WWT Caerlaverock for our members’ event

Thank you to everyone who joined us recently at WWT Caerlaverock for our members’ event, to hear more about the changes we’re making to the reserve. We really appreciated your time, support and thoughtful questions.

For those who weren’t able to attend, I’m including a summary of the event, as well as a recording of the talk from Sarah Fowler, our Chief Executive, and Alex Lane, our Director of Operations.

Why we’re making these changes
The changes we’re making now at WWT Caerlaverock are part of a wider picture; setting our sites up to succeed in the long term. For each of our 10 wetland sites to play its part in WWT, the wetland charity’s mission, every site needs a clear purpose and a sustainable way of operating.

At WWT Caerlaverock, that means focusing on the reserve and making the very best of its wetland habitats for wildlife and people. By directing our time and investment into the reserve, we can ensure it remains a thriving wetland for species such as barnacle geese and the rare natterjack toad, as well as a place where visitors from both near and far, can enjoy and connect with wild wetlands.

Our commitment and reopening plans
As our only site in Scotland, we are fully committed to WWT Caerlaverock’s long-term future. While also making changes to the site and carrying out maintenance and improvement works, we’re also working on strengthening the financial resilience of the site long into the future. This includes development of new income streams, such as the renovated farmhouse accommodation.

We’re continuing to work towards reopening in the spring of this year, and will confirm the exact date as soon as we are ready to. As we stressed at the members’ event, we will not commit to a reopening date until recruitment and preparations are complete, and it is safe and sustainable to do so.

We hope to return to opening seven days a week, but you will be the first to hear from us with the full details once we’re ready.

How you can support
If you would like to make a donation specifically to WWT Caerlaverock, you can do so here.

If you’d like to know about volunteering at the reserve, please register your interest here.

Watch the full talk

Click here to view.

How to stay up to date
We will contact you directly via email or letter once we have finalised our reopening plans. In the meantime, you can keep up to date with what’s happening on site via:

Our website, with extensive FAQs
Our WWT Caerlaverock Facebook page

Thank you again for your continued support. Your membership plays an important role in ensuring WWT Caerlaverock can thrive long into the future.

Best wishes,

Dave Pickett

WWT Caerlaverock Site Manager