A bridge at Attenborough Nature Reserve could be replaced and installed before the end of the year after closing more than three years ago.
The Works Bridge in Attenborough Nature Reserve closed to the public in April 2023 following a safety inspection, meaning the footpath had to be closed and existing walking routes were diverted.
It forms part of a bridleway through the reserve, from The Strand and Meadow Lane, but was left in a “state of disrepair” and posed a “danger to life”.
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which owns and manages the nature reserve, submitted plans earlier in 2026 for its demolition and replacement. These plans have now been approved by Broxtowe Borough Council.
In 2025, work began to create an access route to ultimately remove the worn bridge, but the wildlife trust said earlier that year that its replacement plans suffered a delay after flooding and the discovery of high-voltage cables near the planned route.
The new bridge has already been constructed off-site, and the trust says work to prepare the ground for installation is due to start this September, with the aim of having the new bridge up this autumn.
Erin McDaid, communications, campaigns and advocacy lead at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re all very excited. We recognise the delays have caused frustration.
“It has meant a considerable detour for users at that end of the reserve, and we recognise it has caused inconvenience and has obstructed longer walks.
“The main contention is that the bridge formed part of the bridleway route, which provides a legal route for bikes and horses. Because of the state of the existing bridge, that access has been restricted even longer, since before [the trust] even purchased the reserve, so we’re delighted to crack on with restoring the access.”
Mr McDaid said, at present, the trust is sticking with its aim to have the new bridge installed by its autumn deadline.
Plans outline that the new green bridge will have a similar design and layout to the existing one and will be made of steel.
The old bridge’s decking had already been removed to prevent visitor access, and the same crane used to remove it will be used to install the new one as a way to limit any impact on the reserve and traffic disruption.
The project was expected to cost £375,000, and the trust previously confirmed that all the money required to complete it was in place.
Before the trust purchased the reserve in 2020, the bridge was closed. It was later reopened as a footpath only before closing again in 2023.
By Lauren Monaghan, Local Democracy Reporter
