Catch all the action as Wearside wetland reserve launches interactive app
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Asian short-clawed otters with an oversized mobile phone app
© Deborah Nolan / WWT
Your wetland journey begins now as WWT Washington Wetland Centre introduces an interactive app for visitors – a digital pocket guide to the wetland and woodland wildlife of the Wearside nature reserve.
The WWT Washington app - which launched in February - showcases a host of features to engage and educate users before, during and after a visit.
Developed by Northeast technology company n-gage.io, the app boasts special features which help users plan their day, with details on facilities, accessibility, animal exhibits and upcoming events.
Users can navigate around points of interest at WWT Washington using an interactive map, which uses n-gage.io's innovative wayfinding solution. It also introduces interactive nature trails around the wetland centre, opening the reserve to even more exploration.
Audio descriptions and animal sounds add a new depth of accessibility for users, while colourful images, fun facts and quizzes allow users to learn even more about wetland and woodland wildlife and the variety of habitats within the 100-acre site.
A special discount has also been added on admission tickets when booked via the app, as well as regular food and drink offers – offering users the chance to enjoy a day out for a little less.
WWT Washington mobile app in use by visitors © Gavin Forster / WWT
WWT Washington Marketing and Communications Manager Deborah Nolan with
n-gage.io CEO Bryan Hoare and various geese © Ian Henderson / WWT
Deborah Nolan, Marketing and Communications Manager at WWT Washington Wetland Centre said: "We're excited to have launched our new WWT Washington app, which offers visitors and the wider community a preview of our wetlands.
“One of our biggest aims for the app is to enhance onsite experiences. We want to encourage visitors to make memories and enjoy those moments, not miss them. Our app can be everything you need to make the most of a visit – a map, an audio guide, a learning tool for adults and kids – it’s all there in your pocket!”
“Our team have an incredible amount of knowledge and love sharing that with visitors. The WWT Washington app allows us to share even more of our story, highlighting the important work we do for wetland wildlife here in Washington, nationally and oversees."
Bryan Hoare CEO of n-gage.io said: "We're delighted to be supporting WWT’s mission to promote and protect our wetland areas and it’s particularly rewarding for us to be working with the team at our local WWT reserve in the Northeast. WWT are renowned for their conservation work and we're proud to be playing a small part in helping to highlight this using our technology, whilst giving the team the capability to capture valuable visitor insights to help improve operations and drive engagement.”
Deborah added: "We've been really impressed with n-gage.io who have supported us in getting the app set up and ready to launch. Their expertise has been invaluable and, as a local organisation, we've benefitted from their knowledge and experience firsthand."
The WWT Washington app is now available to download for free on Apple and Android devices.
More information about the app can be found on the WWT Washington website
https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington/experience/wwt-washington-app/.