£350,000 Wetland Ambassador Project aims to create one of the UK’s most immersive wetland wildlife experiences
Pensthorpe Conservation Trust has unveiled ambitious new plans to transform its existing crane and flamingo areas into one of the UK’s most immersive, accessible and welfare-led wetland wildlife experiences.
The £350,000 Wetland Ambassador Project, which has now entered planning, will completely reimagine a significant area of Pensthorpe’s current crane and flamingo enclosures through larger habitats, immersive boardwalks, new educational spaces, enhanced landscaping and a spectacular fully accessible 360-degree crane hide.
Designed around conservation, accessibility, welfare and emotional connection with nature, the project represents one of the most significant redevelopment visions at Pensthorpe in recent years.
Plans include:
• Crane enclosures more than doubling in size
• A new fully accessible 360-degree crane hide
• Immersive boardwalks and visitor viewing routes
• New flamingo winter welfare facilities providing resilience during avian influenza restrictions
• Covered educational and interpretation spaces
• Significant new landscaping and wetland-style planting
• Enhanced welfare and biosecurity infrastructure
• Improved accessibility throughout the area
Pensthorpe Conservation Trust has already committed £150,000 towards the project, with the remaining funding now being sought through public fundraising, philanthropy, corporate sponsorship and in-kind support.
The wider vision shown within the project masterplan and CGI concepts will be delivered in phases, with additional support helping unlock further immersive, educational and visitor experience elements across the redevelopment.
The Trust is inviting individuals, businesses and philanthropic partners to support the next phase of development through donations, sponsorship and practical support including materials, landscaping products, infrastructure and specialist services.
Pensthorpe hopes the project will become a collaborative effort involving local businesses, suppliers and supporters alongside major donors and public fundraising.
The project has been designed to help visitors better understand wetlands and biodiversity through closer, more meaningful connections with cranes, flamingos and wetland species.
A major philosophy behind the redevelopment is moving beyond more traditional “viewing wildlife from behind fences” approaches and instead creating a more immersive environment that allows visitors to feel more connected to the species and landscapes around them.
Ben Marshall, Managing Director at Pensthorpe, said:
“The Wetland Ambassador Project represents one of the most ambitious redevelopment visions in Pensthorpe’s recent history.
This is about transforming our existing crane and flamingo areas into a much more immersive and accessible experience, where visitors can explore through and alongside wildlife environments rather than simply viewing animals from a distance.
We want people to feel more emotionally connected to wetlands, wildlife and conservation while also delivering major improvements in welfare, accessibility and long-term resilience.
We hope the project will become a nationally recognised example of how conservation, education and visitor experience can work together to inspire future generations to care about wetlands and biodiversity.”
At Pensthorpe, cranes and flamingos act as “Wetland Ambassadors”, helping create emotional connections with wildlife and encouraging visitors to engage with wider conservation and environmental challenges.
Subject to planning approval, phased delivery of the project is expected to begin later this year.
Further information and ways to support the project can be found at:
www.pensthorpe.com