Latest news with #DerbyshireWildlifeTrust
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Ilkeston golf course rewilding project nears completion
A new nature reserve created on the former greens and fairways of a municipal golf course will be opened to the public later this ribbon is set to be cut on the 25-acre Pewit Coronation Meadows rewilding project on 24 June followed by a guided to Ilkeston's disused Pewit municipal golf course began in August 2023 to create a patchwork of "open mosaic habitats" to encourage a variety of Erewash Borough Council-owned course had shut in 2022 due to "substantial financial operating losses". More than 1,500 trees and shrubs have been planted including oaks and sweet chestnuts, said the council. A network of new paths and picnic benches have been installed, and wildflower butterfly and bug banks will link to the wider Nutbrook Trail plus the green spaces of Straws Bridge, Manor Floods and Pewit £500,000 project has been funded by central government and businesses involved in the redevelopment of the old Stanton council said Natural England and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust had both backed the February 2024, the council had planned to sell a nine-acre slice of the site for housing but after a campaign said the development proposal "ignored the wishes of local people" a decision was made to rewild the entire site.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
How native breeds 'restore and protect' landscapes
Reintroducing native grazing breeds to landscapes can have multiple benefits, including reducing the risk of wildfires, according to Derbyshire Wildlife Highland cattle and eight Exmoor ponies are being introduced to the Trent Valley in Derbyshire as part of a rewilding project intended to restore habitats and increase hope is their behaviour will mimic that of their ancestors, such as aurochs, elk and wild horses, creating so-called "mosaic landscapes" where wildlife can the area has not been affected by recent wildfires, the trust says the animals' grazing habits can help create natural fire breaks in places more at risk. The project has been kickstarted with almost £330,000 in funding from the National Highways "Network for Nature" programme. Wilder grazing assistant Alex Fisher works alongside 11 trained volunteers to acclimatise the new additions to their handlers before they are allowed to roam free. It has taken almost a year for the Exmoor ponies to become comfortable with approaching Fisher says he has to tread a fine line between getting the animals accustomed to being handled, while making sure they remain self-sufficient."These are the perfect lawnmowers," he says. "They know exactly which type of vegetation to eat and graze from."As an example, he points out that their current field is still covered in buttercups, which the ponies domesticated cattle, they nibble the grass short while leaving the roots and soil intact. And they benefit nature from both ends."We don't give them any medication or supplementary feed," Mr Fisher says. "That would come through in their faeces and kill small insects like the dung beetle, which can help heal nature."The ponies had no problem coping with snow on the ground last winter."They used the hooves to pull back the snow and graze the vegetation. We were really happy with how they were over winter." Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Living Landscape Officer Katie Last watched this year's record-breaking wildfires with agrees with Met Office scientists who say the changing climate is increasing the risk of fires, and says restoring landscapes with the aid of native breeds can help."Large grazing herbivores can help create a resilient landscape to wildfires," she says."The trampling and the grazing of vegetation will remove the existing fuel for the fires, and also [it] creates those open gaps and areas of bare ground that will stop the spread of wildfires."But she says that is just one of the many benefits we gain from introducing large herbivores as part of rewilding projects."The way that they manage our grasslands, they're much better at capturing carbon in the ground. They don't overgraze, which gives the soil time to regenerate."Ms Last says because the cattle and ponies graze at different levels, they also remove vegetation and encourage regrowth, which in turn keeps more carbon in the soil. Ecosystem engineers In the past the cattle and ponies would have moved naturally through landscapes as they were hunted by predators such as lynx and the Trust uses GPS collars and geo-fencing to train the Highland cattle and keep them moving."We'd like to see our grazing expanded across the whole of Derbyshire," says Ms Last. "[These breeds] are ecosystem engineers. They create fantastic, diverse mosaic habitat which boosts wildlife and creates a resilient eco-system overall."The project is part of wider moves by Wildlife Trusts to reintroduce missing species to benefit nature.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
The ‘lost species' hunted to extinction set to return to the UK
Elk could be reintroduced to the UK after a 3,000-year absence, following a rewilding plan in the East Midlands. Rewilding Britain granted £15,000 to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts for feasibility studies. Elk, hunted to extinction in the Neolithic era, were once widespread in the UK. Janice Bradley, from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT), told the BBC: "They are one of our lost species. The project aims to reintroduce Elk to their natural habitat, using the successful reintroduction of beavers as a model. Public acceptance and habitat suitability are key challenges, with initial plans involving cohabitation with beavers in enclosures before eventual release into the Trent valley.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elk could return to UK after 3,000 years
