Local nature reserve recovery strategy goes live to benefit communities

Measures needed to help nature and habitats on our doorsteps thrive and survive can now be viewed online as part of the newly published Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Derby and Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet approved the Local Nature Recovery Strategy which sets out how councils, businesses, landowners, land managers and other organisations will work together to protect our environment.

Cabinet Members also accepted funding of £135,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help turn some of the actions outlined in the strategy into a reality.

The strategy focuses on improving and restoring habitats and creating new ones, to make space for nature to recover. In Derbyshire, our important habitats range from the moorlands in the uplands of the Peak District, our many woodlands, our rivers and valleys, and our farmland, and our meadows and wetlands, as well as habitats in urban areas. 

The strategy also identifies 11 species most in need of help to conserve their populations locally. They are:

• Adder
• Black Poplar tree
• Common Toad
• Hedgehog
• Hen Harrier
• Leisler’s Bat
• Ring Ouzel
• Water Vole
• White-clawed Crayfish
• White-letter Hairstreak butterfly
• Willow Tit

A further four species have been identified as wildlife with the greatest potential to be reintroduced in the city and county. They are:

• Beavers
• Black grouse
• Pine marten
• Red-backed shrike

Hundreds of people from a range of organisations contributed to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy by looking at what could and should be done to improve the natural environment across the city and county, as well as identifying how and where work needs to take place.

You can find it online at www.derbyshirenaturerecovery.co.uk   

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment Councillor Carol Wood said: “Derby and Derbyshire is a beautiful area, with a variety of landscapes and wildlife to be proud of. It’s important that we protect it now and in the future.

“Our Local Nature Recovery Strategy provides a long-term vision and action plan which was formed and will be delivered in partnership with local groups and organisations, experts at a local and national level and the public.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved so far and look forward to seeing the plan rolled out to benefit our natural environment, backing our commitment to create more prosperous, green and sustainable places with opportunities for everyone.”