Starting in November 2021, the Derwent Connections Project outlined a county-wide programme to see the creation of woodlands along the River Derwent catchment. Through this mass woodland creation movement, we shall see the reconnection of landscapes across the Midlands, reconnecting woodland habitats from our Northern Forest to the National Forest. However, this work would not be achievable without the support from local volunteers and community groups.

This March, members of the Wilder Communities team supported the Tideswell and District Environment Group at their Queen’s Jubilee tree planting event. This event was supported by The Queen's Green Canopy tree planting project encouraging individuals from across the UK to "Plant a Tree for the Jubilee". Over the space of a single day, over 600 native trees were distributed for planting in the local area including Litton, Wheston and Tideswell within gardens, farms and local schools, hundreds of which were planted at a single site in Tideswell. This event saw the support from around 100 individuals with over half being young people. This included 1^st Tideswell Scouts, Litton Primary School and one of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s new partner organisations, The Climate Pathfinders Youth Forum.

During the Queen’s Jubilee tree planting event one of the main planting sites was at the Cliffe planting site above Tideswell village. This was the work of The Climate Pathfinders Youth Forum, who with a team of around 20 volunteers planted over 100 native trees. Through planting large areas of woodland we are supporting the aims of the Derwent Connections Project:

• Making space for nature
• Making space for water 

By 2023 The Derwent Connections Project aims to have planted at least 250 hectares of new woodland habitat, and be setting tracks from a further 30,000 hectares of woodland in 30 years! These trees will help hold more water in the landscape helping to slow the flow across surfaces into the river system. This will support much needed flood protection in villages like Tideswell that are at medium to high risk of flooding from the river Derwent.

 Follow these links if you would like find out more about the Derwent Connections Project or the Climate Pathfinders Youth Forum. New activities and events will be coming up throughout the year both with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and in partnership with the Climate Pathfinders Youth Forum. Together, with our growing partnership with local community groups we can #slowtheflow throughout the Derwent catchment by making space for nature and water.