2026 marks three special anniversaries for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. 

The Wildlife Trust will mark its 70th year fighting for wild places and wildlife in Leicestershire and Rutland, celebrating their seventh decade of conservation work. 

2026 marks the 30th anniversary since ospreys were introduced to Rutland (Photo: Geogg Harries, LRWT)

Since the Trust's formation in 1956, they have built it from a small conservation group to having over 19,000 members, over 700 nature-loving volunteers and a 37-site-strong reserve estate. 

They are also celebrating 50 years since the opening of Rutland Water Nature Reserve in 1976 and 30 years since the reintroduction of Ospreys to Rutland in 1996. 

The Wildlife Trust is working towards their 2030 goals, hoping to continue to see nature restored and resilient across the two counties.  

Aerial view of Rutland Water (Photo: LRWT)

However, these anniversaries have given the trust a great opportunity to reflect on their conservation progress so far.

They will also be holding special anniversary events will be taking place throughout 2026 across their sites and reserves, where everyone is invited to join in. 

The journey so far... 

In the 1960s, the first reserves came together under Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust's care, including Charnwood Lodge. 

In the 1970s, one of the first agreements of its kind was made between Anglian Water and the trust, establishing Rutland Water Nature Reserve, covering seven miles of shoreline of the newly constructed Rutland Water reservoir and around 350 acres of surrounding land. 

The trust continued to expand in the 1989s, adding sites like Prior's Coppice, a fragment of ancient woodland, and Tilton Cutting, a geologically rich reserve where a young David Attenborough found his love for fossils. 

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust volunteers (Photo: LRWT)

Sir David opens opened the Lyndon Visitor Centre at Rutland Water Nature Reserve in 1985, with the site becoming a Site of Special Scientific Interest by 1981, just 5 years after opening. 

In the 1990s, Rutland Water Nature Reserve was declared a Special Protection Area and Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1991, recognised its global importance for wintering wetland birds. 

In 1996, the Rutland Osprey Project launches with chicks being translocated from nests in Scotland and released at Rutland Water, where the species had been previously extinct since 1847. 

Maya and her first chick of 2025 (Photo: LRWT)

In the early 2000s, the Rutland Osprey Project celebrated the first osprey birth in England for over 150 years. 

In the 2010s, nine new lagoons are completed at Rutland Water Nature Reserve adding nearly 100 hectares of additional wetland. 

In 2015, Sir David Attenborough opened the new Volunteer Training Centre at Egleton that has transformed the way the trust supported and trained volunteers. 

In the last six years, Rutland Water completed the first 50 years of the Wetland Bird Survey with over 6 million birds and 131 species recorded over 15,000 hours of volunteer effort. 

Rutland Water Volunteer Training Centre (Photo: LRWT)

They also celebrated the 300th successfully fledged Osprey chick is welcomed and the Rutland Sea Dragon is discovered in lagoon 4 of Rutland Water Nature Reserve, a 10-metre ichthyosaur fossil, one of the largest found in the UK. 

Over the last 70 years, Leicestershire and Rutland Nature Reserve has bought together a series of nature reserves, made huge steps forward in Osprey conservation and created an incredible team of volunteers working hard to maintain these special areas of natural space in both counties. 

Mat Carter, CEO of Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust said: 'We can look back on these last seven decades of conservation work with pride. The victories achieved for the wildlife of Leicestershire and Rutland show what is possible in the continuing fight for nature's recovery. 

'Thousands of people now visit Lyndon Visitor Centre each year to see the Ospreys returning from migration.  

'Rutland Water hosts regular counts of 20,000 birds in the winter months. Our reserve network continues to expand our projects in the wider countryside grow in diversity and depth. 

Little Egret at Rutland Water (Photo: LRWT)

'Though nature continues to face challenge and pressure, there is cause for optimism. With the generous back from our members and many other supporters of all kinds, we will continue to work for a wilder future.' 

Throughout 2026, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust will be hosting special anniversary events in addition to their usual events, including special osprey cruises, wild walks, an open day at Cossington Meadows and an evening of celebration at The Barnsdale. 

Find out more about these anniversaries and the Wildlife Trust, click here to visit their website.