Wetlands centre makes four-star quality splash

The Castle Espie Wetlands Centre in County Down has been awarded a four-star rating under the NITB’s Quality Grading Scheme for Visitor Attractions.

The popular wildlife reserve has accomplished the ‘excellent’ rating in just the second year of participating in the scheme, following a three-star ‘very good’ rating a year ago.

The wetlands centre is one of Northern Ireland’s most tranquil and family-friendly visitor attractions.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust-managed site is set on the shores of Strangford Lough where almost the entire world’s population of Brent Geese can be seen during the winter months.

Bird hides and nature walks allow visitors to get close to the native wildfowl and the centre’s collection of endangered birds from around the world.

Offering wild woodland walks, soft play areas, events and workshops, art exhibitions and coffee shop, the centre provides a great fun day out for children.

The centre’s buildings are a visitor attraction in their own right because of their history and numerous eco-friendly features, which include a wildlife garden and energy systems fuelled by the sun and wind.

Caroline Adams, NITB Quality and Standards Manager said: “The NITB assesses visitor attractions on a variety of criteria including cleanliness, service and hospitality – Castle Espie had an excellent overall score and improved in most areas since last year. This illustrates very well how tourism businesses and visitor attractions can use our quality schemes to continuously improve standards. Castle Espie staff and volunteers are to be congratulated for taking the quality of their offering seriously and improving on their previous rating.”

Maeve Curran, Marketing and Communications Manager, Castle Espie said: “At WWT Castle Espie Wetlands Centre we monitor and try to increase the quality of everything we do on a daily basis. Small changes can make a big difference for visitors and we are therefore very pleased to take another leap up the quality ladder with an ‘excellent’ four-stars rating from the NITB.”

The NITB’s quality schemes are comparable to others used by the AA and the national tourist boards in Scotland, England and Wales.

Businesses that achieve a rating through the schemes receive marketing support materials, including a star-rating plaque, certificate and web logo for use on websites and social media channels.