Entry fee to Arundel's WWT reserve is '˜exorbitant'

I feel I must write to protest against the exorbitant prices one has to pay to visit a Wildlife Wetlands Trust reserve and, in particular, the one at Arundel.

Many reports on the Trip Advisor, website, and others, tell of the unnecessarily expensive entrance fee and at the time I didn’t realise how bad this would be until my jaw dropped at the counter when the member of staff said £60.85 please!

Having offered to treat some members of my family to a day out, I knew it would be an expensive day out for three adults, two concessionaires and one child, however, I had no idea it would be as outrageous as that.

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It later became evident that the price I paid was a little more than it needed to be due to the fact that when asked at the counter if I was a tax payer, I replied yes I was. I’m still not overly clear on what this means, however the reason I paid more was due to the Gift Aid which had been added. This was not explained to me at the entrance and I’m very angry that it wasn’t!

I must add that my visit was tainted by disappointment meaning I spent my couple of hours at the reserve coming to terms with how much money I had parted with.

Just before exiting, my son spotted the ice cream cabinet and was keen to have one. Again, shock horror! £2.80 for an ice lolly! This is truly unacceptable. I refused to pay this and promptly escorted him out, avoiding the gift shop as I knew this price trend would continue.

Having read certain information I have on the WWT, I appreciate and understand what the Trust, as a charity, was set up for and what it continues to achieve in conservation today, however does it really need to be so expensive?

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It is also interesting to note that the WWT’s founder Peter Scott (knighted in 1973) set up the first WWT reserve at Slimbridge in 1946 and opened it up to the public so that everyone could enjoy getting close to nature.

Well it would seem as though today’s WWT has a different aim and mindset by pricing it’s entrance fee to high meaning that many members of the public can no longer afford to get close to nature.

With my utmost respect to the founder, I think Sir Peter Scott would be turning in his grave! Today’s WWT should be ashamed of themselves!

Peter Price

Shakespeare Road

Worthing

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