Officer, it’s been my privilege to be part of that remarkable journey for 38 years. So, to mark this very special 80th anniversary, I’d like to share some of my most memorable moments.
My WWT highlights
- Sitting with Scott in his studio on my first day at WWT. Scott – an icon of conservation – actually asked my opinion on how to improve Caerlaverock’s ponds. It’s stayed with me ever since.
- Hearing that black-tailed godwits had bred on Lady Fen at Welney for the first time. This success was the culmination of six years’ work to restore wet fen from former vegetable fields.
- Opening the London Wetland Centre with Sir David Attenborough. Later, I would reflect on the astonishing achievement of converting four concrete reservoirs into an ecologically diverse urban wetland. It has since become a blueprint for global urban wetland creation.
- Being overcome by the sight of a teenager disembarking our electric boat safari at Arundel in her wheelchair. She was crying, but she quickly reassured me they were happy tears. It was just that she had never been able to explore wetlands from the water before. Our role has always been to connect and inspire.
- Watching the first high tide sweep across 480 hectares of restored wetlands at Steart Marshes. This project demonstrates that the benefits of creating bigger and better wetlands go way beyond wildlife.
- Standing in an aviary surrounded by 40 curlew chicks. The raising of this threatened species is the latest success in WWT’s long history of conservation breeding in the UK and abroad. These birds are a symbol of hope for our lost wetlands and the biodiversity they support.
Curlew chicks being raised at WWT Slimbridge
Making a difference
Over the past 80 years, WWT’s sites have supported more than 15 million wintering birds and engaged more than 40 million people, including two million school children. We have changed the way we monitor and protect wetland nature in the UK, developed action plans for some of the most threatened wetland species, and backed all of this up with sound science and direct conservation work in the UK and across the world’s flyways.
Despite all the successes, today the threats to the environment are far greater than even Peter Scott could predict in 1946. But 80 years of experience and knowledge, of dedicated staff and volunteers, have got us to a point where we know what is needed. There are many more memorable moments on the way.
Happy birthday WWT!
Kevin Peberdy has worked at WWT for 38 years. He has been WWT's Chief Operating Officer since 2017.
