WASHINGTON WETLAND CENTRE

That this House notes that Washington Wetland Centre on Wearside has undergone a major transformation on its 45 hectare site over the past 18 months; further notes that it is now home to rare Chilean Flamingos; welcomes the fact that over the past 18 months many of the centre's birds have been given new enclosures, and a number of major developments have also taken place; further welcomes the fact that this has all been possible due to grants awarded by the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) and Northumbrian Water; further notes that the project is set on the banks of the River Wear, and that the centre, run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, is one of the region's biggest conservation success stories; and congratulates manager Chris Francis, who applied to CDENT with two project ideas in mind, both of which were accepted.