WWT Martin Mere Nature Zone Project – Stage 1

WWT Martin Mere is creating a Nature Zone that will be the transition between the family activities area of our site and the wild nature reserve. A section of the grounds, which previously housed some of our captive collection of waterfowl, will become an accessible area of nature reserve, encouraging families and less confident visitors to access and interact with wildlife in a safe environment. The project will:

1. Create an accessible 1100m2 self-guided bug hunting area for school groups and general visitors of all ages and abilities. They will be able to search for and identify insects in the newly created habitat using identification sheets and magnifying glasses. Currently Martin Mere only has a small wood area to perform bug hunts with schools and this is not open to visitors as an activity.

2. Create an accessible 1800m2 wildflower meadow that will have both dry and wet pathways. Situated directly opposite the bug hunting area, the meadow’s pathways will give visitors the option to get their feet wet or to stay dry. The pathways will be accessible to wheelchairs. This area will offer a unique way of accessing nature.

3. Significantly improve the habitat quality of this section of the Martin Mere site. Much of the work will involve aquatic, silt and wildflower planting, removal of existing infrastructure, treatment of concrete edges and desilting of ponds and ditches to re-wild and restore habitats for the benefit of wildlife as well as providing an enhanced visitor experience. The bug hunting area will include the creation of wildflower areas and log piles along with relevant planting to provide habitat for insects. The area where we will create the wildflower meadow already attracts a large array of insects; the habitat work here will focus on creating the perfect habitat to attract even more dragonflies, butterflies and other insects.

With accompanying interpretation/signage, these new habitats will provide an accessible introduction to the wild side of Martin Mere for families. Visits can be self-guided, or staff and volunteer-led. Our aspiration is that the Nature Zone will help foster a love of nature and positive health benefits for all. In 2025, the theme for WWT is insects and we are proposing a dragonfly festival for summer 2025. We will launch the Nature Zone in July 2025, with daily bug hunting experiences and the opening of the submersed walkways, allowing visitors to walk alongside dragonflies.

The need for the project:
Our research has shown that the majority of Martin Mere’s visitors, especially families, do not leave the family activities area of the grounds and enter the wild nature reserve. However, this research also showed that when there are activities in the outer part of the grounds, this can be a catalyst for getting families to venture onto the reserve. This was also demonstrated by the number of families accessing the wild reedbed walk when our collection was closed during the pandemic. Spending time in nature, in particular next to water, can reduce psychological stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression; it can also reduce social isolation and increase physical activity. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for nature connection, especially opportunities at a local level. In addition, the most popular summer holiday activities on our site are the ‘wilder’ and more nature connection-focussed activities such as the canoe safari, going through the wild walk, feeding the birds and pond dipping. This illustrates the need for more activities that allow visitors to get up close to, interact with, and immerse themselves in nature and wildlife.