Trust celebrates milestone for nature centre

Sir David Attenborough opened the nature centre at the Attenborough Nature Reserve in 2005

A nature reserve centre opened by Sir David Attenborough is marking its 20-year anniversary.

The naturalist and broadcaster once described the Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire as a "lifeline to the natural world" and today "nothing could be truer", said the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which owns the site.

Reflecting on the milestone, the trust said "a lot had changed" since the Nature Centre opened on 18 March 2005, with the Covid-19 pandemic and bird flu outbreak of 2022 among its biggest challenges.

Next year will mark another major milestone for the trust - 60 years since the reserve itself was established.

Erin McDaid, head of communications at the trust, said: "Over the last six decades we've realised that we need nature.

"Nature isn't just an interest for some people, we actually need nature.

"It's important for our wellbeing and we must do more to protect and restore it."

Mr McDaid said the reserve had faced a "number of challenges" over the last few years.

"After we came through our own pandemic, we had the impact of avian flu in 2022 which wiped out a huge number of birds," Mr McDaid said.

The reserve has since changed how visitors can interact with wildlife, asking people not to feed the birds.

Although it was previously encouraged, Mr McDaid said it had since become clear the birds congregating to feed "helped the bird flu spread".

"We are confident that the bird numbers are recovering but they may never get back up to those same levels," he said.

'Shaped by people'

Other positive changes at the reserve includes the number of species found at the site.

About 20 years ago otters were rarely seen at the reserve, though there were signs they had been around.

But recently one visitor spotted an otter "actually sat at the cafe", Mr McDaid said.

And despite the impact of bird flu the trust said it was seeing the return of bird species from across Europe and Africa as the spring returned.

The landscape of the former gravel works site has also changed over the years, with new grassland created for the benefit of insects and ground nesting birds.

The centre remains a popular space for visitors, the wildlife trust said

Mr McDaid said the reserve was preparing for the next 20 years of the centre and hoped it would be a place that inspired people.

He said: "Attenborough [Nature Reserve] has been shaped by people - people taking action for the wildlife here at [the reserve].

"In the future, we want Attenborough to be a place that actually inspires people to to take action for nature in their local communities."

The trust said it would be hosting a number of events and activities to celebrate the centre's anniversary.

Chief executive Paul Wilkinson added: "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."