As Moto Foundation celebrates its’ 20th year, we are taking time to look back on what we have achieved with our amazing partners. We have been working with WWT since 2017, investing £360,000 in that time, to help them in their mission to restore wetlands and unlock their power. This is made possible by carrier bag income donated to the Foundation via Moto Hospitality.
Hear from WWT now about their work and the projects they are delivering with support from Moto Foundation.
Who are WWT?
WWT are the charity for wetlands and wildlife and the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity. They’re on a mission to restore wetlands and unlock their power. They are a growing, global community of nature lovers. Just like their founder, Sir Peter Scott, they’re dedicated to finding solutions and inspiring change. For wetlands. For life.
Wetlands are found across the world, ranging from giant deltas and mighty estuaries and mudflats to floodplains and peat bogs. Humans and wildlife have relied on them for thousands of years. Wetlands teem with biodiversity. They’re part of our natural infrastructure, providing essential protection against climate change, floods, droughts and pollution. They’re also vital for our health and wellbeing. But wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests, with 35% of our wetlands having disappeared since 1970 and 25% of wetland species facing extinction.
With 10 wetland sites across the UK and a variety of conservation projects in the UK and internationally, WWT’s vision is a world where healthy wetland nature thrives and enriches lives. Their mission is to conserve, restore and create wetlands, save wetland wildlife, and inspire everyone to value the amazing things healthy wetlands achieve for people and nature.
A powerful partnership
WWT have been one of the Moto Foundation’s environmental partners since 2017. Throughout this partnership, the Moto Foundation have funded several very exciting projects across wetland sites around the UK – just take a look!
Current projects
The Moto Foundation Trustees were delighted to visit WWT Slimbridge in April 2025 to hear about current projects and reflect on those completed with WWT. It was a great opportunity to formally present 2024’s annual donation of £100,000, which will support Generation Wild, Blue Influencers and Wetland Wildflowers projects.
Generation Wild
Since 2022, the Moto Foundation have supported WWT’s Generation Wild programme across seven WWT centres in the UK. This is a ground-breaking education model for WWT, where primary school pupils engage in a story-telling programme to interact with nature and conservation and are encouraged to visit again with their families through a voucher scheme. This programme is targeted at schools where access to nature is limited and at least 25% of pupils use Free School Meals.
With the help of Moto Foundation’s generous support, the first phase of the Generation Wild programme (September 2021-August 2024) has produced some amazing results with 45,676 children completing over 150,000 nature activities and being highly commended in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category of the Green Gown Awards.
In phase 2 of the Generation Wild programme so far (August 2024 – August 2027) we have already had over 9,000 children participating, completing over 30,000 nature activities.
The Moto Foundation are continuing to support Generation Wild in 2025.
Blue Influencers Scheme
The Moto Foundation is also currently supporting WWT’s match-funded Blue Influencers Scheme based at London Wetland Centre, empowering young people from Greater London to tackle environmental and climate issues. With the help of a Blue Mentor, these Blue Influencers will create and run social action schemes to improve the environment of their schools, neighbourhoods and communities. This ground-breaking scheme is aimed at 10–14-year-olds from under-served communities and those living in deprived coastal, estuary and riverside locations. Once a group of Blue Influencers is formed, the group receives £360. They can then be supported to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to develop their project.
The Moto Foundation are continuing to support the Blue Influencers Scheme in 2025.
Wetland Wildflowers
Wetland Wildflowers (previously known as the Slimbridge Community Growing Hub) is an exciting volunteering-powered initiative which aims to support the creation and restoration of freshwater wetland habitats in the Severn Vale landscape, such as floodplain meadows and ponds. Established in April 2023, the Hub was initially focused on the propagation of wildflower plug plants for wet grassland creation and enhancement. The plants being grown are typically found in the Severn Vale area and are recommended for projects which are looking to enhance or create species-rich floodplain meadows or other wet grassland communities.
The Moto Foundation has been supporting Wetland Wildflowers since the beginning of 2024 and will continue this generous support throughout 2025.
Moto Foundation and WWT Slimbridge
In 2018, following the removal of the previous hide, a 1960s ambulance, the Moto Foundation funded a new shepherd’s hut hide at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. This hut allows visitors to enjoy the best views of the wild floodplain of the Severn while protected from the elements. As part of the 75th anniversary celebrations at WWT Slimbridge, WWT launched Slimbridge 2020 to revolutionise the site, with the Moto Foundation supporting the creation of various exhibits around the centre. These included Mission Possible, a duckery with rearing tanks and enclosures, enabling visitors to learn about the ground-breaking techniques Sir Peter Scott developed to boost the numbers of the Hawaiian nenes in captivity and how we still apply his science to breeding birds today. This also included the 360 seat open air Living Wetland Theatre and Waterscapes Aviary, providing live demonstrations and learning experiences for all. If you’re visiting WWT Slimbridge, you’ll also see an inspiring wetland-themed sculpture, ‘Nest’, by awarding-winning metal sculptor, Ian Gill, which can be found on the A38 Slimbridge roundabout, which was also funded by the Moto Foundation.
Blue Prescribing
WWT are currently operating Blue Prescribing schemes at two of their wetland sites; WWT Steart Marshes and WWT London Wetland Centre. Blue Prescribing sessions are facilitated by a trained guide and are an alternative treatment for poor mental health. Moto Foundation’s support meant that WWT were able to support more people referred to us through this programme and the feedback has been encouraging. A huge impact was seen in individuals selected to participate in the programme at both sites, with many leaving the programme more positive and with a greater appreciation of nature’s impact on their wellbeing.
Happy birthday Moto Foundation!
As The Moto Foundation celebrates its’ 20th anniversary year, WWT reflects on the generous support they have received over the last 8 years for these extremely worthwhile projects. Together, we have improved WWT sites, engaged school pupils with nature, improved people’s wellbeing by enabling access to blue spaces. We are excited to continue working together to make a real difference inspiring people to take action for wetlands and unlock their power.
