SLIMBRIDGE Wetland Centre is to get a cash injection thanks to support from players of the postcode lottery.

£175,000 has been donated to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, and was presented to chief executive Martin Spray on Tuesday, January 13.

WWT Slimbridge will be injected with a portion of the cash to help expand on its Back from the Brink area, which focuses on unusual and endangered creatures.

The money given to WWT will help the charity improve wetland homes for wildlife on its wild reserves and within its wildfowl collections from around the world, and get more people up close and learning about nature during 2015.

Mr Spray said: “WWT’s ethos starts with the simple act of feeding a duck. That connection with nature is more special if you’re feeding the world’s rarest goose, saved from extinction by our experts.

“It’s even more special when you’re surrounded by some of the UK’s top wildlife at one of our world class Wetland Centres, carefully designed and managed so wildlife will flourish.

“Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery will ensure that WWT goes from strength to strength this year, by making our Wetland Centres even better for wildlife, and helping even more people make that special connection with nature.”

Clara Govier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery is thrilled to be supporting the work of WWT.

She said: “I am delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are able to support that great work carried out by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.

“Support from players will ensure the improvement in reserves and ensure that even more people learn about wetland wildlife. This funding marks a great start to 2015 for the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.”

Stopping the extinction of endangered UK wetland wildlife is the theme of the Back from the Brink area at WWT Slimbridge.

Back from the Brink will be expanded to get WWT’s visitors up close to two of the UK’s most unusual and endangered wetland creatures – the eel and the crayfish. Numbers of both species have crashed in recent years.

Also school children across the country will be able to spend more time learning outdoors thanks to a new school mentoring scheme to be launched this autumn by WWT.

WWT’s learning experts will work with one school in each region to develop the best standards of outdoor learning so that more of the curriculum can be delivered in the natural environment.

Mr Spray continued: “We’re incredibly grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for this opportunity and we hope to welcome many of them to our Wetland Centres throughout 2015.”