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Nestling amidst the attractive countryside along the Welsh Borders, the Wolf Centre occupies a particularly stunning location which includes areas of valley, lake, forest, streams and hills.
An oasis of wildlife itself, the valley was selected for its existing natural features of forest and streams with an amazing abundance of wild animals already in residence. Raptors, ravens and woodpeckers are regular sights around the Wolf Centre as are badgers, foxes, polecats and stoats.
Of course Wolf Watch UK has introduced a few other mammals to this area itself, such as our resident wolves and also a herd of red deer. So now joining the chorus of ‘kar kar’ crows and ‘mews’ of the buzzards, the haunting sounds of our wolves can be heard drifting across the valleys and through the forests.
As a conservation group we are very conscious to minimise our own impact upon this wonderful area. Acquisition of further forest (which has more than doubled the size of the Wolf Centre itself) has given us the opportunity to allocate natural wild sanctuaries which will remain totally undisturbed by ourselves or anyone else.
Without our intervention this forest area was due for clear felling, which would have been both a visual and native wildlife disaster. It is now secured by Wolf Watch UK and we have decided that at least 60% of the forest will remain untouched. The area of the forest we are changing will include another wolf enclosure (one of the largest in Europe to-date) and most of this disturbance will involve thinning and forest management to help restore the native habitat and encourage biodiversity of both the trees and wildlife.
Several wolf enclosures have already been completed at the Wolf Centre and progress continues on further expansion to include ever larger wolf habitat. You will notice from the pictures you see, that the fencing has been carefully constructed to minimise its physical impact, i.e. you can't see it!
Our objectives with the enclosure fencing, as well as being very secure (far above many standards of zoos and well above those legally required), are that they are as invisible as possible, providing our visitors with a view of wolves roaming a natural looking landscape. Observation points have been carefully prepared to ensure minimal disturbance to the wolves and the environment.
An attractive, historic stone barn is also being converted to facilitate a visitor and education hall, with one section serving as a student residence for long term observational studies and on-site volunteer work. Also, located here is our on-site merchandise shop 'Wilderness Goods', which features a range of unique wolf items, commissioned by us from selected artists, sculpturers and photographers.
Our ambition for this exciting project, is to continue developing a unique conservation centre for wolves and related wilderness, with particular emphasis on education, non-invasive research and behavioural interpretation.
Acquired from the wild deer herd at the Powys Castle Estate, Wolf Watch UK also introduced a herd of red deer to the Wolf Centre, which have settled in well over the years. The grassy area which sits opposite the forested half of the centre valley is the home to these magnificently attractive and noble looking creatures. They make an excellent compliment to the wild residents already there, although neither wolf nor deer seem particularly interested in one another.
In case you’re wondering - no they do not share the same enclosures as the wolves, although they are close neighbours. The deer help to graze and maintain the one side of the valley which otherwise risks being overrun with gorse.
Photography by Tony Haighway / Chris Cray
© Wolf Watch UK
Home Page / Wolf Centre / Adopt-a-Wolf Membership / WWUK Wolves / Join Now / Visiting The Sanctuary / Contact Us / Wolf Videos / Q&A / History / Wilderness Goods For Sale / Notice Board / Meet The Team / What People Have Said / Photography Days / Links / Wolf News / Loopy Files / Notes From Tony / Wolf Learning Course
