The brief
WWT London engaged Barley in August 2022 to help deliver local media coverage as part of an overall communications strategy to help tackle low visitor numbers at the centre and integrate with wider campaigns.
Insights and approach
We used World Mental Health Day as a hook to highlight the increasing body of evidence showing the benefits of spending time in nature on mental health. We positioned WWT London as an ideal location to experience blue and green space and created “Wellbeing Wednesdays” meaning half price entry to visitors every Wednesday throughout October.
We engaged with local online and print media in key local boroughs that the client highlighted as priority areas and created a mailout for business partners, local authorities and key contacts.
We used World Wetlands Day to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands in fighting climate change and its role in providing a place to rest and refuel for migratory birds. Pitching to local broadcast media, we offered filming opportunities and interviews with the staff which resulted in strong features on ITV London and London Live which landed all our key messages.
The results
We secured coverage in a range of local print, online and broadcast media, including in-depth interviews with the General Manager and filming at the nature reserve with ITV London and London Live.
WWT London reported an uplift in footfall as a result of our work.