Wildlife supporters raise more than £100,000 to help put the missing pieces back into Wild Peak

Wildlife supporters raise more than £100,000 to help put the missing pieces back into Wild Peak

© Rob Bates

An ambitious £100,000 appeal to restore and reconnect habitats across the Wild Peak has reached its target, thanks to the incredible generosity of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust supporters.

The Wild Peak appeal ran throughout September and October, calling on the public, local businesses and the wider community to help raise £100,000 by 31 October. More than 1,200 people donated to the appeal, with contributions ranging from £1 to £10,000, while others placed bids in the Wild Peak silent auction to support the appeal. 

Every pound raised will support vital nature recovery work, helping to put some of the missing pieces of nature back into one of Britain’s most iconic landscapes, right here in Derbyshire, and create a healthier, more connected and resilient Wild Peak.  

Although the Peak District is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, the habitats are becoming increasingly degraded and fragmented, leaving wildlife with fewer places to feed, shelter and move.  

Recent storms and flood alerts, alongside the heat and drought experienced over the summer, have once again highlighted how vulnerable our landscapes can be. As the region faces increasingly extreme weather, restoring those missing pieces through natural processes is more important than ever.  

The Trust’s vision is to help create the conditions for wildlife such as black grouse, red-backed shrike and the maiden pink flower to return and thrive, while bringing wider benefits for people and nature, such as storing carbon and holding back water to improving water quality. 

Joanna Hill, Wild Peak Programme Manager at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: 

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has given, bid in our auction, shared, and championed this appeal. It’s thanks to the unwavering support from our members, corporate partners and passionate supporters that we have exceeded our ambitious target.  

“Thanks to their generosity, we can continue working alongside farmers, landowners, local communities and partners to restore and reconnect habitats across the Wild Peak, putting the missing pieces back into this iconic landscape. Together, we can create more resilient landscapes where wildlife can thrive, and people can enjoy for generations to come.” 

Although the Wild Peak appeal in now closed, anyone wishing to make a donation can do so online, by phone on 01773 881188. 

The Wild Peak appeal forms part of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s wider Wilder 2030 Fund, which supports the Trust’s vision for a wilder Derbyshire by 2030.