County Council Cabinet to consider first biodiversity report to benefit communities

Steps to help nature and wildlife thrive have been set out in Derbyshire County Council’s first ever biodiversity report.

The report, which was approved by Cabinet Members at a meeting held on Thursday 12th March details work carried out by the council in a number of key areas to improve biodiversity including:

• Leading the preparation of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Derbyshire
• Enhancing the nature conservation status of the council’s countryside sites
• Tree-planting initiatives such as Million Trees and Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community
  Forest
• Measures to prevent the spread of invasive species and plant disease such as ash dieback disease
• Making biodiversity a key consideration when maintaining land around council buildings
• Providing more opportunities for children and adults to learn about biodiversity at Lea Green and Whitehall outdoor education centres and through the council’s Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
• Promoting external support programmes such as the National Education Nature Park to schools
• New policies and procedures to conserve and enhance biodiversity on roadside verges and other council property.

The report also sets out actions the council is planning to take over the coming years to improve biodiversity.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment Councillor Carol Wood said: “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.

“We’re committed to reforming services in Derbyshire and the actions set out in this report will form a key part of our work to protect and improve our environment and public spaces – backing our commitment to ensuring our communities are great places to live and work.”