TV naturalist returns to open eco-friendly education and visitor facility 

Contribution to sustainable development and people’s quality of life:

The new Attenborough Nature Centre, opened by Sir David Attenborough on the 18th March, has been constructed in such a way so as to minimise the impact on the immediate and wider environment. The construction incorporates a wide range of sustainable and recycled materials and is designed to be self sufficient in power generating electricity and heat through a combination of roof mounted photo-voltaic cells, solar panels and a heat exchange system which draws natural heat from the lake surrounding the building. The Wildlife Trust hopes that the building will serve as an example of good environmental practice to developers and planners across the region.

The construction of the Nature Centre was phased over 18 months so as to minimise impact on nesting birds and the mitigation work required due to the building’s location in the floodplain has been used as an opportunity to create a range of new wildlife habitats.

The Nature Centre offers people an opportunity to learn more about the nature reserve which surrounds it and other Wildlife Trust Nature reserves across the County. The centre also houses a range of high quality facilities for people to enjoy.

Organisation: Attenborough Nature Centre has been developed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust in partnership with Broxtowe Borough Council and CEMEX - formerly RMC, with support from the East Midlands Development Agency’s Single Programme Fund, the RMC Environment Fund, the Countryside Agency, English Nature, the Heritage Lottery Fund and many other funders.

Sector: Partnership

Location: Attenborough Nature Reserve, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire

Start date and Duration: Opened 18 March 2005

Summary: Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Attenborough Nature Reserve, the Centre houses  facilities including meeting rooms, education facilities, interactive displays, a nature shop, and the ‘Reflections’ Café, serving a selection of quality local food and drink. At the rear of the building is a special outdoor education area with a pond, bird feeding stations and a sensory nature trail where people can observe wildlife at close quarters.

Background: The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has long held ambitions to develop an education and visitor facility at the Attenborough Nature Reserve. Around 20 years ago the Trust submitted a planning proposal to the borough council but this was unfortunately  that was turned down.

In working to develop plans for the new facility the Wildlife Trust commissioned a detailed feasibility study and consulted widely with potential partners, user groups and local residents. Following the study, a location was chosen and efforts focussed upon limiting the environmental impact of the building.

Project results: The new centre has shown that by working in partnership and through engaging with the local community, problems can be overcome. The nature of the partnership which spans the private, voluntary and local government sectors enabled the Wildlife Trust to secure a broad portfolio of funding support and the open nature of the planning stage has resulted in a high level of local support. We have now recruited a large new volunteer team to supplement the efforts of those volunteers who have supported the management of the reserve over the past four decades.

Since opening in March, the new Nature centre has received around 20,000 visitors and bookings for over 1000 formal edcuation sessions for school children have been taken. The facilities have been very well received, with the ‘Reflections Cafe’ and the nature table and interpretation area proving particularly popular.

The construction of the Attenborough Nature Centre has also enabled the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to access additional funding to facilitate the largest single wildlife habitat creation project in the site’s history. New ponds have been created as a haven for dragonflies and other insects, new islands have been formed to provide sanctuary for wetland birds, new reed beds have been planted and new nesting areas for birds such as sand martins have been constructed. 

The Nature Centre is open for business seven days a week.

Keywords: Sustainable, partnership, volunteers

Contact Details:

Philip Songhurst – Centre Manager

Attenborough Nature Centre

Tel: 0115 972 1777
E-mail: psonghurst@attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk

Web: www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk

Last updated: 27 September 2005