What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre

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WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre

WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre WWT Castle Espie is a visitor centre open all year. Come and see the power of wetlands for yourself.
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23/04/2025

🌿 We’re part of Big Give’s Green Match Fund. This means between 22 – 29 April your donations can be doubled, at no extra cost!

🦸‍♀️ Wetlands are nature’s superheroes – carbon-storing, species-saving and life-giving. But they are disappearing 3x faster than forests.

🌊 We’re working hard to restore these superpowered spaces, but we can’t do it alone.

Find out more to donate 👉 www.wwt.org.uk/biggive

22/04/2025

Wetlands are underrated.

These often-misunderstood ecosystems are actually super-powered solutions to the challenges our world faces 🌍

Wetlands are nature-bursting, flood-busting, carbon-storing, water-purifying, life-giving ecosystems.

But we’ve lost 87% of wetlands across the Earth. They are disappearing at an alarming rate, faster than forests.

At WWT, we’re on a mission to restore wetlands and unlock their power. You can help us by visiting our wetland centre, joining as a member, or donating 💛

Visit our website to find out more.

20/04/2025

Hoppy 🐸

We’re open as normal from 10am-5pm every day over Easter. Come and enjoy a full family day out at the wetlands!

Check out what’s on and plan your visit 👉 https://ow.ly/ub0f50VyR2m

19/04/2025

Want to see the world through an insect’s eyes? 👀

Before you visit, download the Lloyd of the Flies AR Bug Hunt augmented reality trail app produced by Aardman FREE to download on Google Play and App Store and you can shrink down to fly size.

You can enter the location code available in the centre on arrival.

Discover the secret life of insects on the Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt, running until 1 June.

Visit our website for more details 👉 https://ow.ly/AIzy50VyOQT

17/04/2025

What’s on this Easter weekend at WWT Castle Espie 👇

🔍 Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt | Daily
🐛 Minibeast Hunting | Fri-Mon, booking required
🐝 Build a bug hotel | Fri & Mon only
🦆 Diving Duck Talks | Daily, 12.45pm
✨ Handfeeding in the aviary | Daily, 3pm
🐤 Wild bird feeding area | All day, every day

We're open everyday over Easter from 10am-5pm!

Find out more and plan your visit 👉 https://ow.ly/CZjp50VyOct

16/04/2025

It’s nesting season 🐣

Look out for birds on the reserve collecting things like twigs, grass and feathers to build safe and cosy nests – just like this linnet!

📸: Jonny Clark

15/04/2025

In honour of our brand-new Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt, we’re going minibeast mad this Easter weekend! 🐛

🐜 Book into a guided Minibeast Hunt and embark on an epic mission to uncover remarkable creatures - daily from Fri - Mon

🐞 Or drop in to a Bug Hotel workshop and help the team build the perfect new pad for our resident insects - Fri & Mon only

Click the link in bio to learn more and book your visit ✨

14/04/2025

Looking for an Easter school holiday adventure? We’ve got you covered 💡

Dive into the wonderful world of wetland insects with Lloyd, from Aardman’s children’s comedy series, Lloyd of the Flies, and his new friend Dart the dragonfly.

Together they’re looking for Lloyd's friends and family, exploring our wetlands, and making their way to Castle Espie’s bug hotel.

Click the link in our bio to learn more about the Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt and plan your Easter adventure now.

Aardman | The Royal Entomological Society |

13/04/2025

Prepare for lift off 🚀

Huge thanks to .and.jaunts on Instagram for these photos 👏

Share yours with us in the comments below or by tagging WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre 🦆 We love seeing all of your wetland adventures and wildlife encounters!

12/04/2025

Join us tomorrow for our Easter Fair with North Down Craft Collective 🐣

✨ Sunday 13th April, 10am-4pm
✨ Visitor centre
✨ Free entry to the market. Normal admission applies beyond the visitor centre.

With over 25 talented local artists and makers, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Take a sneak peek at what you can expect from just a few of them 👇

📸: CBH Embroidery | Wee Yarn Designs | Figment Ceramics by Jakki Trainor | Fiddle Fig | Adele Pound Wildlife Art |

10/04/2025

Songsters spotted 👀

Say hello to our first blackcap and willow warbler of the year - two of our most tuneful visitors 🎶

Find out who’s keeping them company on the reserve in this week’s sightings round up 👉 https://ow.ly/Uzpg50VxwwU

📸: Jonny Clark

09/04/2025

🦋 Butterfly alert 🦋

DYK? In early spring, holly blue butterflies are the first of the blue butterfly species to emerge.

This one was spotted this week!

As the weather gets warmer, more and more butterflies will appear so keep your eyes peeled on your next visit 👀

📸: Jonny Clark

08/04/2025

"What are you looking at?!"

No, really… it’s Bird ID quiz time! Can you identify this talented singer spotted on our reserve? 👀

Check back in the morning for the answer 👇

📸: Jonny Clark

07/04/2025

We’re hiring! 📣

We have two exciting opportunities to join our team as casual staff:

⭐ Casual Learning Assistant
As part of our Learning Team, you will help to create inspiring and memorable visits by delivering guided learning sessions for schoolchildren, as well as family engagement activities for visitors during the holidays.

Apply here 👉 https://ow.ly/6OFO50Vv7MK

⭐ Casual Catering Assistant
As part of our Catering Team, you will offer exceptional customer service within our café and help to generate a warm and welcoming environment for our visitors.

Apply here 👉 https://ow.ly/hmWf50Vv7MJ

06/04/2025

One week to go until our Easter Craft Fair! 🐣

Come along to shop unique, locally made products from North Down Craft Collective From textiles to ceramics, paintings to prints, and everything in between, the makers have got you covered.

✨ Sunday 13th April, 10am-4pm
✨ Visitor centre
✨ Free entry to the market. Normal admission applies beyond the visitor centre.

Find out more on our What’s On page via the link in bio.

05/04/2025

Last-minute weekend plans sorted ⤵️

This Sunday, get creative while learning new digital art skills at our insect-themed Animation Workshop with Waveform Digital Media and Boom Studios 🐞🐛

⭐ For ages 8+

Grab your tickets now 👉 https://ow.ly/8hRt50VuJFr

04/04/2025

📣 Calling little and big adventurers alike!

Come and dive into the wonderful world of wetland insects with Lloyd from Aardman children’s comedy series, Lloyd of the Flies. He’s joined by his new friend Dart the dragonfly and other friendly faces you’ll know and love 🦋🐝

Learn more about the Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt by visiting our website. Click the link in our bio.

The Royal Entomological Society

03/04/2025

Lovely to see some blue t**s have been making themselves at home in our nestboxes this week! 🐥

📸: Jonny Clark

Address

78 Ballydrain Road
Newtownards
BT236EA

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+442891874146

Website

http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/castle-espie

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