Volunteers trained to restore Derbyshire's ancient woodlands
Back in September 2014, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust received a grant of £15,085 from The Veolia Environmental Trust, awarded through the Landfill Communities Fund, to restore Lea Wood, one of Derbyshire’s finest examples of ancient woodland.
The project has now reached its half way point and so far the funding has provided training for up to 15 volunteers in how to use chainsaws, emergency first, cross-cutting and tree felling as well as species identification courses such as woodland flora ID and woodland bird ID.
Volunteers have already clocked up 66 days on-site, cutting down non-native rhododendron so that native species can survive. The reserve is known for its wild daffodils and spring bluebell displays and is home to several declining species, including pied flycatchers which regularly breed in the wood, lesser spotted woodpecker and spotted flycatcher and at least 25 priority moth species listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan have been recorded here including September thorn and small phoenix.
Reserve Officer Kate Lemon is co-ordinating the project, she said “The funding from The Veolia Environmental Trust is enabling us to safeguard Lea Wood and ensure it is a haven for many of our vulnerable species. At the moment volunteers have stopped cutting rhododendron so they do not disturb breeding birds but they are learning more about the wildlife that lives there such as reptiles and bats.”
The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, added ““We are pleased to be able to help make this exciting project happen. It is a great example of how we and the Landfill Communities Fund can help organisations like the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust transform our landscape for the benefit of a wide range of plant and animal species, as well as visitors. We love it when volunteers get involved too. I look forward to hearing about the woodland thriving in the future.”
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