New Lease of Life for City Nature Reserve

An important wildlife area next to a business park in Alvaston is set to become the next exciting piece of the rewilding puzzle that is spreading across Derby.

Derby City Council and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are working in partnership to manage the area for the benefit of wildlife and people. It is an important step in the Trust’s vision for a greener, wilder city.

Lisa Witham, Head of Wilder Communities at the Trust, said: ‘We are thrilled to have such a fantastic opportunity to work with local communities and build on our rewilding and wellbeing programmes. This site is a haven for wildlife in such as busy industrial location, helping build nature corridors through Derby and also to ensure wildlife and wild places are available to everyone.’

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is already working with the Council to rewild Allestree Park, a 130 hectare site named as Derby’s largest urban park and the city’s biggest Local Nature Reserve. The vision to rewild urban landscapes is a big step towards tackling climate change but could also bring wide-ranging benefits for nature, wildlife and people.

For Derwent Meadows, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s plan is to increase the biodiversity by improving the wetlands, woodlands and grasslands and creating new habitats and nesting spaces to encourage as many species as possible. It will also provide interpretation boards so that visitors gain a better understanding of the nature around them.

Working with the local community, the Trust will be offering opportunities for helping improve the habitats by volunteering and working with local schools, groups and young people in the area.

Charles Crossland, Managing Director, Goodman, said: “We’re pleased to support this initiative, which will continue to improve biodiversity and enhance what is already a high quality environment for the customers of Derby Commercial Park and the local community.”

Paul Simpson, Chief Executive, Derby City Council, said: “This marks the start of a project which will bring enormous benefits to nature and wildlife and help the community re-connect with this green space. Together with Allestree Park, Derwent Meadows Nature Reserve will be a link in the chain to rewild public spaces across the city.”

Find out more about Derwent Meadows here.