Trust hails success of Peak District habitat restoration project

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has hailed the success of a project – backed by £1.69 million of government cash – the restore lost habitats in the Peak District.

The trust has completed its ambitious ‘Restoration of lost habitats for a Wild Peak’ project two years after securing cash from the Government’s Species Survival Fund.

The pioneering initiative, which ran from March 2024 to February 2026, set out to halt and reverse the decline of native species by restoring habitats at scale and reconnecting fragmented landscapes.

Over the course of the project, the trust worked with private landowners, from small sites to large estates and businesses, who are members of its Wild Peak Network, helping to deliver their own vision for nature recovery on their land.

More than 10,000 trees were planted to increase woodland cover and connectivity, strengthening long-term prospects for species such as pine marten.

At the same time, 70 hectares of species-rich meadow have been created or restored, providing vital habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, while strengthening the ecological resilience of the landscape.

Empowering communities to take action for nature in their own neighbourhoods has been central to the Wild Peak programme.

Through its community grants scheme, co-funded by the Species Survival Fund and Severn Trent’s Great Big Nature Boost, the trust has funded 26 locally led projects from schools, community groups and landowners, including pond and wetland creation, species reintroduction, improved access to wild spaces, and the installation of bat, bird and hedgehog homes.

More than 800 people took part in 60 events and activities, with a further 500 people volunteering their time.

The project has also strengthened the region’s emerging nature-based economy.

In partnership with the University of Derby, the Business4Nature project was launched to explore the barriers and opportunities for Derbyshire businesses engaging with nature-based solutions to improve the biodiversity of their sites.

The collaboration assessed key themes influencing business participation and produced a series of filmed case studies and a practical toolkit to showcase best practice and inspire wider action.

Dave Savage, head of landscape recovery at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “This project has shown what’s possible when investment is matched with ambition and collaboration.

“Thanks to the Species Survival Fund, we have begun to reverse habitat loss at landscape scale and support species recovery across the Peak District.

“Wild Peak has empowered communities to take action for nature and laid strong foundations for a wilder, more resilient landscape, but this is just the start.

“The programme grew from the ideas of our 75 network members, working across more than 6,000 acres of their land, and we now want to build on that momentum.

“By expanding our network of landowners, businesses and communities, we can help more species recover to sustainable numbers and explore the return of lost species like black grouse and osprey.

“Together, we can shape the next phase of nature’s recovery in the Peak District.”