scale wildlife schemes transforming Derby's neglected areas

Six run-down areas transformed into wildlife havens Cities are not usually renowned as a haven for wildlife, but wildlife campaigners from Derbyshire have been aiming to redress that balance.

Derbyshire Wildlife trust has been running a community project in Derby which has involved members of 20 community groups and turned several run-down green into areas where nature can thrive.

The work has been carried out as part of the wider Nextdoor Nature project, which received £5m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to make small scale improvements across the UK.

Campaigners and volunteers in Derby said the project has not only helped transform the targeted areas, but has given people a chance to shape the natural world in the area where they live.

The project has resulted in three 'green corridor sites' being created in Derby at Society Place, Normanton High Street and Normanton Park, with three new community gardens and allotments at Hadhari, Laverstoke Court Asylum Seeker Hostel and Derby West Indian Community Association allotment.

Other groups have been given support to develop their own nature projects.

Joginder Bains, of the Indian Workers Association, has worked with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to turn Church Street Park in Normanton into a space for local people to enjoy and change current practices around bird feeding.

She said: "It's about education. People were feeding all sorts of food to the birds. Stale bread, pizzas, rice, noodles, everything. It attracted rats.

"If we turn this area around it will help us to tackle climate change and encourage wildlife".

Adam Dosunmu Slater, Community Organiser with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said the project has engaged with communities previously excluded from making decisions about nature and the environment.

"It brings that community buy-in right from the start. A lot of time top-down projects don't have community buy-in and don't have local people at the heart of it," he said.

"It really doesn't take much. Nature does all the work for us. And it can make a massive difference".

Resident Ali Malik said he had been impressed with the transformation of a plot of land outside his home in Society Place in Normanton.

He said: "It had become a bit of a hotspot for people that take drugs. People used to dump old mattresses, nappies and unwanted furniture.

"My mother uses the area and she absolutely loves it. It's like her own personal park," said Malik. "It just shows you the positive impact you can make by doing positive things".

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