Attenborough Nature Reserve

This reserve just south-west of Nottingham was established in 1966 and comprises a series of disused gravel pits.  These had been excavated between 1929 and 1967, resulting in a bare landscape, which was slowly being colonised by a wide variety of plants and animals.

Now more managed there is now a wide range of fish and invertebrates including great diving beetle, damselflies, dragonflies and two varieties of mussels.  There are also smooth newts.

The reserve is best known for its birdlife, and is an important site for winter wildfowl.  In spring and autumn many migrant birds make Attenborough an important stopping point.

Education plays an important part at Attenborough, with a bird watching hide and a nature trail guide and many informative notices.

There is a purpose-built Nature Centre opened in March 2005 by David Attenborough, with a restaurant selling dishes made from largely organic, locally or fair trade sourced ingredients.  Beside it is an Interpretation area with up-to-the-minute information on what is happening on the Reserve, together with a small shop.

The nature reserve is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSS1)

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