Castle Espie in County Down will no longer keep captive birds or offer guided school tours from November, as the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) implements cost-cutting measures amid financial pressures.

Alex Lane, WWT Director of Operations, said the charity faces a sizeable deficit, making current operations unsustainable. The captive bird collection has declined from over 500 birds to fewer than 100 due to avian influenza and post-Brexit transport barriers. From November, remaining captive birds will move to other WWT sites across the UK.

Lane explained that diverging biosecurity checks after Brexit have increased red tape for moving birds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Under the Windsor Framework, captive bird movements require an export health certificate and point-of-entry checks. "There is no aligned system for bringing birds into Ireland from mainland UK," Lane said. "We've got a vastly reduced collection, and that's not by choice."

The guided school tour programme will end because bookings are too low to cover costs. Lane noted that transport costs for schools may be a factor. The centre will continue to welcome self-guided school visits. The formal education offering is stopping as part of wider WWT cost reductions.

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who sits on Stormont's education committee, described the loss of guided educational visits as disappointing. "Castle Espie has played an important role in introducing generations of young people to nature, conservation and the unique environment on their doorstep," she said. Hunter expressed concern that children could lose access to high-quality environmental education, especially in schools with limited resources.

Lane said the changes will allow the site to focus on its conservation mission by creating more space for wild birds. Castle Espie is managed by WWT on the shores of Strangford Lough near Comber and contains various wetland habitats.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been asked for comment.