Help restore wilder wetlands for Eurasian elk
Communities and landscapes in Derbyshire are facing increasing climate extremes - from devastating winter floods to wildfires and summer droughts. But temporary quick fixes like sandbags and hosepipe bans don't fix the problem. We need to build long-term resilience.
The good news? Nature already holds the solution - and it starts with a missing ecosystem engineer!
Eurasian elk were once the ancient architects of our forests and wetlands - before hunting and habitat loss drove them to extinction thousands of years ago.
As keystone engineers, they transform the land: stirring up river nutrients, grazing aquatic plants, and punching light through dense canopies so wildflowers, birds, and insects can flourish.
We are exploring the return of this lost species to restore health, diversity, and climate resilience to Derbyshire. But a comeback of this scale requires active land preparation, connected habitats, and steady community support.
Give monthly to restore wilder wetlands
Start your monthly gift to provide the ongoing support needed to deliver long-term nature recovery and climate resilience.
When you give monthly, your support turns bold ideas into real action on the ground:
- Paving the way for returning keystone species: funding feasibility studies and habitat restoration to reintroduce ecosystem engineering Eurasian elk.
- Sustaining keystone engineers: monitoring and maintaining our thriving beaver population so their dams and canals continue to slow floodwaters naturally.
- Empowering teams on the ground: keeping our expert land management teams equipped to survey, monitor and restore Derbyshire's wetlands.
- Connecting local communities: engaging the local community, improving site accessibility, and empowering local groups to lead nature recovery in their own neighbourhoods.
Give monthly to restore healthy wetlands, bring back the Eurasian Elk, and build Derbyshire's natural climate defenses.
(C) Kayleigh Wright
Wilder 2030
Our vision is simple: A wilder Derbyshire, where people and wildlife thrive together.
And our mission is clear: Inspiring and enabling bold, transformative action, where everyone plays their part to make it happen.
Giving monthly will help deliver Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s ambitious Wilder 2030 Fund, to support out vision for a Wilder Derbyshire by 2030.
Our fundraising promise...
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Gift Aid Declaration
You have probably heard that the Government has recently made it easier for charities to reclaim income tax from the Inland Revenue.
By agreeing, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust can reclaim the tax on your subscriptions and donations made to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Your subscription/donation will then be worth almost one third more to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, at no extra cost to you.
Although there is now no minimum amount for Gift Aid donations and subscriptions, to be eligible for Gift Aid you must pay an amount of income tax or capital gains tax equal to the tax we reclaim on your donations (currently 25p on every £1 you give). Please do consider doing this - it really makes an enormous difference.
The Wildlife Trusts believe that people are part of nature; everything we value ultimately comes from it and everything we do impacts upon it.The Wildlife Trusts
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Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography