Attenborough Nature Reserve is approximately 9km south-west of Nottingham, on the left bank of the river Trent within the river’s alluvial flood plain. It lies immediately to the south of the modern village of Attenborough and covers some 365 acre. Wheatear Field itself is located centrally within the reserve on the southern bank of Tween Pond andthe northern bank of Clifton Pond. The field is flat and low lying but with localised surface irregularities. Topsoil stripping and substantial landscaping created an undulating surface, comprising ridges and furrows which run approximately north-east/south-west along the entire length of the site. Machine excavation of subsoils revealed successive deposits of alluvial clays and demonstrated a consistent sedimentary sequence across the site. No organic rich sediments consistent with the presence of palaeochannels or buried soil horizons were identified. Directly beneath the topsoil a series of parallel horse-shoe field drains was revealed possibly dating to the early 19th century. The watching brief determined that no archaeological features or deposits were disturbed by the groundworks carried out to create the wet meadow habitat.