Thanks to £65,000 funding from the Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund, with contributions from Transforming the Trent Valley, Mansfield Building Society Charitable Trust and Willington Parish Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has reconnected a five mile walk and created a new viewing platform at Willington Wetlands Nature Reserve.   

The funding has enabled the Trust to improve 1250m of existing trackway, create a further 250m of new path and install a bridge over the boundary brook to provide vital missing links.  

The new pathway links through to the Trent and Mersey canal creating a a circular 5-mile walk, with improved interpretation signage, way markers and an additional raised viewing platform, allowing visitors access to the surrounding countryside for the first time in over 20 years.    

The need for this project was originally highlighted by visitors, local residents, the Willington Footpath and Open Spaces Group, cycling groups and the Green Health Walking Group. 

Katie Last, Living Landscape Officer for Trent Valley at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said:   

“Research has proven that spending time outdoors in nature is great for our physical and mental health, so creating more opportunities for visitors to enjoy their wild surroundings and connect with the wonderful nature that calls this landscape home is really important to us.  

“Willington Wetlands is home to Derbyshire beavers who were introduced three years ago and have been shaping the site and creating a diverse and dynamic wetland. This has provided enormous benefits for other wildlife including otters, water voles, kingfisher, egret, frogs, toads, dragonflies and fish, as well bittern who bred here for the first time last year.   

“We’re delighted that so many organisations have come together to support this work at Willington Wetlands. Thanks to the voices of local people speaking up for nature and the generosity of our funders involved in this project, we can’t wait to welcome visitors to experience this incredible habitat and landscape from a new perspective.” 

Andrew Brown, Executive Director at The Veolia Environmental Trust, added:  

"We are so pleased to have been able to play a part in making Willington Wetlands more accessible to the public. Our entire ethos is about creating places where nature and people can thrive together, and we know that green spaces like this are so important for human health and wellbeing as well as wildlife. It's great to see our grant of £65,000 making such a positive difference for the local community and we hope the new pathways help to reconnect future generations with nature.” 

Find out more about visiting Willington Wetlands here