Trust launches network to improve county’s landscape

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has launched a new initiative aimed at bringing landowners, local communities and project leaders together to improve the county’s landscape.

The Wild Peak Network is aimed at anyone wanting to help nature recover using nature-based solutions and rewilding principles in the Wild Peak region, from home gardeners and landowners of any size to community groups, schools and parish councils.

According to the trust, it will allow like-minded people to seek advice, share experiences and learn from others with the aim of supporting as many people and organisations as possible to engage with the Wild Peak project.

It will provide a place for people to share actions that they take away but will also serve as a hub for useful guidance and resources, collated by the trust, to support people on their rewilding journey.

The trust will also be hosting regular workshops and knowledge-share events to encourage collaboration between the region’s diverse range of stakeholders.

Other services available through the network include advice from experienced ecologists on what might be possible on people’s land, information on key funding schemes, assistance with management plans and delivery assistance, long-term partnerships with the trust, and possibilities for keystone species reintroduction projects.

Ruth Pilbeam, rewilding project officer at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “This network will be a huge part of our work towards creating, restoring and connecting wild spaces across the Wild Peak region.

“People and communities are at the heart of our Wild Peak project, and we are already witnessing the power that local people and grassroots initiatives have in establishing rewilding gains in the Peak District.

“We look forward to working closely with more landowners, businesses, local authorities, community groups and passionate individuals to develop a collaborative landscape improvement programme, to protect and restore wildlife, and to form a network that will help grow our resilience for a Wilder Peak.”