On Tuesday 18 March Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust marked 20 years since Sir David Attenborough opened the iconic Attenborough Nature Centre – regaling the crowd with a story of how he first discovered his family roots in the village of Attenborough.
Whilst Sir David’s Leicester roots are well publicised, his family history in the Notts village of Attenborough, from where both the iconic naturalist and campaigner and Attenborough Nature Reserve take their names is less well known.
Whilst officially opening the Nature Centre on 18 March 2005, Sir David – President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts – told how, as a young boy on an unsupervised trip to Nottingham by train, he stood to attention as the train guard shouted “Attenborough” – assuming his name was being called. The realisation that the call was for Attenborough Station led to Sir David investigating his roots in Attenborough and Long Eaton.
Sir David’s visit to open the Nature Centre was his second official visit – having previously opened Attenborough Nature Reserve back in 1966.
His connection with the cherished reserve and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust which created the reserve continued with special recordings for an audio trail where he described the site as a ‘lifeline to the natural world’ and support for the charity’s efforts to safeguard the long-term future of the site – which it purchased in 2020 – after six decades of stewardship.
The opening of the Nature Centre in 2005 marked a milestone in the reserve’s history – with the realisation of a near 20-year campaign to deliver a centre which would help bring people closer to nature.
The centre has become a hugely popular destination, providing people with chance to catch up with friends in a natural setting, opportunities to discover more about the wildlife of the site and support the work of the Wildlife Trust across the reserve and wider county.
Despite challenges including pandemic lockdowns, the cost of living crisis and a serious outbreak of bird flu – since completing the purchase of the reserve in December 2020, thanks in no small part of the backing of Sir David, Trust members and the public, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has been able to invest in a range of work to benefit wildlife and people at Attenborough Nature Reserve.
Alongside work to improve habitats for wildlife, investment to help people connect with and learn about nature has included, ongoing efforts to maintain and improve 9km of access paths including scrub management and grass cutting, new welcome and orientation signage, the creation of a Wilder Welcome programme including well-being walks and new volunteer roles and investment in the nature centre facilities with the creation of an optics demonstration area, the transformation of the nature garden areas in partnership with Beeston Wildlife Group and upgrades to facilities to support a wider range of events and activities.
Over the past 18 months the charity has also conducted its largest ever listening exercise to ensure it understands people’s needs and expectations as it plans for future investment.
Speaking about the anniversary, Chief Executive Paul Wilkinson said: “Having spent almost two decades working to create Attenborough Nature Centre we’re delighted to mark its 20th Anniversary. Attenborough Nature Reserve is a special place for wildlife and people and the Nature Centre has enabled huge numbers of people to connect with nature since it opened. Our vision for the reserve builds on the site’s value to nature and the special place it has in the hearts of so many.”