WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre

WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre We're currently closed - reopening in spring 2026. Learn about the power of wetlands and meet the species that call this site home. Come and see for yourself.
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Like us for behind-the-scenes news & latest sightings from our wetland centre near Dumfries on the Solway Firth.

As part of the ongoing recruitment to re-build and bolster our site team, we’re hiring for two exciting roles, an Engage...
13/04/2026

As part of the ongoing recruitment to re-build and bolster our site team, we’re hiring for two exciting roles, an Engagement Officer and an Operations Supervisor.

As Engagement Officer, you’ll be responsible for helping to develop the face and voice of Caerlaverock, leading on the creation of content across social media and digital platforms.

And as Operations Supervisor, you’ll be helping to manage our recently renovated self-catering accommodation, general site operations and maintenance, and more.

These are two exciting roles, rooted in the local Caerlaverock community, who will help welcome members and visitors to the site. Clocking into work, you’ll be surrounded by stunning views of the North Solway coast, alongside a small but dedicated team as well as thousands of barnacle geese, rare natterjack toads and beautiful Hebridean sheep.

Find out more and apply using the links below 👇

🦢 Engagement Officer ➡️ https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/803/engagement-officer.html
🦢 Operations Supervisor ➡️ https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/802/operations-supervisor.html

📅Closing date: 19 April 2026

As part of the ongoing improvement works at WWT Caerlaverock, we’ve transformed the Eastpark farmhouse. We’ve worked ha...
07/04/2026

As part of the ongoing improvement works at WWT Caerlaverock, we’ve transformed the Eastpark farmhouse. We’ve worked hard to:

🧱Sandblast the outside walls to uncover the beautiful local red sandstone beneath
🔨Replace the ground floor flooring
💧Improve the drainage around the house
🏡Install a new roof, reusing the old Lancashire slates and completed with a solar panel.
🎨There’s just a few more jobs to do before redecorating and putting the finishing touches to what will be warm, dry and comfortable self-catering accommodation, with stunning views of the reserve.

We can’t wait to show you the finished result!

For more information about ongoing changes on the reserve, please visit our website.
https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/changes

Does being surrounded by 40,000 geese sound like your dream job?Imagine clocking in to epic wetland views and sharing yo...
26/03/2026

Does being surrounded by 40,000 geese sound like your dream job?

Imagine clocking in to epic wetland views and sharing your morning with barnacle geese, natterjack toads and Hebridean sheep. WWT Caerlaverock is looking for a Senior Project Manager to lead a major landscape scale development project linking our wondrous wetland reserve with other wildlife bursting areas across the north Solway coast.

Role responsibilities:
🗺️ Mapping out nature corridors
🦎 Surveying for species like natterjack toads
🤝 Working closely with local communities and land managers
🌱 Creating practical solutions to boost biodiversity
Your office: One of Scotland’s most stunning wetland landscapes - right on the edge of the mighty Solway Firth.
📅 Fixed term role to 31 March 2027
🖊️ Job closing date: 29 March 2026
🔗 Apply now: https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/778/senior-project-manager--connecting-caerlaverock-project.html

We were very pleased to welcome some local members on site for a small event, to hear more about the ongoing changes we’...
23/03/2026

We were very pleased to welcome some local members on site for a small event, to hear more about the ongoing changes we’re making at WWT Caerlaverock. Thank you to all of you who came along, for your time and all your thoughtful questions.

For those of you whose closest site isn’t Caerlaverock, and those unable to attend, here is a summary of the key points from the event:

🪶 The changes at WWT Caerlaverock are part of a wider picture, to set up all of 10 wetland sites to succeed in the long term. Each site needs a clear purpose and a sustainable way of operating.

🪶 At WWT Caerlaverock that means ending our retail and catering offer, and instead focussing on making the reserve the best it can be for wildlife and people.

🪶 As our only site in Scotland, we are fully committed to WWT Caerlaverock’s long-term future. While being closed, we’re doing improvement works, strengthening the site’s financial resilience and finding new income streams, like renovating the farmhouse into bookable accommodation.

🪶We continue to work towards reopening this spring, by rebuilding our brilliant reserve team. Recruitment takes time, so we will only be able to reopen when we are certain its safe and sustainable to do so. We’ll share the exact date with you all as soon as we can.

Thank you all for your continued patience and support, and for further information, please visit our website: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/changes

📷Amy Hencher-Stevens / WWT

Meet our natterjack toad managers. 🐏An important part of our reserve management team is a small herd of Hebridean sheep....
17/02/2026

Meet our natterjack toad managers. 🐏

An important part of our reserve management team is a small herd of Hebridean sheep. Their grazing around the natterjack pools, helps to manage the surrounding vegetation, and makes sure they’re in the best shape possible for these rare toads to thrive.

