The WWT London Wetland Centre in Barnes has launched a new outdoor storytelling trail for families this spring — bringing Julia Donaldson’s gosling character Gozzle to life across 100 acres of southwest London wetland, with hidden figures, wildlife activities, and giant goose wings to discover along the way.
- Trail runs 20 March – 31 May 2026 at WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, SW13
- Based on Gozzle by Julia Donaldson (author of The Gruffalo) and Sara Ogilvie
- Included with standard admission — free for WWT members
- 15 hidden Gozzle figures to find along the wetland trail
- Gozzle’s Vet Check Station runs during Easter holidays and May half-term
- Centre spans over 100 acres in southwest London — one of the capital’s most important urban wildlife reserves
Spring has arrived at one of London’s most unexpected green spaces. The WWT London Wetland Centre — tucked into a quiet stretch of the Thames in Barnes, just a short journey from central London — has transformed its wetland trails into an immersive outdoor adventure for young visitors, built around Julia Donaldson’s latest picture book character, Gozzle.
Donaldson, best known for creating The Gruffalo, and illustrator Sara Ogilvie have brought to life the story of a young gosling growing up and preparing for her first migration. From 20 March to 31 May, families can follow Gozzle’s journey not just on the page but across the reeds, lakes, and walking paths of a real London wetland — one that is home to dozens of species of birds, insects, and plant life that change visibly as spring progresses.
What to expect on the trail
The Gozzle trail is designed as a self-guided outdoor adventure, woven into the natural landscape of the wetland rather than set up as a separate attraction. Children lead the way, following Gozzle’s story as she grows from a small gosling into a goose ready for migration — with activities built around real wetland wildlife at each stage.
Along the route, families can:
- Search for 15 hidden mini Gozzle figures tucked across the wetland site
- Balance on stepping stones designed to mimic the way birds move across water
- Forage for food among the reeds in a play activity inspired by real gosling behaviour
- Strike animal poses inspired by the wetland wildlife around them
- End the trail at a set of giant goose wings — where children can symbolically send Gozzle off on her first migration
“The wetlands provide such a perfect setting — children can follow Gozzle’s journey while discovering real birds and wildlife around them at the same time.”
— Julia Donaldson, author
“The book is about the small but exciting discoveries young animals make as they grow. I hope children visiting the wetlands will feel that same sense of curiosity themselves.”
— Sara Ogilvie, illustrator
Easter and half-term: Gozzle’s Vet Check Station
During the Easter school holidays and May half-term, an additional activity station opens at the centre — Gozzle’s Vet Check Station. This hands-on area introduces children to how wildlife conservationists and veterinarians care for birds in the field.
At the station, children can examine bird X-rays, practise measuring and caring for a toy goose, and learn how conservation teams monitor bird health and protect wetland habitats. For London families visiting during the school holidays, it adds a genuinely educational layer to what is already an active outdoor day out.
Why the WWT London Wetland Centre is worth the visit this spring
The WWT London Wetland Centre is one of those places that many Londoners have heard of but relatively few have visited. Located in Barnes, SW13 — accessible from Hammersmith by bus or a 15-minute walk from Barnes Bridge station — the site covers over 100 acres and sits within one of the capital’s most productive urban wildlife habitats.
Spring is the best time of year to visit. Migratory birds return, nesting begins across the reed beds, and the site becomes noticeably more alive than at any other point in the calendar. The Gozzle trail makes clever use of that seasonal activity, tying the story’s themes of growth and migration directly to what children can observe in the wetland around them.
Beyond the trail, the centre operates year-round as a working conservation site managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust — an organisation that manages wetland habitats across the UK and internationally. Admission supports that conservation work directly.
Visitor information
| Location | WWT London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT |
| Trail dates | 20 March – 31 May 2026 |
| Cost | Included with standard admission. Free for WWT members. |
| Best for | Families with young children |
| Getting there | Bus from Hammersmith; 15 min walk from Barnes Bridge station |
| Vet Station | Easter holidays and May half-term only |
Families looking for more London events over the May Bank Holiday weekend should also check out the Foodies Festival at Syon Park — a family-friendly food and music festival running 23–25 May, with a Kids Cookery School, fairground rides, and live entertainment across the weekend.
The Gozzle picture book is available in the wetland centre’s gift shop for families who want to continue the story at home.
