The reserve was officially opened by Sir David Attenborough in 1966.
The site exists because of gravel extraction that took place between the 1920s and 1960s.
It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its wetland importance.
The reserve acts as a significant corridor for migrating birds moving along the River Trent valley.
The area hosts the largest colony of breeding common terns in Nottinghamshire.
It contains specific 'bird scrapes'—shallow water areas designed to attract wading birds.
Attenborough Nature Reserve is a 145-hectare site featuring a complex of flooded gravel pits located on the floodplain of the River Trent. The reserve is managed by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and is internationally recognized for its diverse wetland bird populations. Visitors can traverse an extensive network of footpaths surrounding various lakes, including the large Coneries and Clifton Pit. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), noted for its rich diversity of breeding and wintering waterbirds. The visitor centre, which overlooks the main lake, serves as an educational hub and includes an integrated café. The reserve attracts significant numbers of migrant birds throughout the year, particularly during spring and autumn. It offers dedicated accessible trails and numerous bird-hiding spots for wildlife observation. The landscape is primarily composed of open water, reedbeds, and willow-alder woodland habitats.
The viewing deck of the visitor centre offers a panoramic vantage point over the Coneries lake.
Bring binoculars as the best wildlife sightings often occur at a distance from the footpaths.
Visit during the early morning hours to avoid peak crowds and maximize bird activity.
Check the official Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust sightings board in the visitor centre for recent rare bird reports.
Venturing off marked paths into restricted conservation zones, as these are critical nesting areas.
The visitor centre may have reduced hours or closures on certain public holidays; check official listings for festive period schedules.
Keep dogs on leads at all times, remain on marked footpaths to protect nesting habitats, and do not feed the wildfowl bread.
