Mayor Claire Ward has awarded the funds to Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to develop plans to improve Attenborough Nature Reserve and the on-site Attenborough Nature Centre. 

The centre, which opened 21 years ago, was initially designed to welcome around 70,000 visitors per year, but welcomed around 160,000 visitors in its first year of operation – and has been hugely popular ever since. 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “Attenborough Nature Reserve is a much-loved part of the community. It supports the local economy and is a nationally significant natural heritage asset we can all be proud of.” 

“I am investing £200,000 in Attenborough Nature Centre because we know it is highly investible. By supporting the team around the Reserve to develop detailed plans now, it can do more of what they do best: bringing nature to our communities, boosting tourism and the local economy, and leading the way in green growth.” 

The investment will help the Trust understand how best to maximise the potential of the site for people and wildlife, to help attract further significant investment in the future, supporting plans to modernise Attenborough Nature Centre, improve accessibility and create a better experience for visitors, helping even more people enjoy and learn about nature for years to come. 

Attenborough Nature Reserve is a natural wetland jewel in the crown of the East Midlands. Opened by Sir David Attenborough in 1966, it is described by the trust as a “beautiful complex of flooded former gravel pits and islands providing exceptional habitat for a wide range of wildlife”.  

The 360-acre site is best known for its birds with over 250 species recorded but also provides a home for hundreds of species of plant and insects.  

Located within the reserve, the award-winning Attenborough Nature Centre was celebrated for its green technologies when it opened 21 years ago. With visitor numbers now far exceeding original expectations, the centre needs to be revitalised and rethought so it remains fit for purpose now and in the future. 

The reserve also has the potential to play an even more significant role in the region: supporting nature's recovery, and inspiring and educating people to take action for nature and the climate.  

Paul Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said: “The local campaign to save the site’s wildlife in the 1960s helped trigger the formation of our Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust - so Attenborough Nature Reserve runs through our DNA.  

As we mark sixty years since the opening of the reserve by Sir David Attenborough, the support of EMCCA will enable us to ensure that as well as continuing to connect people and nature, a transformed nature centre can help us generate sustainable income to help protect and enhance this cherished site for future generations and help drive local nature recovery in the Trent and Erewash Valleys and across the wider region.” 

The award-winning Attenborough Nature Centre was designed to embrace a range of sustainable technologies, such as water source heat pumps. A rejuvenated building could once again lead the way in showcasing sustainable construction techniques and innovative technologies which support green growth. 

Last year, Mayor Claire launched a Nature and Biodiversity Taskforce, bringing together experts from across the region to protect and enhance the natural world across the East Midlands. The taskforce aims to ensure nature thrives – supporting healthier communities, resilient habitats, and sustainable places to live, work, and learn. 

The Taskforce is investing in nature’s future by exploring new ways to fund environmental projects like the Attenborough Nature Centre, such as green investment, nature-based tourism, and partnerships that support lasting improvements for nature and local communities.