VISITORS to a wildlife centre responded to a challenge to create a habitat on the site at the weekend.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's grounds in Washington, Wearside, celebrated World Wetlands Day 2004 by offering free admission.

It was the first time in the trust's 58-year history that each of its nine centres across the country simultaneously waived admission charges.

But it helped to attract extra visitors on what was a wet winter's weekend.

In return for free entry, visitors were asked to take up a World Wetlands Day Wetland Challenge.

At Washington, that involved digging a pond to help create a habitat for dragonflies and newts.

It was one of a number of World Wetlands Day activities, which also included craft sessions on a wildfowl theme in the visitor centre.

The celebration continued yesterday when there was a further free entry offer, as well as an illustrated talk by the trust's programme officer, Dean Heward, on the ecology and behaviour of dragonflies.

World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands, in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on February 2, 1971, when governments around the world agreed to conserve and make the best possible use of their wetland resources.

There are now 1,314 designated "Ramsar sites", covering 270 million acres worldwide.

A total of 138 countries have signed up to the convention.

Washington reserve is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Last admission is at 4pm.