Visiting the WWT Washington Lego Safari
The moment I found out about the WWT Washington Lego safari, I knew I had to visit. After watching Lego Masters Australia recently, I have become totally fascinated by big build Lego, so this was right up my street!
Table of Contents
What is the WWT?
WWT stands for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, a conservation charity set up to save wetland habitats. They currently manage 10 sites around the UK; restoring, protecting and creating healthy wetlands, thus allowing nature to thrive.
WWT Washington
The wetlands in the Washington area of Tyne & Wear, nestled between Sunderland and Gateshead, are situated alongside the River Wear and surrounded by industry on three sides. You would never guess this is the case though by walking around WWT Washington, as it is so peaceful and the only sounds you hear are those belonging to nature.
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust took over the Washington site in 1975. Until this time, the site was used as farmland and contained very few trees. Once the WWT took over, thousands of trees were planted and all the lakes and ponds that you walk around today were manmade.
The WWT have successfully created a wonderful urban oasis with a huge variety of habitats, from wildflower meadows and woodlands to fresh water lakes and ponds, a saline lagoon and of course the tidal river banks complete with mudflats, which are perfect for wild otters. You would be incredibly lucky to see a wild otter here, but it is possible.
The Lego Safari
The WWT Washington Lego Safari is the perfect catalyst to discover the wildlife that call the Washington wetlands home. It is a great way of encouraging people to visit who might not have done so otherwise. I had not even heard of WWT Washington ahead of seeing the Lego creations on social media. I would like to think I would have visited at some point in the future, however this amazing project brought me here now and I’m so pleased it did!
There are 16 large scale Lego animals and birds and they are dotted around the site at the places where you are likely to spot those creatures.
Alongside each creation there is an information board (outlined in Lego of course) which tells you a little about the real-life creature, as well as how many bricks are in the Lego sculpture and how long it took to build. Got to cover the nerdy stuff, right?!
Most of the Lego sculptures can be found around or just off the central circular path that surrounds the ‘collection birds’ that Washington Wetland Centre has. This includes ducks like the mandarin, eider, goldeneye, bufflehead, red crested pochard and the white-headed duck, and geese like the red-breasted, Hawaiian, orinoco, barnacle and bar-headed geese. Then you’ll also find black swans, cranes and flamingos.
There are just 4 Lego birds that require going a little further afield: into Hollowood to see Sam the short-eared owl, the reservoir to see Katie the kingfisher and to the hides overlooking the wader lake to see Camille the curlew and Sukie the spoonie. I love how they all have names, alliterated to match the breed.
You can pick up a trail leaflet from the ticket desk which shows where all the Lego sculptures are. Used alongside the normal site map, its easy to find your way around WWT Washington Wetland Centre.
What to see at WWT Washington
Of course, there’s so much more to WWT Washington than just Lego creatures.
The Wildlife
Rooting out my 30+ year old binoculars was a good shout, as with their assistance I spotted bullfinches, a woodpecker, lapwings, herons, oystercatchers and avocets, as well as all those collection birds I mentioned earlier, which you can get very close to in the central circle nearest the visitor centre.
I absolutely love black swans, am totally fascinated by flamingos and the Andean Goose is such a beautiful and striking creature, he just left me mesmerised.
Unfortunately I didn’t have my DSLR with me so I was limited in how good my photos would be on my phone.
The various hides provide great viewing opportunities and each one comes with information panels of what you could expect to see from them. Seeing the avocets, lapwing and herons from the Northumbrian water hide alongside Wader Lake was a special moment. Each was in a different habitat – the avocets on the water, the lapwing in the meadow and the herons in the trees but it was amazing that you could see them all from the same location. Just goes to show how useful hides are in being able to get close to nature.
Seeing a bullfinch in Hawthorn Wood was a highlight for me too. I used to see a pair regularly as a young child at my parent’s house as they clearly must have nested nearby, but it is over 30 years since I’ve seen one. I just love their beautiful bright pink colouring – they are just stunning little birds.
At the opposite end of the site to Hawthorn Wood, you can find Spring Gill wood, an area of ancient woodland dating back hundreds of years. Luckily this area was on too steep of a slope to farm, so was left to become the magnificent woodland you can see today. In spring you can see a fantastic carpet of bluebells here along with plants such as dog violet, wood sorrel and primrose.
WWT Washington also have ponds where you can see dragonflies and amphibians, an insect garden with a bug hotel and a large duckery, which acts as a specialist breeding nursey where some of the more endangered wildfowl are hatched and raised.
