Allestree Rewilding

Share your ideas for Allestree Park

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  Violet, the ground beetle

  by FAJ, about 4 years ago

  Once upon a time there was a beetle, her name was Violet. She was big, and black, with a beautiful tinge of blue-purple on her back. She lived at the edge of a wood. At night she would hunt for slugs(which, surprisingly, she liked eating), snails or worms. Sometimes she would chase a faster-moving insect; she was a very quick runner and had very good eyesight.

  Next to the wood was grass that went on for ever, it was very short grass and there were not many slugs or snails to be found there. There were also huge creatures that... Continue reading

  Once upon a time there was a beetle, her name was Violet. She was big, and black, with a beautiful tinge of blue-purple on her back. She lived at the edge of a wood. At night she would hunt for slugs(which, surprisingly, she liked eating), snails or worms. Sometimes she would chase a faster-moving insect; she was a very quick runner and had very good eyesight.

  Next to the wood was grass that went on for ever, it was very short grass and there were not many slugs or snails to be found there. There were also huge creatures that marched over the grass at night, sniffing and sometimes digging; huge creatures even came diving down from the sky; she really had to run fast to get away into the safety of the wood. Even in the wood there were not very many slugs and snails, and not really enough good places for her to hide in.

  As spring turned to summer, there were changes. The endless grass grew longer and longer. More plants and flowers grew. Slugs and snails and worms and lots of other mini beasts were moving in, and she wasn’t short of food now. In the rather bare woodland edge, plants started springing up. She dared to move out in the long grass and down into the tussocks of grass and under the spreading leaves, safe from the huge creatures.

  High summer: the grasses and the other plants grew taller. Violet had lots of slugs and worms and insects to eat and she was strong and healthy. When the weather turned hot, though, she stayed cool in a favourite place under a stone.

  Autumn came eventually, and there under the tall grasses and tall seed heads of the other plants, the huge creatures on the ground and in the sky still couldn’t find her. All the undergrowth at the edge of the wood gave plenty of hiding places, and in late autumn she could lay her eggs safely in the soil there.

  During the coldest time of the winter she hid away under the favourite stone, but as it got a little bit warmer, out she came once more, to hunt again at night in the long undergrowth, in the best possible place for a beetle to live.

  
  

  PS: Violet ground beetles (Carabus violaceus) are beautiful, quite large (20-30mm) and long-lived. A bit more rewilding in the park would suit them well!
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  access

  by coffin dodger, about 4 years ago
  It is essential that the present wide access we have to the park at the moment is maintained.

  The current areas of "manicured" grass do not need to be preserved only the paths that cross them.

  It is essential that the present wide access we have to the park at the moment is maintained.

  The current areas of "manicured" grass do not need to be preserved only the paths that cross them.
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  People and nature

  by FAJ, about 4 years ago

  How can nature coexist with people in the park?

  Pretty much like it does now, in the existing nature reserve which is in fact the majority of the park, outside the former golf course.

  Sections of the current nature reserve area are managed in different ways. ‘Oaktree field’, beside the main car park, has the grass cut short, perfect for walking, playing, picnicking. Big Wood, at the top of the park, together with other wooded areas, is mixed woodland, with paths through (these help protect the wonderful bluebells in spring). We also have meadows, cut late in the summer, which... Continue reading

  How can nature coexist with people in the park?

  Pretty much like it does now, in the existing nature reserve which is in fact the majority of the park, outside the former golf course.

  Sections of the current nature reserve area are managed in different ways. ‘Oaktree field’, beside the main car park, has the grass cut short, perfect for walking, playing, picnicking. Big Wood, at the top of the park, together with other wooded areas, is mixed woodland, with paths through (these help protect the wonderful bluebells in spring). We also have meadows, cut late in the summer, which support lots of wild flowers. Some areas are grazed too, many of us have become familiar with the lovely Highland cattle who visit us in winter months. Areas up in the north of the park are more seriously wild, rich in biodiversity, but managed nonetheless. And of course we have the lake.

  The Friends of Allestree Park have over the years done a lot of maintenance work and organised very many events for the public and for schools. We have held mini beast hunts, fungal forays, Himalayan balsam pulling, tree planting, litter picking, pond dipping, surveying, and more. Lots of children, adults, families have learned about nature and we have all benefited from being in the natural environment.

