On 5 May, Derby City will host its final set of elections under the current voting system, with a third of seats up for grabs. The elections are set to be hotly contested with 15 candidates standing for re-election, including three leaders of their respective local parties. We’re taking this opportunity to raise awareness of the biodiversity and climate crises and ask candidates to take action for wildlife if they’re elected. 

Cities have a crucial role to play in mitigating climate change and helping nature to recover, and with almost third of Derbyshire’s population, it’s vital we increase the amount of green space in Derby. Government studies have found that spending time in the natural environment improves mental health, combats loneliness and helps to bind communities together. However, those living in the most deprived areas are ten times less likely to live in the greenest areas, and several neighbourhoods in Derby are amongst the most deprived 10% in the country. Increasing access to nature in Derby is about equity as much as wildlife.

Our vision for Derby sees the city as an interconnected network of green spaces diverse in size and habitat. We want allotments and community orchards in every ward interspersed by larger spaces like public parks that have natural play zones for children. Connecting these natural havens are green roofs and walls on every street to ensure residents are surrounded by nature, and have daily interactions with wildlife.

If given the chance, nature can provide a range of services for cities including the mitigation of pollution and flooding. Unfortunately, climate change is already increasing the prevalence of extreme weather events like flash floods and heatwaves across the UK, and this will only increase as the planet warms. One less well-known risk to UK cities comes from the urban heat island effect. This describes how heat generated by transport, industry and people gets trapped in cities and in the summer, can drive temperatures four or five degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside. This can exacerbate heat waves and health risks for vulnerable people, especially in cities like Derby that have an ageing population. Although we’re going to see extreme summer temperatures more regularly, nature can help and is proven to have a cooling effect in urban areas though shading and evapotranspiration.

A Sixth and Two ‘Thirds’: Changes to Derby’s elections process

There are three councillors in each of Derby’s 17 wards and under the current rules, one has to go through the election process every year (with a gap every four years), meaning that a third of councillors would be up or election in any one year. Theoretically, this system of thirds was meant to increase accountability but some believe it generates voter apathy and disengagement. The system will change next year to elections being held only once every four years instead, meaning the winner will have unchallenged control of the council from 2023-2027. This makes the 2022 elections a crucial year for local politics, because whoever wins control of the council has the opportunity to the set the agenda going into 2023’s big elections. Whoever wins, we want nature to be front and centre of the political agenda and that’s why we need your help to lobby candidates. Please contact your local political party by completing our e-action.

There are 4 key asks that Derbyshire Wildlife Trust want candidates to sign up to:

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 such as city centre wetlands. 
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. 

The deadline for voter registration is 23:59 on 14 April, and you can register to vote here.

You can vote either via post or in person. You can apply for a postal vote on the Electoral Commission website, anytime up to 17:00 on 19 April, or you can vote in person at one of 87 polling stations on 5 May. A map of all polling stations in Derby can be viewed here