With technology powered by video specialists ACE Nature and records collated by The Derbyshire Biological Records Centre (DRBC), hosted by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the Wild Maps span Willington Wetlands, Lightwood, Witches Oak Water, Allestree Park, Eldon Hill, and now, Cowdale. 

Together they create a connected, live archive of some of the county’s much-loved landscapes, allowing people to explore the diverse habitats and wildlife of the former limestone quarry in Cowdale and other sites in ways that are accessible from anywhere.

The platform brings together aerial photography, satellite imagery, 3D models, video, audio recordings and comparative fixed-point photography captured by volunteers at the reserve, alongside verified biological records and contributions from local recording groups.

This combination of professional survey work and citizen science is helping to build a richer, more detailed picture of how Derbyshire’s landscapes are changing over time. One that scientists, researchers, the public, and both local and national decision makers can now access to monitor new species, track conservation efforts, and explore the wildlife on the site. 

The addition of the Cowdale Wild Map marks the latest step in the expansion of the network. Located just under a mile east of Buxton, it came under the management of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust in 2022 through an agreement with the landowner, Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages UK, which operates the Buxton and Nestlé Pure Life waters bottling site in Buxton.

The 36-hectare former quarry represents an exciting opportunity to create a haven for wildlife across woodland, grassland, and wetland habitats. While the site is not currently open to the public, the Wild Map enables people to follow nature recovery work and discover the wildlife it supports from wherever they are.

The site supports a rich mix of habitats, from grassland on the quarry floor to dramatic rock faces where rare limestone-loving plants can establish and birds such as ravens and peregrines can nest. Surveys have also confirmed ancient woodland dating back to before 1600 CE, providing valuable habitat for species including song thrush and the locally rare mountain currant, alongside plants such as quaking grass, harebell, rock-rose and the melancholy thistle, which is rare in Derbyshire.

Kyle Winney, Living Landscape Officer at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said: 

“We are excited to be working with our partners at Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages UK and Ace Nature to launch our latest interactive Wild Map and continue to develop the content, data and capabilities of this incredible resource. 

“It will not only provide a greater understanding of the ever-changing landscape at Cowdale to help us review the ongoing management of the site, but also provide opportunities for more members of the public to find out about the wildlife here and see amazing photos and videos of nature even when they can't get to the site in person.

“Each piece of data and imagery tells the story of this evolving landscape and we are excited for people to get online and take a look, or visit the site and record their findings to be added to the map. We look forward to everyone coming along on the journey of seeing how natural processes are changing the landscape to ensure the best outcomes for nature at the site.” 

Rob Acker, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust volunteer and member, added:

"Working with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, ACE Nature and volunteers over the last year at Cowdale has given me a great opportunity to be part of a wonderful team creating a real time history book of changing habitats through the seasons. 

"Sharing wildlife surprises, watching new born young in Spring and discussing the monitoring results builds new friendships from a diverse group of people who share a common love of wildlife. It's also great to know that some of the cool videos we identify in the WildMap system are shared with Derby hospital bringing joy to those in recovery."

Philippa Naylor, Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages UK said:

“Through our long-term land management partnership with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, we’ve been caring for the 36 hectares of pristine land at the former Cowdale quarry, protecting the site from development, restoring it to promote biodiversity, and ultimately, protecting the quality of the water resources underneath.

“Throughout our partnership, and thanks to the volunteers’ support, we were able to do so many great things for Cowdale’s habitat together, such as planting native trees, creating space for species-rich grassland or introducing native grazing. And now, we are excited that people will be able to stay informed about the site and its wildlife thanks so the new Wild Map.

“Derbyshire is home to the beloved Buxton and Nestlé Pure Life waters, and we are proud to protect these precious water resources and the land above them for today and for the future generations. We want to be a good neighbour in our local community and help foster its deeper connection with nature.”

The project supports Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Wilder 2030 ambitions by reconnecting people with nature, restoring ecosystems at a landscape scale, and creating opportunities for everyone to play their part to make it happen. 

Visit the Cowdale Wild Map to find out more here