Longer reserve stays mean higher parking charge

SOME visitors will pay more to park under a new flexible tariff at a Nottingham nature reserve.

Visitors at Attenborough Nature Reserve currently pay £3 to park all day.

But Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the charity which owns the reserve off Barton Lane, Attenborough, is set to introduce the new tariff at the much-loved site from Monday. All-day parking will cost £5.

Parking for up to half an hour will cost nothing. Up to two hours will cost £3 and for up to four hours £4.

Registered Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust members, staff and regular reserve volunteers will park free.

Trust head of communications Erin Mcdaid said: “There’s no escaping that with increased costs across all areas of our work, from caring for nature reserves such as Attenborough or supporting volunteers and enabling people to connect with nature, we need to generate more income.

“However, we recognise that everyone else is feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis too, which is why we’ve developed a flexible tariff that should mean most of our regular visitors will pay no more than they do currently – but visitors staying for longer periods will make a greater contribution.”

The tariff is the first change to parking fees since 2021.

Mr Mcdaid added: “These decisions are never easy, but we’ve worked hard to find the right balance which boosts our sustainable income while recognising that our visitors are feeling financial pressures too. We’ve also benchmarked our charges to ensure that they are fair as well as flexible.

“The support of visitors through car parking fees and spending in our cafe and shop is hugely appreciated and we’re confident that the majority of visitors will appreciate that we can’t maintain our nature reserves and welcome visitors without adequate funds.”