Last Updated on: 6th November 2025, 10:18 am
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) at Slimbridge has become the first nature reserve in the UK to introduce advanced UV-reflective glass protection to help prevent birds from being injured or killed in window collisions.
It is estimated by the British Trust for Ornithology that as many as 100 million birds fly into glass each year in the UK. To address this issue, WWT Slimbridge has now fitted BirdShades® bird protection window film – a near-invisible UV coating that enables birds to see glass while remaining unobtrusive to visitors.
The new film has been installed across the panoramic windows of the Garden Estuary Restaurant, which looks out over the Severn Estuary, an essential resting site for thousands of migratory and wetland birds. Before the intervention, the reflective glass posed a significant collision risk; the addition of BirdShades has greatly reduced this threat.
“Slimbridge is a haven for wetland birds, and we’re proud to be taking meaningful action to protect them,” said Anna Cork, Reserve Warden at WWT Slimbridge. “The film blends seamlessly with the building’s design while playing a vital role in conservation.”
The same technology has also been integrated into one of Slimbridge’s bird exhibits. “We installed BirdShades on our new bearded reedling exhibit where we needed a glass front that birds could see but visitors could still look through,” said Simon Matthews of WWT Slimbridge. “It’s worked perfectly, our study shows birds can detect it, but they’re not alarmed by it. Visitors don’t even notice it’s there. We believe this could be the first time it’s been used for cared for animals and possible applications in the zoo sector are so exciting!”
Because birds can see ultraviolet light while humans cannot, the UV-active film makes windows visible to birds while maintaining a clear view for people. It is suitable for both new buildings and retrofitting current structures without affecting natural light.
“WWT Slimbridge is setting an example in bird-safe building design,” said Chris George, Managing Director of Bonwyke Ltd., the UK supplier of BirdShades. “This is a practical, scalable solution that can make a huge difference for bird conservation.”
The partnership between WWT Slimbridge, BirdShades and Bonwyke Ltd. marks a growing movement towards architecture that respects wildlife, paving the way for functional, aesthetically pleasing bird-safe environments.
