March 2023, we have a crazy idea to turn the field off Summer Lane into a wildlife haven
Our Story
Some of the best ideas hatch over a kitchen table. This was one of those and how could we have known that serendipity would play a key role in our fundraising. The BBC Wild Isles series captured people’s hearts and minds showing how urgent it has become to protect spaces for wildlife and nature.
In March 2023 we successfully raised the funds needed to purchase the field known in the deeds as ‘Lady Flatts’ and to many locals as ‘Abbots Field’. We have given it a new name to reflect its history - ‘Wild Maple Field’. The name is inspired by a very old wild field maple which self-seeded into some rock on the slope. It has seen a lot of change and we hope that over the coming years it will live on to see a lot more as we are able to increase the biodiversity of the wildlife that surrounds it.
Just under 11 acres on the edge of Wirksworth won’t change the world but it may change our corner of the world.
Approach
We plan to take a gentle approach to the rewilding of the field. Our goal is to increase the biodiversity of wildlife on the field by allowing things to evolve slowly.
Over spring and early summer 2023 we consulted various wildlife experts to inform our decisions on the best approach to take.
Using their advice we will work to manage the field in a way that maximises the value to wildlife, as well as enhancing pleasure for people walking through the field as the number of species they can see will increase.
Our approach will be to do this in the most naturally occurring way possible, though at times we will need to mimic the behaviour of grazing or browsing animals and keep more vigorous species, such as creeping thistle and ragwort, under control in some areas of the field.
The sloped area will be left to go truly wild, so scrub will flourish, and berried thorns such as hawthorn and blackthorn give food and shelter to numerous invertebrates, bird and small mammals.
In other areas of the field we hope to see, through a mix of natural regeneration and planting, an increase in hedgerow and trees, as well as open spaces for scrub and wildflowers.
We will continue to be guided by the experts, and informed by surveys, to allow the field become an increasingly wild and special place for all.
Connections
In the face of climate change it can be hard to know what action you can take personally. During our research we have found many glimpses of hope and lots of people who are doing good work to encourage and protect wildlife in our area and beyond.
We have joined the Wild Peak Project run by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust in conjunction with Rewilding Britain. There are now over 50 projects (including ours) all working hard to improve the landscape in the Wild Peak and to work towards building a more connected landscape.
If you’d like to get involved, why not sign up to help us out or to receive our periodic newsletter. We’ll aim to keep everyone up to date on what we are doing and any forthcoming events.