One of the big attractions at WWT Washington Wetland Centre are their Asian short-clawed otters, which you can see being fed at talks twice during the day. Unfortunately, I did not get to see them as they were not visible in their enclosure when I was there and I missed both talk times which was a shame. At least I spotted Lottie the Lego otter though and she was pretty cool! There are also twice daily talks on their Chilean flamingo population.
The Arty Stuff
As you know – I always manage to find some weird and wonderful sculptures wherever I go, proving that the creative stuff really is appreciated everywhere. Plus, I love highlighting it to everyone else… So, make sure you keep an eye out for the original wooden sculptures around the site. They definitely predate the Lego creations.
I rather love these artistic benches too. The first one I saw sat at a rather peculiar angle and was in no way comfortable to sit on. WWT Washington certainly need to reset its position. However, the second one I spotted commanded a lovely position across the grassy space just up from the Duckery. A perfect spot for a picnic or ice cream.
The Education
As you make your way around the site, the WWT information boards tell you about each and every species that makes WWT Washington home. There are also boards which give you interesting facts about the wildfowl such as how ducks, geese and swans feed differently and why eiderdown duvets are really expensive. Also, about the environment; for example, where the water at WWT Washington comes from, how reedbeds work as a natural water treatment system and why we should use water wisely. Ever heard the saying ‘every day is a school day’? Well, I can guarantee a day out at WWT Washington Wetland Centre will be educational.
And in my case, it was all thanks to the WWT Washington Lego safari! Lego may have brought me here, but the stunning wildlife is what kept me and will be what brings me back again and again in the future.
Visitor Information
The WWT Washington Lego Safari is on until Sunday 5th June 2022, so if you’re looking for something a little bit different to do during half term, this could be it!
I would say you definitely need binoculars to get the most out of a day at WWT Washington as you would miss so much without them. However, if you don’t own a pair, you can hire them from the visitor centre for £5, plus a refundable deposit.
Opening Times & Admission
WWT Washington is open 364 days a year.
10am – 5.30pm: April – October
10am – 4.30pm: November – March
Last admission is one hour before closing.
See online here for current admission prices.
WWT Washington Guide Book
I can highly recommend purchasing the WWT Washington guide book as it details all the things you can expect to see in each season. This doesn’t just cover the typical wildfowl, but also the different insects, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians, flowers, plants, fungi and trees.
There are high quality photos of everything to help identify what you’re looking for, as well as check boxes to tick off what you have seen.
In addition, the guide book also details how the wetlands are looked after and which species have become ‘conservation stars’ and why. One example is the crane, the first bird I spotted (both Lego and real) on my visit to WWT Washington. As part of the Great Crane project, the WWT hand-reared 93 cranes which they then released onto the Somerset levels and moors, successfully doubling the UK crane population. Many of those birds have gone on to breed across the south west of England with recent years seeing the highest annual number of breeding pairs to date.
Get in Touch!
Have you been to a WWT reserve before? Why not check out where the 10 sites are and if there is one local to you. My nearest site is Martin Mere in north west England and yet another fab place to visit, though it’s been a while since I’ve been.
So – now for the big question! Which is your favourite Lego creature on the WWT Washington Lego safari?
It’s a tough choice – I absolutely adore the owl with its mottled feathers created brilliantly with the different coloured Lego bricks. However, I have to say the frog is superb, taking 75k bricks and 244 hours to build! What do you think? Let me know if you decide to visit and have a fantastic time if you do!
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Further Reading…
If you’re visiting the north east of England, you may like to check out these places too…
A summary of ace places to visit in Hartlepool and County Durham.
Just across the river from WWT Washington, up on the hill you can see Penshaw Monument, the Greek temple of north east England.
Go for a luxury afternoon tea at Wynyard Hall.
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Kath | 31st May 22
I wish I lived closer to this area of the country in order to be able to pop in and have a look at these amazing sculptures. The idea of a sculpture trail which can be covered easily within a day is great and the fact they are all made with Lego I find mind-blowing. Where on earth do you start planning the build of any of those birds?
Thankyou for hi-lighting this event. Fabulous photos!!
Tilly Jaye Horseman | 31st May 22
I have the same thoughts about how you go about building Lego creatures like this too! Would love to give it a try, but that’s a whole other hobby I don’t have space, time or funds to indulge in, lol…