The Wild Peak programme, run by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, is helping restore nature across the Peak District, not by working alone, but by empowering local communities to make space for wildlife where they live.

This year the Wild Peak Community fund has supported over 20 groups to independently take action for wildlife. 

One of these dedicated groups is the Hartington Wildflower Group.

Over the past few years, this fantastic group have been transforming patches of green space across Hartington. Starting with the village planters and a small grass verge, the group worked with the local council, school and GP surgery, alongside the community, to see wildflowers, herbs and wellbeing spaces develop all over the village. 

More recently, they have reinstated a pond and orchard with the local YHA.

Hartington Wildflower Group working on the pond restoration (Philip Neal)

When asked why he was passionate about wildlife, leader Philip said "Being outdoors and close to nature and wildlife has always been an important part of my life, and…it can do wonders for our wellbeing both physical and mental. Just listen to the uplifting sound of skylarks in the meadows and you'll know what I mean. But I've also learnt that wildlife faces many challenges and needs a helping hand from all of us - there is no reason why we can't coexist in harmony with nature. We need nature, and nature needs us. All of us can make a difference by the actions we take at a local level, and I do what I can to help support this."

Wildflowers blooming across the village (Philip Neal)

The group have recently been successful in getting a grant from the Community Fund, to get equipment and more resources to develop the next part of their project; increasing biodiversity to new spaces. Hedgehogs, bats, birds, butterflies and bees are just some of the creatures wanting to make a come back to the village and will be finding new homes soon!

New homes for wildlife are being installed (Philip Neal)

Philip explained that the group has three key goals, all supported by the Community Fund:

• Supporting nature - The fund will help us provide more suitable and safer habitats for local wildlife across the village, one example is with the installation of swift boxes to help reverse the decline of swifts locally that we have experienced in recent years.
• Encouraging community involvement - Each of our sites is looked after by volunteersand the work this funding supports will encourage further involvement from across the community. For example, the village youth group will help build and install habitats.
• Promoting wellbeing - Getting volunteers involved also helps support their own physical and mental wellbeing by being outdoors and close to nature’

Volunteers and the community enjoying new wild spaces (Philip Neal)

Philip added; "As well as improving the habitats for local wildlife, (projects like this) demonstrate how small local communities like ours can take action and make a difference in supporting nature" and we couldn’t agree more!

So many incredible projects like this one are happening across the Peak District, helping to restore nature across the landscape. 

Feeling inspired? Discover how you can support or get involved with Wild Peak — whether it’s volunteering, starting a local project, or spreading the word here