Slimbridge Wetland Centre

Conceived in nineteen forty six By naturalist, Sir Peter Scott, This wetland paradise now thrives And teems with ducks and geese and swans. The wild geese drew Scott to the marsh, The flood plain of the river Severn, Where countless wintering wildfowl stop Upon their migratory journey. There’re nine varieties of swan And more than twenty types of geese, Not to mention ducks by the dozen With varying plumage through the seasons. Flamingos, elegant on stilts, Gather gregariously together. They make a brilliant splash of colour, Frome palest pink to brightest orange. Some stars will often steal the show – The friendly Nene (Hawaiian Goose); No fear of man, almost extinct, Till Scott encouraged breeding pairs. That shrill cacophony of sound Which drifts across the shining lake Is made by happy Whistling Ducks That yearn to share their thrill of life ! Andean Geese in regal splendour, Proud pairs that strut upon the shore, Each one so full of self-importance That smaller ducks will keep well clear. Our visit now is near its end; We bid farewell to feathered friends And leave with glowing memories Of Slimbridge on the Severn marsh.