At Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, we have a bold vision for a Wilder 2030, where people and wildlife thrive together. However, whilst many of us visit Derbyshire to spend time outdoors and connect with nature, in our urban areas, spaces for nature are often few and far between.

Wildlife in our towns and cities is struggling. Bats and swifts, once a common sight around Derbyshire streets, have declined dramatically in recent decades, and where the buzz of pollinators might have once filled our gardens and parks, more of our urban spaces are falling silent. Whilst devastating for wildlife, this decline in nature affects us too; with more of us feeling isolated from the natural world, we are losing a key place to relax and disconnect from the pressures of daily life, leading to a decline in wellbeing and an increase in climate-related anxiety. Wilder Chesterfield is here to change that. 

The Wilder Chesterfield pilot project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will bring people closer to nature in five target areas in Chesterfield (Holme Hall, Barrow Hill, Mastin Moor, Poolsbrook and Duckmanton), using community organising to create more nature-rich and accessible wild spaces. The two-year pilot project is divided into three stages:

1. Identifying the state of our urban species and their habitats.
2. Supporting existing species and their habitats, including feeding, nesting and safe travel corridors.
3. Growing resilient populations and protected habitats through supportive communities.

Exploring opportunities

We are currently working with local councils, communities and wildlife groups to identify the current state of Chesterfield’s wildlife, with a focus on swifts, bats, hedgehogs and pollinators. 

Wilder Chesterfield is working to develop an innovative opportunities map of the town, linking species records and green spaces to existing areas of development, schools and housing. With 85% of the national population now living in urban areas, it has never been more important to identify opportunities to make space for nature and address inequalities in access to green space.  

As we’ve commenced this project, it has been inspiring to see so many Chesterfield residents actively supporting nature in their local area. Wilder Chesterfield aims to build on this, upskilling and supporting local nature champions to drive creative community-led solutions to ensure that everyone can connect with nature in their neighbourhood. 

People are at the heart of Wilder Chesterfield, and our goal is to empower people to take a lead in the environmental issues that matter to them, leading to sustainable, focused projects with a lasting positive impact in the community. 

Gathering evidence, informing change: How you can help

As the project progresses, keeping a close eye on the state of nature in Chesterfield will be key in informing the direction of community projects and potential future work in the area. In the longer term, it can help to show what’s working and what isn’t for wildlife, enabling projects to adapt to make sure they keep delivering for nature. 

Getting involved in wildlife monitoring can be a great way to support your community and nature, as well as offering a chance to spend time outdoors and meet others. It’s a simple but meaningful way to make a difference for wildlife, and it can be a fun way to learn a new skill. Wilder Chesterfield will work with community groups to establish a range of wildlife monitoring opportunities, from surveying for pollinators to spotting swifts. Helping to record wildlife can be a great way to relax and notice nature more; it’s a mindful activity that you can do alone or share with others. 

Barbara, a surveying volunteer, said:

“I participated for the first time in the butterfly survey… this summer. I have enjoyed being out in the fresh air and hope I have made a small contribution to the monitoring of wildlife in the area. I didn’t find the task too onerous… and it provided a good excuse to go out for a walk. I have learned how to identify a few butterflies that fly in the area, whereas I knew virtually nothing about different butterfly species when I started the survey. I have found the experience educational and interesting and would recommend it to others.”

Every record counts!

The more people get involved, the more your data can make a difference, by gathering records across large areas and long periods which may not otherwise be possible. Supporting wildlife recording in your local area can also allow important species in places that aren’t publicly accessible, such as private gardens, to be counted. 

Whether you’re a keen wildlife enthusiast or have no previous experience, anyone can get involved. There is a huge variety of resources available online and many surveys can be easily recorded on downloadable forms or even on a smartphone. Wilder Chesterfield has plans for a range of training and knowledge sharing sessions across the five target areas to support anyone interested in getting involved.

If you live in one of our five target areas and would be interested in monitoring swifts, bats, hedgehogs or pollinators, or know of any in your local area, you can contact us at wilderchesterfield@derbyshirewt.co.uk. 

If you find an interesting species in your local area, you can submit one-off sightings to the Derbyshire Biological records Centre

Submit Sightings