The trust, which was founded in 1956, has grown over the seven decades, and now has 37 sites, with more than 19,000 members and 700 volunteers supporting the conservation work.
One of the first reserves to come into its care in the 1960s was Charnwood Lodge, in Coalville, which is now a national nature reserve recognised for its geology and wildlife.
The establishment of Rutland Water Nature Reserve followed in 1976 – after one of the first agreements of its kind with Anglian Water – which saw a newly-constructed seven-mile reservoir and about 350 acres of surrounding land.
Five years later, the reserve was internationally recognised as part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest and later declared a Special Protection Area and Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
Rutland Water has developed over the decades with a new visitor centre and a volunteer training centre – both opened by Sir David Attenborough.
In 2021, a 33ft (10m) long ichthyosaur fossil – one of the largest sea dragons found in the UK – was unearthed at the reserve during a routine draining of a lagoon.