Derbyshire Wildlife Trust receives £552k from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has been awarded a grant from the Government’s £40 million second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery.

Across England, ninety nature projects across have been awarded grants from £68,100 to £1,950,000 to create and retain over 2,500 green jobs, all backed by the Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Work will be carried out on over 600 sites from North Northumberland to the tip of Cornwall, and combined with the first round, almost a million trees will be planted, contributing towards the Government’s commitment to treble tree planting rates across England by the end of this Parliament.

In Derbyshire, the funding will fund the Derwent Connections project – part of a programme that will see the creation of woodlands through River Derwent Catchment where in order to connect the National Forest near the south of the county to the Northern Forest initiatives.  The project expandson the work that the Trust carries out whilst managing the Derbyshire Derwent Catchment Partnership.  

As part of this project the Trust will undertake flood risk modelling.  To reduce flooding they will work with local communities to introduce nature-based solutions such as woodland creation and hedgerow planting.  As woodland creation takes some time to have an effect on flood risk reduction, due to lag in time between tree planting and canopy creation, the project will deliver shorter time scale interventions, such as the construction of leaky woody dams in woodlands and on open ground, particularly in the uplands.  

Matt Buckler, Head of Wilder Landscapes, said, “We’re in the middle of a nature crisis and climate crisis. In order to see real change we need at least 33% of our landscapes to be restored and reconnected for nature.  We also need as many people as possible to know that it is important and how to help. This incredible funding from DEFRA and National Lottery Heritage Fund builds on what we’re doing and really boost nature’s recovery across Derbyshire and neighbouring counties as we join up the dots and start to reconnect landscapes.”

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change.  Connecting people with nature is another priority theme: by increasing access to nature and greenspaces, projects will support both physical and mental wellbeing.  The Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies.  The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

A full list of awards is available to view here.