The London Wetland Centre, located in Barn Elms, southwest London, is a wetland conservation partnership between the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Thames Water and the Berkeley Group. The land was originally owned by Thames Water. The Berkeley Group purchased part of the site for development; some of the income generated was donated to the WWT for the construction of the centre.
Funding sources and management structure
An agreement among the three parties was signed to ensure financial support for the project. The Berkeley Group donated £11 million from the sale of houses to establish the centre. Then WWT further raised £5 million from the general public. This model of development is an excellent example of collaboration between business and conservationists.
Managing sustainability
The WWT has engaged teams of scientists to ensure that the centre remains attractive to wildlife. A professional fundraiser has been hired to secure sufficient funding for sustainability planning. The operation, maintenance and development of the London Wetland Centre is the sole responsibility of the WWT.
Benefits to the community
The centre is a showcase for the transformation of wasteland to ecologically valuable wetland. Located close to the city centre, this urban wetland is now a well-known attraction in London that is frequently used for education and research purposes.