Derbyshire Wildlife Trust lands £538,000 grant for nature restoration from Government Green Recovery fund

The charity is one of 68 applicants to have been awarded a share of the £80million Green Recovery Challenge Fund, which will support ambitious plans to put 30 per cent of the county back into recovery for nature by 2030.

Chief executive Jo Smith said: “Our wildlife is facing huge pressure and declining at an alarming rate but this incredible grant from Defra and the National Lottery Heritage Fund puts us in a much stronger position to support a green recovery, and help people living, working and visiting Derbyshire to have a better connection with the wondrous wild places on our doorstep.

“I’m so proud of my amazing team after a very tough year. We’re bouncing back stronger and more determined to create a wilder Derbyshire for people and for wildlife and this is the best Christmas gift we could have wished for.”

The Wilder Derbyshire project will include work to increase woodland and wetland in the Derwent valley to reduce flooding, exploring eco-tourism opportunities and increasing control of invasive species.

The funding will also help the trust to recover from the impact the pandemic has had on its work, and to develop closer ties with communities and education providers.

Wilder Derbyshire was one of just 21 funding bids to be awarded more than £250,000.

The Green Recovery fund was established as part of the Prime Minister’s plan to support nature recovery and tackle climate change which was unveiled last month.

It is being delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “These projects will restore and transform our landscapes, address the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change and create green jobs.” ​​​​​​

Ros Kerslake, of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Supporting our natural environment is one of the most valuable things we can do right now, as we begin to emerge from the Covid crisis.”

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