A 20ft long interactive wetland mural will visit Ely Cathedral this weekend (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th March) during its tour of the UK.
Commissioned by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and originally unveiled in Bristol on 2nd February 2023, the mural highlights this year’s World Wetland Day theme of wetland restoration.
Members of the public can interact with the mural by standing on the jetty, sitting in the boat or snapping a photo as they plant a shoot in the saltmarsh, symbolising the regeneration of wetlands.
It shows a degraded wetland transforming into a flourishing habitat, filled with thriving wildlife and highlighting the incredible potential of wetlands to capture carbon, clean our water, protect us from flooding, provide a home to wildlife and boost our health and wellbeing.
A staggering 45% of people in the UK do not know what a wetland is [i] and this large-scale artwork by 3D Joe and Max is designed to help significantly increase the number of people aware of these types of habitat and the challenges they face.
WWT Campaigns Manager Laura Williams said: “Hundreds of people took their photo with the mural on World Wetlands Day, learning more about the amazing powers of wetlands to tackle the nature, biodiversity and health and wellbeing crises and we are very excited to be able to take this on tour to other places – from cathedrals to shopping centres and conferences to visitor centres.”
This stop on the tour was made possible thanks to a collaboration between WWT and the Church Commissioners – members of the Blue Recovery Leaders Group, a diverse range of organisations championing wetlands. The mural will also visit other Church Commissioner sites this month, including the Hyde Park Estate in London on 1st March and Metrocentre in Newcastle on 10th March.
The Very Revd Mark Bonney, Dean of Ely said: ‘We are delighted to be engaging with the WWT 3D mural. Wetlands are a significant part of the landscape and environment of the area in which the Cathedral is situated. As together we look to meet the challenges of climate change goals their recovery and sustainability has an important part to play.’
WWT Welney Centre Manager Leigh Marshall said: ‘We are thrilled to be bringing our interactive wetland mural to Ely. At Welney we witness how vital wetlands are for vulnerable species and human wellbeing. Creating new wetlands like Lady Fen after centuries of wetland loss is essential for wildlife and people, and we know from experience how quickly wetlands can recover, when given the chance.’
Featuring iconic British species like curlew and kingfishers, otters and dragonflies, this mural is a vision of Britain’s ‘blue recovery’. This is a possible future if Britain chooses to revive its lost wetland ecosystems and invest in creating more wetlands. You can visit the mural at Ely Cathedral 10am-4pm Saturday 4th March or 12.30-4pm Sunday 5th March.
As the mural tours the UK, WWT is calling upon government, business and wider society to help restore and create 100,000 hectares of wetlands in the UK to combat the climate, nature and wellbeing crises.
You can show your support by signing the Wetlands Can! campaign pledge.
Key facts:
• The most recent research shows that the UK has lost around 75% of its wetlands in the last 300 years – half the wetlands in Europe have been lost in the same time period. (Nature)
• Coastal wetlands like the saltmarshes at WWT Steart Marshes store more carbon per hectare than other habitats such as forests. Steart Marshes is burying organic carbon at a rate of approximately 70 tonnes of carbon dioxide (equivalent) per hectare (per year)[ii].
• 22,000 hectares of restored saltmarsh would mean an extra 1.5 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year would be captured and stored [2] This is equivalent to taking 770,000 cars off the road for one year.
• Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse places on earth. Every year 200 new species are discovered in freshwater wetlands and 40% of the world’s plants and animals depend on wetlands.
1. According to 2022 research data by NFP Synergy CAM
2. Rapid carbon accumulation at a saltmarsh restored by managed realignment far exceeds carbon in site construction. Mossman HL, Dunk RM et al. BioRxiv preprint server. 19 October 2021
Website: https://www.wwt.org.uk/world-wetlands-day/picture-this-thriving-wetlands/
Press release from WWT Welney Wetland Centre
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