The winter issue of Natural World, the UK magazine for members of The Wildlife Trusts, out this week, features a wetlands special with articles on:

• • Five water wonderlands to explore this winter
• • Wetland jewels: some of our enigmatic wetlands species
• • The search for sustainability in the water cycle – how The Wildlife Trusts are helping

Here, in a taste of the winter issue, are five ideas for great days out in our wonderful winter wetlands:

WEST MIDLANDS - Brandon Marsh, near Coventry (Warwickshire Wildlife Trust)

Just outside Coventry, alongside the River Avon, you’ll find one of the best birdwatching sites in the Midlands. Brandon Marsh is designated a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) because of its exceptional birdlife, with over 210 species recorded. During winter the water attracts regionally important numbers of dabbling ducks such as gadwall and teal. From any of the seven hides you’re likely to see kingfishers close-up, and maybe glimpse a bittern from the reedbed hides.

Facilities: visitor centre, tea room, seven bird hides, more than two miles of paths. Open 9am-4.30pm weekdays, 10am-4pm weekends. Disabled access with pathway, ramps and toilet.

Getting there: Buses from Coventry to nearby Toll-Bar Island (two miles) and from Rugby to Brandon village (five miles). Just off A45 to the south-east of Coventry.

Contact: Brandon Marsh Visitor Centre (024 7630 8999) www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk

• SOUTH EAST - Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust)

The flooded gravel pits at Blashford Lakes attract large numbers of over-wintering wildfowl and waterfowl. The surrounding woodland is full of bird life, fungi, and plants. Look out for signs (and sightings if you’re lucky) of roe deer, badgers, and foxes. The lakes support abundant insect life but you’ll have to wait until summer to enjoy the dragonflies, and banks lined with the aromatic water mint, brooklime, and meadowsweet. Public footpaths across the site lead to the New Forest and Avon Valley footpaths.

Facilities: Disabled access to all footpaths and through kissing gates (radar key available from visitor centre). Visitor centre with toilets, three hides, six wildlife-watching screens, bird feeding stations, way-marked trail including sculptures. During winter, hides are open every day 9am-5pm and the visitor centre is usually open most days during these hours.

Getting there: Buses from Salisbury (14 miles) or Poole (16). Off A338 north of Ringwood.

Contact: Hants and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (01489 774400), www.hwt.org.uk

• NORTHERN IRELAND - Lagan Meadows, near Belfast (Ulster Wildlife Trust)

Lagan Meadows is a fantastic example of wildlife and people living side-by-side. Right in the heart of Belfast this mosaic of damp pasture, marsh, swamp, open water, and woodland supports an enormous diversity of species. A wide variety of wetland birds roost overnight in the flooded wet woodlands, preferring the shelter to the fast-currents of the river Lagan. Dusk can bring the impressive, or even slightly intimidating sight of hundreds of members of the crow family noisily gathering together to roost.

Facilities: Disabled access (with parking) at Sharman Rd, onto Lagan Towpath, adjacent to the reserve. Visitor facilities near all entrances; hard perimeter path; open dawn to dusk.

Getting there: Entrances via Bladon Drive (off Malone Road) or Knightsbridge Park (off Stranmillis Road). No 8 buses stop at Malone Road and Stramillis Road.

Contact: Ulster Wildlife Trust (028 44830282), ulsterwildlifetrust.org

• EAST MIDLANDS - Far Ings National Nature Reserve (NNR), near Barton-upon-Humber (Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust)

On the southern shore of the Humber Estuary, Far Ings National Nature Reserve is 59ha of open water, scrapes, reedbed, meadow, scrub, hedgerow, saltmarsh and foreshore. Its huge lakes (former clay pits) go some way towards replacing the great wetlands Lincolnshire lost over hundreds of years. Target Lake and Pursuits Pit are best for migrating wildfowl. The mud of the foreshore supports teeming flocks of waders. Kingfishers are frequent in winter, and mixed flocks of finches. Reedbeds harbour bitterns, bearded tits and invertebrates.

Facilities: Disabled access over most of the route around the reserve, and to four hides. Visitor centre, eight bird hides, miles of walks. Open weekends 10am-4pm, Wednesday 1pm-4pm.

Getting there: National Cycle Route 1 nearby. Viking Way footpath on north boundary. Buses from Barton (also nearest train station). Just west of Humber Bridge off A1077.

Contact: Lincs Wildlife Trust (01507 526667), www.lincstrust.org.uk

• SOUTH EAST - Abbotts Hall Farm, near Colchester (Essex Wildlife Trust)

The hugely popular Abbotts Hall Farm fits a wide range of habitats into a small space. It really is a jewel both as a wildlife reserve and a demonstration farm on the Blackwater Estuary, Abbotts Hall is internationally important for the coastal realignment that took place here in 2002, allowing the sea to flood farmland to provide a more sustainable coastline that can absorb the impact of rising sea levels. The range of species here is staggering; there are now large numbers of young bass, herring and 14 other fish species in the creeks. Wildlife-friendly and organic farm practices are hugely beneficial.

Facilities: this is the Trust HQ; toilet, three hides, walks and garden. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. Limited disabled access (more is being planned).

Getting there: Regular buses stop at nearby Great Wigborough. Off the B1026 Colchester to Maldon road.

Contact: Essex Wildlife Trust (01621 862960), www.essexwt.org.uk