What we do

Our focus on protecting wildlife was pivotal to the creation of the Wildlife Trust – we grew out of a campaign to save the area now known as Attenborough Nature Reserve. At around the same time volunteers were trying to save other wildlife areas such as what would become the Clarborough Tunnel Nature Reserve near Retford. To this day we support local people in efforts to save wildlife areas close to their hearts and their homes.

Taking action locally to safeguard wildlife and special green spaces is at the heart of what we do. We are also here to make it possible for people to see, experience and learn about the wildlife of our county. The Trust is a registered charity and relies on the support of local people and volunteers who are passionate about the county’s wildlife. Do you want to help us do more?

You can help us stand up for wildlife in the planning system by becoming a member, making a donation, or writing to your local councillor or MP about local planning applications that you feel are damaging for wildlife.

Since 1963 we have been representing the views of people who care passionately about our county’s wild places and with your support we can do even more.

As well as monitoring the planning system to look out for damaging proposals we provide councils and planners with expert advice to help shape plans for local areas. Thanks to the backing of our members, our input make a real difference. We also help shape plans for the extraction of minerals such as sand and gravel to protect threatened species and fragile habitats and to secure opportunities to create, restore and reconnect wildlife habitats.

With the backing our members and supporters Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust acts as the first line of defence for wild species and habitats in our county. We campaign tirelessly for wildlife, protecting threatened habitats such as wildflower meadows and species such as badgers, otters and water voles. We influence government policy and local planning decisions that affect the future of wildlife and the quality of our environment. Our efforts also help to secure positive gains by restoring, recreating and reconnecting cherished habitats.

For detailed information and updates on specific planning cases that we are involved with, visit our updates page.

Read more

Nottinghamshire Wildlife is here to help you learn about and discover the wildlife on your doorstep. Whether you are a family looking for a great place to go this weekend, a teacher looking for opportunities for your pupils to learn in a natural setting or a wildlife enthusiast looking to enhance your skills we’re here for you.

Amazing Nature Reserves on your doorstep

We have a unique network of nature reserve the length and breadth of the county, all providing you with opportunities to see and learn about wildlife. We also have two fantastic family friendly nature centres where you can either simply enjoy a few hours watching wildlife and absorbing the atmosphere on a gentle stroll or join an organised event such as a Wild Tots session, a wildlife identification course. We even off birthday parties for children.

For schools, colleges and Universities we offer an inspiring range of sessions at a number of sites including our Attenborough, Idle Valley and Skylarks Nature Reserves. We also run a popular programme of natural history lectures by well- known experts including Simon King, Martin Hughes-Games, Alice Roberts, George McGavin and Mike Dilger.

Our nature reserves

Nottinghamshire has vision of an urban and rural landscape rich in wildlife for everyone to enjoy and benefit from. We are working to create this by caring for our own nature reserves, working with others to help them make their land more wildlife friendly, enabling people to engage with and learn about wildlife close to where they live and influencing what happens to nature and the environment in Nottinghamshire in the future.

You can get involved in this work as a volunteer – helping us to care for our own sites – or, you can do your bit at home, in school or at work by improving your garden, schools grounds or work place for wildlife. Larger land-owners such as local authorities and farmers can also do their bit to make our county a better place for wildlife and people – and we’re here to help.

This vision is to create a wilder future for Nottinghamshire that can adapt to climate change, provide resilience and connectivity for wildlife, access and enjoyment for people and a sustainable, low carbon contribution to the economy. With your help we can shape a bright future for the wildlife and people of the county.

By working together we can help make our county more resilient to threats such as climate change and pollution and help ensure that wildlife is better able to move across our landscape to cope with loss of habitat and other pressures.

Whilst we cover the whole county we have focused projects covering the Trent Valley, Nottingham City, Sherwood Forest and Idle Valley areas. By working with neighbours and partners in these areas we are determined to connect sites in our care to the wider landscape and create a truly wilder future for Nottinghamshire.

Our guide to wildlife gardening

Whilst our nature reserves are vital havens for wildlife and sanctuaries where people can get close to nature, most wildlife lives in the wider, farmed landscape. We have a range of ways that we can help farmers and other landowners improve their land for wildlife from providing advice on new habitats such as wild flower rich field margins or new wetlands for wading birds to supporting farmers with applications for funding for grants.  We also support groups such as Parish Councils with advice on managing areas such as wild flower meadows and support a large number of volunteer 'Friends' groups across the county that care for a range of vital wildlife sites. We also have an active project which seeks to help stem the spread of Bovine TB along the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire Border in the Vale of Belvoir - supporting both badger populations and local dairy and beef farmers - and reducing the prospect of any badger cull in our county.