Transforming the Trent Valley
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Transforming the Trent Valley project is working to create a wildlife-rich valley, with linked wildlife habitats providing refuges for birds, mammals and insects to breed and seek shelter on their passage through the region.
Our main aims are:
- To protect and enhance existing wetlands
- To encourage the creation and restoration of wetlands
- To provide opportunities for local communities to become involved in the project through practical conservation work
At the heart of the Transforming the Trent Valley project is the management and expansion of nature reserves. Ultimately they will create a chain of essential wildlife habitats where species can thrive and expand along the valley.
The Trust currently manages four nature reserves in this part of Derbyshire. These are Drakelow, Hilton Gravel Pits, Willington Gravel Pits and Golden Brook Storage Lagoon. They already provide habitats for many wetland species as well as vital stopovers for migratory birds.
In addition to our existing nature reserves, we are working with Lafarge to establish a new reserve at Barrow on Trent and have been advising Severn Trent Water on development of land at Shardlow Quarry - positive management of both of these would be a major boost to wetland wildlife in the Trent Valley.
We are also encouraging more companies to become involved in long-term management of sites for wildlife. As the demand for new mineral workings increases, coupled with a reduction in suitable materials for refilling quarries, the time is right to consider the creation of new wetland havens as an alternative use for worked-out sites.
