Sir David Attenborough’s Childhood Inspiration Protected for Future Generations

Bradgate Park, the site of Sir David Attenborough’s childhood memories, has officially been designated a National Nature Reserve. Located just outside Leicester, this protected area is rich in biodiversity, with ancient oak trees, rare species such as the Charnwood spider, and a variety of wildlife, including fallow and red deer, woodpeckers, and butterflies.

The park, which holds deep historical significance, was once the home of Lady Jane Grey, England’s nine-day Queen, and is renowned for its Precambrian fossils that provide evidence of early marine life, supporting Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

As part of National Nature Reserves Week, the new reserve will be part of a national effort to create connected spaces for wildlife to thrive, joining 220 other reserves in England. It will protect geological and archaeological treasures while promoting nature recovery. The new status is seen as an important step towards reversing biodiversity loss and improving public access to natural spaces.

Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood will now join other nature reserves in the East Midlands, continuing efforts to safeguard the country’s environmental heritage for future generations.