SUCCESS! Middleton Moor Appeal in Derbyshire
If ever there was an urgent wildlife appeal, surely this must have been right up there with them!
Middleton Moor covers 135 acres – which is about 76 football pitches – and it is well positioned to connect a number of surrounding nature reserves. Put all of those places together - Gang Mine, Hopton Quarry, Slinter Woods, Rose End Meadows, Dunsley Meadows AND Middleton Moor, and they would create a stunning nature corridor of 1,000 acres.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust had the opportunity to secure Middleton Moor which would create this 1,000 acres of nature-rich space – and thus be a wildlife corridor linking nature reserves in Derbyshire. BUT...The Trust needed to raise £1.2 million by 30th November 2025. Yes, £1.2 million, which gave them literally a couple of months to raise the money.
AND SUCCESS!!! Thanks to a supports and a major grant from Biffa Award, the Trust has secured Middleton Moor!!!
At the moment, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust describe the land as “species-poor modified grassland” They want to transform it into something much better than that:
Wildflower meadows, buzzing with bees, and also alive with butterflies and moths
Scrubland and woodland edges – green hairstreak butterflies, bullfinches and barn owls can call these home
Healthy grasslands – so that skylarks and curlews can thrive
Improved public access so that there’s more space for people to connect with nature.
The appeal formed part of the Trust’s Wilder 2030 Fund, which is a five year plan to raise £5 million to support the Trust’s vision for a Wilder Derbyshire. The goal is to make this happen by 2030 – which is also the year when there’s a global target to restore 30% of land and sea back to nature.
Nature is good for all our wellbeing – animal and human. As an example, a GP Practice in Derbyshire is working with the Wildlife Trust to promote nature for patients. You can find out about that here.
Find out how ponies are helping to restore nature in Derbyshire
Thank you, Andy Chilton, for the wonderful photo at the top of this page!
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