WETLANDS WILDFOWL TRUST ARUNDEL FAMILY OUTING APRIL 2004

Sussex is a glorious county, the so-called garden of England and for very good reason. I've lived in Sussex most of my life, including: Brighton, Eastbourne, Seaford, Newhaven, Hadlow Down, and of course Herstmonceux.

There is so much of interest to see and do in the United Kingdom, and we hope to expand the local geography section as time allows, to cover the most interesting aspects of this wonderful country.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is the UK’s only specialist wetland conservation charity with a national network of wetland visitor centres. WWT is a world leader in the protection of ducks, geese, swans and flamingos and the wetlands they inhabit.

Founded in 1946 by the artist and naturalist Sir Peter Scott, WWT is celebrating 60 years of conservation in 2006.

We visited the sanctuary as a family one nippy day in April 2004. It was a great excuse for our cousins to meet up to get together. In fact we do this every year.

A visit to WWT Arundel is educational and great fun for the family. There's plenty to do and see all year round. Getting you close to nature is what The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), a wildlife charity with visitor centres throughout Britain & Ireland, has been doing for over 50 years.

WWT was founded in 1946 by artist and naturalist Sir Peter Scott (see below). Sir Peter believed that the interaction between wildlife and people was the best way to communicate the conservation message and they are proud to continue his pioneering work.

There are ducks, geese and swans from all over the world. The Boardwalk offers an atmospheric journey through part of one of the biggest reed beds in Sussex, or go pond dipping, to discover mini beasts that dwell in our ponds. There are also boat Safaris through New Wetlands Discovery Area included in Admission throughout West Sussex School Holiday times.

As a charity, WWT relies on support from people like you - to enable them to carry out vital conservation work and to care for the wildlife and wetlands you'll see around the centre.

Restaurant, cafe, gift shop and art gallery. Baby changing facilities. Picnic area. Binocular hire. In Focus shop. Large free car park.

Excellent facilities for disabled visitors including level access to all areas and free wheelchair loan. Guide dogs welcome. Talks and tactile exhibits can be organised by prior arrangement.

Admission prices apply. Children under 4 years old and WWT members admitted free of charge during normal opening hours. Other concessionary rates available. Telephone 01903 883355 for details.

WWT Arundel
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Mill Street, Arundel
West Sussex
BN18 9PB UK
T: 01903 883355
F: 01903 884834
E: info.arundel@wwt.org.uk

WWT Arundel is close to the A27 & A29. On approaching Arundel by road, visitors should follow the brown duck signs. By foot from Arundel railway station, it is half a mile to Arundel Town and a further, gentle mile along Mill Road to the Trust. By Bus, there is a 30 minute service both from Chichester & the West (Route 55), and Brighton, Worthing & the East (Route 702) every weekday to the Arundel Town centre with the same walk along Mill Road.

Instructions: Nearest station is Arundel (approximately 2 miles away). A bus or taxi is required.By foot from Arundel railway station, it is half a mile to Arundel Town and a further, gentle mile along Mill Road to the Trust. By Bus, there is a 30 minute service both from Chichester & the West (Route 55), and Brighton, Worthing & the East (Route 702) every weekday to the Arundel Town centre with the same walk along Mill Road.

Sir Peter Markham Scott, C.H, C.B.E, D.S.C, F.R.S (Sept 1909 - Aug 1989) was a British ornithologist, conservationist, championship-class skater, dinghy-racer and glider pilot, as well as an accomplished painter.

Peter Scott was born in London, the only child of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott. He was a half-brother of Wayland Young (Lord Kennet) and his godfather was the Scottish playwright J. M. Barrie. He was educated at Oundle School (1922-27) and Cambridge University, graduating from Trinity College in 1931. He inherited his artistic talent from his mother, Kathleen, and had his first exhibition in London in 1933.

After leaving Oundle in 1927 Peter went on to graduate from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1931 and, having inherited his artistic talent from his mother, Kathleen, held his first exhibition in London in 1933.

As a teenager Peter was under pressure to train seriously as a skater with his mentors believing that no less than an Olympic Gold was assured. This was, however, only if he would agree to abandon all other endeavours in an enforced singleness of purpose that was not his style. Inevitably the price for skating fame was too dear and the ice rink remained what it had always been – a 'fun thing' at which, like a lot of other things, he happened to excel.

Scott was also an accomplished sailor, winning an Olympic Bronze medal in 1936 for single-handed dinghy racing and numerous other sailing championships. He also skippered the 12 metre yacht Sovereign in the 1964 challenge for the America's Cup which was held by USA. Sovereign suffered a whitewash 4-0 defeat in a very one-sided competition where the American boat was seen to be the faster design.

The International Fourteens was a competitive class with thoroughbred boats in which the feel of things and reactions to natural observation paid immediate dividends. He was immensely successful, and inventive – developing, with John Winter, the light wooden centreboard and the trapeze in the Thirties. Such secret weapons heaped success on success - in 1936 he represented the United Kingdom at sailing in the Olympic Games.

He married Elizabeth Jane Howard in 1942. A daughter, Nicola, was born a year later. They divorced in 1951. He married Philippa Talbot-Ponsonby in the same year.

Peter went on to win the British Gliding Championships within a year of becoming interested in flying, relishing the thermals over cities and cornfield that offered a closer understanding of bird flight. Meanwhile his wife became a thermal widow while the sailplane fervour was at its height - her task was to take the trailer to every conceivable corner of Britain when the day's lift had died.

During World War II Scott served in the navy, emulating his father. He was in the "little ships" against German E-boats. He is also partly credited with designing 'shadow camouflage', which disguised the look of ship superstructure. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery. He stood as a Conservative candidate unsuccessfully in the 1945 general election in Wembley, North. In 1948, he founded the organisation with which he was ever afterwards closely associated, the Severn Wildfowl Trust (now the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) with its headquarters at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. In the years that followed, he led several ornithological expeditions worldwide, and became a television personality, popularising the study of wildfowl and wetlands. He wrote and illustrated several books on the subject, including his autobiography, The Eye of the Wind (1961).

In 1948 Peter founded the organisation with which he was ever afterwards closely associated, the Severn Wildfowl Trust (now the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) with its headquarters at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. In the years that followed he led several ornithological expeditions worldwide and became a television personality, popularising the subject of wildfowl and wetlands. He wrote and illustrated several books on the subject, including his autobiography, The Eye of the Wind (1961).

In 1961 Peter also co-founded the World Wildlife Fund and designed its now famous panda logo and, from 1973-1983, was Chancellor of Birmingham University.

Peter is also remembered for giving the scientific name of Nessiteras rhombopteryx to the Loch Ness Monster so that it could be registered as an endangered species. The name, based on Greek, means 'the wonder of Ness with the diamond-shaped fin' but is also an anagram of 'Monster hoax by Sir Peter S'.

Scott was a long-time Vice-President of the British Naturalists' Association, whose Peter Scott Memorial Award was instituted after his death, to commemorate his achievements. He received many awards during his distinguished life, including being appointed a CH - Companion of Honour.

In June 2004, Scott and Sir David Attenborough were jointly profiled in the second of a three part BBC 2 series, The Way We Went Wild, about television wildlife presenters – leaving no doubt that Peter fulfilled the ambitions that his father set for him in his last diary: "Get the boy interested in natural history it is better than games."

Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AB