The Trust are urging all candidates to put nature first and commit to tackling the climate and ecological emergency, should they be elected next month.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have created a Manifesto for a Wilder Derby and are asking candidates to commit to delivering on the four below actions, should they be elected.

1.    Champion the rewilding of Derby: with hundreds of much-loved green spaces there is enormous potential to become the wildest, greenest city in England. We need candidates to ensure these are nature rich and thriving. Starting with creating the UK’s largest urban rewilding project at Allestree Park then developing wild initiatives right across the city. 
2.    Back a Natural Health Service: Innovative projects are already underway that use nature to restore wellbeing and health. We need candidates to back these initiatives and enable everyone to benefit from accessible local green spaces where nature thrives. 
3.    Prioritise solutions to the global climate and nature crisis: By rewilding Derby we can draw down carbon, alleviate flooding and lower air pollution. We need candidates to invest in schemes that fight the crisis through nature’s recovery.   
4.    Ensure development that is good for people and for nature. Turn grey to green and blue by protecting valuable wild spaces and making sure all developments create new opportunities for nature. Candidates should commit to green roofs and walls on every street, with a natural play zone, allotments and a community orchard in every ward. 

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have been working hard to secure a wilder, greener city for all those who live there and visit. The rewilding of Allestree Park is central to this, as are some other plans in the pipeline. Each will help to connect green spaces across the whole city, and help the Council meet its carbon goal.

In a letter to candidates, Scott Blance at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, states, “The UK is facing an ecological and climate emergency but it doesn’t have to be this way. Imagine a Derby abundant with nature, with green walls and roofs on every street and natural play areas and a community orchard in every ward. Nature is vital to our wellbeing, as access to nature-rich spaces on our doorsteps increases mental resilience and leads to better health. However, those living in the most deprived areas of the country are ten times less likely to live in the greenest areas. Increasing access to nature will help not just wildlife but also local people.”

You see the Trust’s vision for a Wilder Derby here: