Castle Espie news
Make a Splash at the Northern Ireland Puddle Jumping Championships 2020
Back by popular demand, the Northern Ireland Puddle Jumping Championships return this February half term to WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre from Saturday 15 to Thursday 20 February.
4 February 2020
Wetland Conservation Charity Encourages Support of Local Wetland Centre on World Wetlands Day
On Sunday 2 February people across the globe will celebrate World Wetlands Day, highlighting the vital role of wetlands for people and the planet. From the Arctic to the tropics, to a small corner of the shores of Strangford Lough, wetlands can be foun
31 January 2020
Escape to a Winter Wildlife Wonderland this Christmas
With 60 adventure-filled acres of wildlife brilliance and spectacular views across Strangford Lough, Christmas is a fantastic time to visit WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre.
2 December 2019
Prepare to be spellbound this Halloween at Castle Espie
Wrap up warm this autumn and spend some time in our extraordinary wetland getting close to a wide range of species, playing with the leaves under your feet or participating in some spooky fun.
15 October 2019
Look who's back!
The last few days of August, saw the first Light-Bellied Brent Geese recorded on Strangford Lough this season. So far more than a dozen completed their epic journey from the Arctic and landed safely on the Lough, lured back by the life giving eelgrass. A
7 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 3rd September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Mid tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. They have returned! After flying over 2500 miles from their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada Brent Geese have returned to their wintering ground in Strangford Lough
3 September 2018
Bank holiday fun at Castle Espie
Join us before our summer of wetland adventures draws to a close! On Saturday, our expert guides will show you to construct a real woodland den, using bendy willow for walls as part we host Den Building sessions b
24 August 2018
Say cheese!
Throughout June and July, our reserve team monitored the numbers of predators on-site, through camera traps. Red Fox These cameras were placed around the woodland, secret swamp, saline lagoon and limestone lake. Thi
10 August 2018
Beautiful butterflies
This year's weather has led to a boom in the numbers of butterflies and moths being recorded at Castle Espie, which was great news for our first ever Butterfly Walk in July! Visitors explored the reserve alongside Reserve Warden Ross. Sightings on the day
30 July 2018
Appeal for missing Mandarin duckling
Earlier this week, a Mandarin duckling was taken from inside our newly renovated outdoor Duckery. Sadly, we believe this happened between 2pm and 3pm on Monday 16 July, just hours after our five Mandarin ducklings had graduated from indoors. We're contin
19 July 2018
Welcome to the world little ones
There are many reasons to love the spring and summer time; sunshine, flowers, butterflies and of course, plenty of fluffy ducklings and gorgeous goslings! Over the past three months, our Avic team have welcomed dozens of new arrivals into our newly renov
8 July 2018
Filming with the BBC
Over the past week, we've been delighted to welcome two separate BBC teams to Castle Espie. Avic Warden Kez and Reserve Manager Maurice spent time showing Ruth Sanderson and her team from 'Home Ground' around the site, explaining some of the vital works
5 July 2018
Join us for a summer of wetland adventures!
Dusty's Wildlife Rangers, Sun 1 July - Fri 31 August This is your chance to become a Wildlife Ranger. There are lots of exciting challenges waiting for you, from bug hunting to bird-feeding. You’re sure to have a quacking time! A great place to start y
25 June 2018
Trapping moths with Ross and Karoline
Every Monday, Ross and Karoline from our reserve team record the numbers of moths caught in a specialist trap at Castle Espie Wetland Centre. The trap is set out on Sunday evening and offers the moths (plus other species), a safe and warm place to spend t
20 June 2018
It's your Tern
During May, our busy reserve team placed two new tern rafts on the main lake and saline lagoon at Castle Espie Wetland Centre. These are specially designed to provide an island habitat for terns, which is both safe from flooding and predation. To encoura
18 June 2018