Go-ahead is given to re-wild park

WORK can now start on returning a Derby park to a more natural state after councillors gave a rewilding project the go-ahead.

A public consultation earlier this year supported the project at Allestree Park, which is set to turn the 300 acres into the UK’s largest urban rewilding space.

Rewilding restores ecosystems, and sometimes reintroduces species, so they work together over time to manage habitats and landscapes themselves, with nature taking care of itself. Allowing this can provide opportunities for communities, nature-based economies and wild spaces for people to enjoy.

Dr Jo Smith, chief executive of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust – which is working with Derby City Council and the University of Derby on the project – said she is excited that the go-ahead has been officially given to allow the park to evolve.

She said: “It’s already starting to look different to how anyone would have seen it 12 months ago before the golf course was closed.

“Then it would have had very green, very short cropped grass but now the grass is starting to grow and we are starting to get more butterflies and dragonflies.

“The area is starting to scrub up and we are getting little areas of habitat for animals. Trees will start to generate themselves and you will get much more of an enclosed feel. But there will still be open spaces in the space generally.

“The next phase of the project is talking to the public to see how we can progress it – we want people to plant trees and feel it is their park and really involve them. So we will be advertising in the near future for people to get in touch if they want to be involved.”

Councillor Jerry Pearce said pathways would naturally form as people walked around the park but most people had indicated in the consultation that they would like walkways to be marked out. He is also keen for people to volunteer to help in the project and also for schools to use the park as an educational resource.

He said: “Change will be gradual but if people visit every couple of months they are bound to notice changes, especially seasonal ones. It is one of those projects that can begin straight away and I would encourage everyone to visit from across the city whenever they can.”

Dr Smith said: “The project has caught the imagination of several other local authorities who have been contacting us to find out about Derby’s plans.

“No other council is doing on the scale of this at the moment and that’s why everyone is interested.”