During the winter, we give the sheep a few months off so they can explore some of the bigger fields, while feeding them up to keep them in good condition.

Tough as this team are, they still love a few sheep nuts!

Although our doors are temporarily closed, winter work continues to keep us busy on site, especially coppicing sections ...
11/02/2026

Although our doors are temporarily closed, winter work continues to keep us busy on site, especially coppicing sections of willow. 🌳

Coppicing is a woodland management technique, which involves cutting back trees or shrubs to encourage regrowth of new straight stems.

When the site was originally set up, lots of willow was planted at once, resulting in lots of trees maturing at the same time. Trees of different ages and sizes can benefit a range of different wildlife species during their life cycles, so the team have been busy cutting down small sections and allowing it to regrow from the stumps.

We’re looking forward to seeing how this benefits wildlife on site in the coming months.

The swan cam is back! 🎥🦢 While we’ve been doing some building works at the site, the power supply for the camera was dam...
04/02/2026

The swan cam is back! 🎥🦢

While we’ve been doing some building works at the site, the power supply for the camera was damaged. Thankfully, it’s now back up and running and we’re pleased to share that the infamous swan soap opera can be seen by all.

We know everyone loves seeing the spectacle of the swans at Caerlaverock in the winter. While we’re closed, we hope you’ll make full use of the camera, and watch along for their two daily feeds in the morning and middle of the day.

https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/explore/whooper-pond-webcam

When you try to take a photo of the Barnacle geese, and you get photobombed by a pheasant and a whooper swan! 🙈 We love...
02/02/2026

When you try to take a photo of the Barnacle geese, and you get photobombed by a pheasant and a whooper swan! 🙈

We love this photo taken by Centre and Reserve Manager David Pickett.

Happy World Wetlands Day everyone! 🩵

We wanted to take a minute to say a huge thanks you to our partners Glengoyne, for their continued support for WWT Caerl...
28/01/2026

We wanted to take a minute to say a huge thanks you to our partners Glengoyne, for their continued support for WWT Caerlaverock.

To date, their generous funding has meant we could carry out vital work across the reserve, including essential structural repairs to the Folly Pond and Glengoyne Hide, as well as the creation of brand new wetlands right in front of the hide.

With more than 12 years of partnership, Glengoyne’s support continues to make a real difference for the wildlife that calls Caerlaverock home.

Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Could 2026 be the year you swap your desk for a nature reserve?We're restructuring the team at WWT Caerlaverock and ther...
05/01/2026

Could 2026 be the year you swap your desk for a nature reserve?

We're restructuring the team at WWT Caerlaverock and there's just a few more days to apply for the following vacancies:

⭐ Reserve Warden ⭐

You will assist in the management of the nature reserve at WWT Caerlaverock including the development and day to day running of the reserve under the guidance of the Centre Manager. This will include the management of habitats, reserve infrastructure, and species monitoring.
https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/693/reserve-warden.html

⭐ Engagement Officer ⭐

You will work with a team of volunteers at our visitor hub to support the admissions to the site and provide interesting and creative interpretation to enhance the visitor experience.
https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/689/engagement-officer.html

⭐ Administration Officer ⭐

You will supervise the smooth and efficient operation of the WWT Caerlaverock reserve office and financial interactions in the running of our nature reserve and visitor centre.
https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/690/administration-officer.html

⭐ Operations & Facilities Supervisor ⭐

You will supervise the smooth and efficient operation of the WWT Caerlaverock operations including a self-catering holiday accommodation operation, visitor attraction buildings and an admissions process.
https://vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/688/operations--facilities-supervisor.html

📷James Stevens WWT

Earlier in November, we let you know that we’d be making some changes to how we operate, to make sure the site thrives i...
16/12/2025

Earlier in November, we let you know that we’d be making some changes to how we operate, to make sure the site thrives in the future.

We recognise that during this period of change, there has been some disruption when you've visited us. We’ve tried our best to remain open and offer you the very best experience during this time, but the reality is, we haven’t been able to fulfil that.

So, we’ve made the difficult decision to close temporarily for the next few months. Our last day of opening will be Saturday 20 December, and we’ll be closed until spring 2026.

We share your disappointment at this news. And we are particularly sorry to be closing at a time when we know you love to come and experience the wildlife spectacles that winter brings with it.

You can keep up to date with what’s happening at the site here on Facebook, as well as on our website: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/changes

Despite the trees having lost their leaves, they are still very full of life 🌱Take a closer look at their branches and y...
13/12/2025

Despite the trees having lost their leaves, they are still very full of life 🌱

Take a closer look at their branches and you might see winter buds. They contain next years leaves and flowers, and can withstand harsh winter conditions. They will first emerge in spring following environmental cues. Their emergence is known as budburst and is a telling sign of spring 🌸

Address

Eastpark Farm, Caerlaverock
Dumfries
DG14RS

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+441387770200

Website

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