Rewilding fund attracts huge public support

Nature supporters have boosted plans by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to rewild key sites across the county.

Launched in November, the trust’s Defend Nature appeal has so far raised £65,000 towards its £100,000 goal.

Central to the appeal is ‘Wild Whittington’, 60 acres of arable farmland in Chesterfield, that will be returned to nature.

Using rewilding, the plan is to create a varied woodland habitat on the land to bolster a vital habitat corridor.

By creating more space for nature and improving habitat connectivity, the site will support a range of bird and bat species, as well as mammals such as foxes, badgers and hedgehogs.

Matt Buckler, director of natural solutions at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Here in Derbyshire, we want to take action to restore nature now.

“Quite simply, turning land over to rewilding projects is one of the most effective ways to get resilient nature back in people’s lives.

“There has been fantastic local support from people who are keen that we buy the site at Old Whittington, and there are more sites we are working on that we hope to share very soon.

“Thanks to our rewilding programmes, more and more landowners are also joining schemes to pledge land across Derbyshire to restore nature.

“We’re overjoyed that this opportunity, and more, have come up to create more space for nature, none of which would be possible without the generosity of our supporters.”

To make a donation to support the trust’s rewilding projects visit here.