A few weeks ago my colleagues from Attenborough Nature Reserve made a very unusual discovery when they arrived at the Nature Centre. writes Erin McDaid of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Instead of discovering a rare species, they came across a different kind of rarity – possibly a first for the reserve: an anonymous donation of £100 in cash in an envelope weighted with stones.
As a charity, we could not do our work to protect and restore nature without the support of our thousands of members and donors, as well as the volunteers who give of their time and talent.
Although we know that some people want to keep their donations anonymous, we usually know who the donor is.
We will never know what motivated the mysterious donor to simply leave the envelope lying around for us to find rather than delivering it in person or putting it in the mailbox.
The only detail given was that the donation was “for Attenborough Nature Reserve”, but they may have been inspired by recent news reports of anonymous cash donations to a number of charities in the South West.
In these cases, the envelopes apparently contained old banknotes that could not be spent immediately – but which charities were able to store.
However, the notes in our envelope were current, which made the donation all the more surprising.
Fortunately, the carefully arranged stones prevented the envelope from being blown away.
We’re delighted that our team found the envelope before anyone else, so we can now ensure the money goes directly to helping us care for Attenborough Nature Reserve – a place that connects people and wildlife like no other.
We raise funds to support our core work, such as the year-round challenge of looking after dozens of conservation areas covering over 1,300 hectares across the country and ensuring our sites remain safe and welcoming for visitors.
This is one of the reasons why we recently launched a call for support to protect and manage our wildflower meadows in reserves like Attenborough.
We were not only delighted by the unexpected donation, but also encouraged by the extremely generous response to our appeal for donations.
Both of these things underline how much people care about nature and demonstrate their willingness to dig deep into their pockets to support us in financially difficult times.
The response has been reassuring and encouraging and we have now increased our target for the Meadows Appeal in the hope that we can raise even more funds to help protect and conserve these wonderful but rare habitats.
When I was recently interviewed about the mysterious donation, the interviewer emphasized the wonderful opportunities our reserves offer people to see and enjoy nature.
He also pointed out that visiting various attractions during school holidays can be very expensive for families – but our reserves are free to access.
Although we primarily serve nature, a key focus of our work is to make our nature reserves accessible and inviting.
They are often the first way people come into contact with the Trust. As well as high-profile sites such as Attenborough and Idle Valley nature reserves, with facilities such as cafes and shops, there are other wonderful natural gems across the county.
At Besthorpe Nature Reserve in Trent Vale you can view a wide variety of wetland birds from the various wildlife viewing screens.
A little further upstream is Farndon Willow Holt, where a rare stand of willows grows right by the river. There is a selection of pubs and restaurants just a few metres away.
Further upstream, on the outskirts of Nottingham at Holme Pierrepont, lies the stunning Skylarks Nature Reserve, a mixture of wetlands and grassland areas.
In addition to our numerous wetlands, we have beautiful woodlands such as Treswell, Eaton and Gamston Woods near Retford or Ploughman Wood near Lowdham – all ideal places for a stroll in the shade on hot, sunny days.
While our meadows may be past their prime in terms of wildflowers this year, places such as Teversal Pastures or the grasslands at Wilwell Farm Cutting offer plenty of opportunity to see butterflies and other invertebrates, and the heather should also be in good condition at Rainworth Heath in the heart of Sherwood Forest.
Summer is now in full swing, so why not plan a trip to at least one of our nature reserves?
With over 40 locations across the county, there is sure to be one near you just waiting to be discovered.
Find your nearest nature reserve online on the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust website.
