Freshwater Surveys

Pond dipping is always popular here at WWT London Wetland Centre, and not just with children. Adults can also grab a net in one of our dipping sessions and see what they can find swimming under the surface.

In these sessions you’ll be helping us make detailed records of some of the amazing aquatic wildlife we have here at the Centre. As well as surveying our raised ponds we will be venturing off the beaten track to survey some of our more remote water bodies to see how their ecology compares with the heavily used raised ponds.

We will be following a set methodology and attempting to classify some of the finds to species level. Group size may be limited to avoid habitat disturbance so this will be run on a first come, first served basis.

These sessions are suitable for adults and children aged nine and above.

We hope you’ll be inspired to create your own wildlife pond (find out how you can do this here: Create a Wildlife Pond)

Perfect Pond season activities

Every day
Visit the Pond Succession experiment

Saturday 15 June - Sunday 7 July (weekends)
11.30am - 12.30pm: Storytelling and crafts
11.45am - 12.30pm: Freshwater surveys
1.30pm - 2pm: Pond dipping
3.45pm - 4.30pm: Freshwater surveys

Saturday 6 - Sunday 7 July
12 noon and 3pm: Adult reedbed walks

Saturday 13 July
Please note that although the Centre is open today there will be no family activities.

Sunday 14 - Sunday 21 July (weekends)
11.30am - 12.30pm: Storytelling and crafts
11.45am - 12.30pm: Freshwater surveys
1.30pm - 2pm: Pond dipping
3.45pm - 4.30pm: Freshwater surveys

Thursday 25 July - Sunday 4 August
11.30am - 12.30pm: Storytelling and crafts
11.45am - 12.30pm: Freshwater surveys
1.30pm - 2pm: Pond dipping*
3.45pm - 4.45pm: The Perfect Pond Show
3.45pm - 4.30pm: Freshwater surveys

* Until 2 September

Sunday 28 July
11.30-12.00, 1pm-1.30pm, 2.30pm-3pm, 4pm-4.30pm: Find out how to create the perfect pond with Froglife.