New wildlife co-ordinator appointed for Derbyshire

Liz Hadfield will be working closely with the county’s wildlife crime police officers to identify the best way to tackle the issue across the county.

Her role includes increasing awareness of wildlife crime, identifying problem hotspots, helping run the force’s Farm Watch scheme and organising further training for the wildlife crime police officers.

The aim is to help cut crime such as poaching, badger baiting and sett destruction, shooting or poisoning birds of prey, disturbing bat roosts, taking wild bird eggs, fishing without a license and uprooting protected plants.

Liz said: “I have always had an interest in wildlife and conservation so when I heard about this role, I was very enthusiastic.

“I’d previously volunteered with the wildlife trusts in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire for about five years, and as an education officer at the trust in Lincolnshire, before I went into teaching.

“But I really wanted to get back into wildlife conservation and to make a difference, and so I eventually started volunteering in Lincolnshire again.

“I feel that the experiences I gained through that volunteering will be of great use in tackling the issue of wildlife crime across Derbyshire.”

The wildlife co-ordinator role was created as part of Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Charles’ pledge to make the issue a focus for the force.