Can you help to tackle local flooding?
WILDLIFE TRUST SURVEY AS IT ANNOUNCES NEW PROJECT
THIS week, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is asking 268,480 households about their experiences with flooding in Derbyshire.
The Trust is asking who has experienced flooding in their local area and what the public feel about the flood risk in the future. The surveys will arrive by post this week and the aim is to gather local information on where flooding is worst so it is vital that everyone takes part who can.
Danielle Brown at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said: “The public’s local knowledge is vital to us – it helps us plan where to focus our resources so we can have the biggest impact for nature and communities.
“Now 280,000 people have the chance to share their concerns, hear about our science-led natural solutions and to pass on their local knowledge.
“Everyone who responds to the flood survey will receive a guide with 15 easy ways that they can help reduce flooding and a tree will be planted in their name to create woodlands along the River Derwent that will connect the National Forest to the Northern Forest. But most importantly, it’s also an opportunity to work with the Trust more closely to tackle the flooding issues together – from toolkits on how to help, right through to being part of a huge volunteer group who will help to plant forests, hedgerows and build leaky dams. It’s a brilliant community movement that will have a great outcome for nature as well as helping to reduce flooding for years to come!”
It’s all part of the Trust’s Derwent
Connections project, 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 expands on the work that the Trust carries out while managing the Derbyshire Derwent Catchment Partnership.
As part of this project the Trust will undertake flood risk modelling.
Working with local communities to introduce nature-based solutions such as hedgerow planting and leaky dams, as well as long terms solutions such as woodland creation.
Danielle said: “This is really important now because we’re in the middle of a nature crisis and climate crisis. In order to see real change to problems such as flooding we need at least 33 per cent 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.”
The project is funded by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund - a key part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change.
If you don’t receive the survey but would love to get involved, you can do so online by visiting www.derby shirewildlifetrust.org.uk/derwentconnections
Meanwhile, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust released a second pair of beavers at its enclosed Willington Wetlands reserve last week.
The male and female follow the successful reintroduction of two beavers at the reserve last Monday – the first time in 800 years that beavers have lived in Derbyshire. They were released in a different part of the 44 hectare reserve.
The pair were brought from Devon by The Beaver Trust where they had been in temporary lodgings awaiting a new home. The project has been made possible thanks to generous funding from Severn Trent Water, Biffa Award and a crowdfunding campaign.