Elk could be reintroduced to Britain for the first time in 3,000 years. After securing funding from Rewilding Britain, a conservation group is hoping elk will follow in the footsteps of beavers, bison and white-tailed eagles in making a celebrated return to the British countryside. The reintroduction of woodland foragers and wetlands grazers such as elk is seen as 'absolutely crucial' by Wilder Landscapes and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to help repair ecosystems. Their grazing and trampling could begin within three years inside fenced beaver enclosures at two nature reserves – Wellington Wetlands near Derby and Idle Valley near Retford. The success of which could then open the door to their introduction in the wild. Rachel Bennett, the deputy director of the trust, said: 'This exciting project could demonstrate how this crucial ecosystem engineer can thrive in floodplain landscapes, shaping diverse habitats that benefit communities and support biodiversity recovery. 'It may also serve as a catalyst for engaging people in the long-term benefits of returning elk to the wild.' Elk a 'keystone species' Elk, which is the same species as moose in North America, were wiped out in Britain around 3,000 years ago as a result of overhunting and the draining of the wetlands they inhabited. Elk are one of three deer species that are native to the UK, alongside red and roe deer. In plans boosted by funding this week, several other projects have benefited from up to £15,000 from Rewilding Britain to help support innovative rewilding efforts. Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: 'Keystone species like elk, bison and beaver play a vital role in bringing nature back to life. 'They help repair ecosystems and shape wild places in ways that benefit wildlife, people and the climate. Successfully reintroducing missing species like these is absolutely crucial. 'It's a complex process involving multiple stages of research and development, feasibility studies, impact assessments, and community consultations. 'By taking the time and effort to get it right, we can create a more hopeful future for everyone.' It follows the Wilder Blean project, which saw the European bison – the continent's largest land mammal – released into 50 hectares of woodland near Canterbury in July 2022. Paul Whitfield, the director general at Wildwood Trust, said: 'The success of Wilder Blean has demonstrated what an astonishing impact bison can have on their environment in a relatively short space of time, as well as the amazing opportunities their reintroduction presents for eco-tourism and education. 'We'd love to see reintroduction projects like Wilder Blean taking place at appropriate sites across the UK, bringing the benefits of this amazing keystone species to multiple habitats.' In total, 13 projects have been awarded funding, including one helping to bring beavers back to the northern Highlands, another looking to increase tree species diversity in the area and a seagrass restoration feasibility study in Cornwall. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Elk could return to UK after 3,000 years
Elk could be reintroduced to Britain for the first time in 3,000 years. After securing funding from Rewilding Britain, a conservation group is hoping elk will follow in the footsteps of beavers, bison and white-tailed eagles in making a celebrated return to the British countryside. The reintroduction of woodland foragers and wetlands grazers such as elk is seen as 'absolutely crucial' by Wilder Landscapes and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to help repair ecosystems. Their grazing and trampling could begin within three years inside fenced beaver enclosures at two nature reserves – Wellington Wetlands near Derby and Idle Valley near Retford. The success of which could then open the door to their introduction in the wild. Rachel Bennett, the deputy director of the trust, said: 'This exciting project could demonstrate how this crucial ecosystem engineer can thrive in floodplain landscapes, shaping diverse habitats that benefit communities and support biodiversity recovery. 'It may also serve as a catalyst for engaging people in the long-term benefits of returning elk to the wild.' Elk a 'keystone species' Elk, which is the same species as moose in North America, were wiped out in Britain around 3,000 years ago as a result of overhunting and the draining of the wetlands they inhabited. Elk are one of three deer species that are native to the UK, alongside red and roe deer. In plans boosted by funding this week, several other projects have benefited from up to £15,000 from Rewilding Britain to help support innovative rewilding efforts. Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: 'Keystone species like elk, bison and beaver play a vital role in bringing nature back to life. 'They help repair ecosystems and shape wild places in ways that benefit wildlife, people and the climate. Successfully reintroducing missing species like these is absolutely crucial. 'It's a complex process involving multiple stages of research and development, feasibility studies, impact assessments, and community consultations. 'By taking the time and effort to get it right, we can create a more hopeful future for everyone.'
