Last week the charity launched an ambitious £1 million Appeal to enable it to purchase and invest in the future of the reserve which is home to well over 1000 species of wildlife and welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year. A week into the campaign donations have already topped £80,000 – with well over 1000 individual donations and pledges.

Speaking about the reaction to the appeal Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Paul Wilkinson said: “We know that Attenborough Nature Reserve means so much to so many people but we’ve been stunned by the reaction to our appeal and the huge generosity of the public, our supporters and local businesses so far. In the first week of the campaign we’ve raised over £80,000 and received well over 1000 donations from people keen to help us write the next chapter in the history of this extraordinary and much loved site.”

The Wildlife Trust has confirmed that it has made a number of applications for grant funding and has written to all its existing members and donors seeking their support.

The appeal was launched with the support of broadcaster and environmental campaigner Sir David Attenborough who was invited to open the reserve back in 1966 and who returned to open the Attenborough Nature Centre in 2005. Sir David is also President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts and has strong family connections to the village from which the reserve takes its name.

Anyone wishing to donate the Attenborough Nature Reserve Lifeline Appeal can do so online or in person at Attenborough Nature Centre.