  Incorporating the golf course into the present nature reserve would extend and, importantly, connect the range of wildlife habitats. Landscape features on the former course could be enhanced in ways that would encourage wildlife. The whole area would still be managed, but with a much lighter touch. Some of the grassland could be allowed to grow longer, blossoming into flower-rich meadows; much better for insects, mammals, birds (and for carbon capture). We couldn’t produce another lake but there could be wetland and a new pond - as well as hedgerow and understorey planting among the stands of trees.

  All this would also give more scope for activities like guided wildlife rambles, school visits, mindfulness walks. Access would be needed, with paths through meadows and woodland and, with increasing visitor numbers enjoying the area, some improved paths in the existing nature reserve too. Even better if we could have an interpretation area – and better still, toilets and a cafe!

  But despite these changes, the wonderful vistas along the green former fairways, and the character and tranquillity of the place, mustn’t be lost.
• Share A step change in nature recovery on Facebook Share A step change in nature recovery on Twitter Share A step change in nature recovery on Linkedin Email A step change in nature recovery link

  A step change in nature recovery

  by Adam, about 4 years ago

  Rewilding offers a glimpse of how our countryside once looked, sounded and smelled. It is a great way to demonstrate through education how much we have lost since WWII and intensification of land use. Using the core area of park as a true wild zone by limiting access will help nature reestablish and spread to other parts of the park and wider countryside, helped by creating wildlife corridors along hedgerows and streams in and out of the park. This does not need intensive human intervention to develop - it needs to be handsoff as much as possible, letting nature heal... Continue reading

  Rewilding offers a glimpse of how our countryside once looked, sounded and smelled. It is a great way to demonstrate through education how much we have lost since WWII and intensification of land use. Using the core area of park as a true wild zone by limiting access will help nature reestablish and spread to other parts of the park and wider countryside, helped by creating wildlife corridors along hedgerows and streams in and out of the park. This does not need intensive human intervention to develop - it needs to be handsoff as much as possible, letting nature heal itself. Some areas can be used to demonstrate how our fields and hedges would have looked pre-war, supported by low intensity grazing of ponies and cattle rather than mechanical intervention which as a co2 impact. Enabling nature to thrive and deliver health benefits will require some level of human use - but not everything can be accomplished in the space if nature recovery is a priority. Activities need to be limited to those that are not invasive or damaging to the environment. Cycle trails are a great idea, but not mixed use with walkers - walking and cycling trails should be different lengths and difficulty to support the needs of as many people as possible. MTB trails are desperately needed in Derby area but are not really a good match for a rewilding project as they often cause significant damage and erosion - perhaps another area can be found for this and developed in parallell. Camping and clamping, nature trails, natural woodland play areas, wildlife courses, guided walks, a whole host of country crafts and learning opportunities are a perfect match. What isn’t needed is big flashy infrastructure projects that cost large sums of money and co2 emissions but little real value for a rewilding project - it doesn’t need tree top walks, themed adventure playgrounds, huge car parks etc - the value in rewilding is peace, tranquillity, fresh air, exercise and education. Improving public transport to avoid car use is a far better infrastructure investment, as are eco friendly education facilities. Food and drink options should also be ecologically sound - selling local seasonal produce, perhaps supplemented by an on site kitchen garden. This is a great opportunity for Derby but it needs to remain focused on its core value - you can’t please everyone and trying to do so would undermine the purpose of rewilding, both for nature and people.
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  Re-wilding as an opportunity to change people's attitudes and behaviours towards nature more widely, beyond the park itself

  by J, about 4 years ago

  I can see that this is very much what many of us want and is a wider ambition for this project for the experts involved. This is a fantastic opportunity to evaluate how a wider change in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved. Which specific parts of the re-wilding exercise work best to change what people do in their daily lives to support nature? We want to implement what we know works best in changing behaviour. What is the best available evidence of this now and, if the evidence base is embryonic, how can we work with others to evaluate... Continue reading

  I can see that this is very much what many of us want and is a wider ambition for this project for the experts involved. This is a fantastic opportunity to evaluate how a wider change in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved. Which specific parts of the re-wilding exercise work best to change what people do in their daily lives to support nature? We want to implement what we know works best in changing behaviour. What is the best available evidence of this now and, if the evidence base is embryonic, how can we work with others to evaluate exactly which parts of the re-wilding we will implement, work best to change what people do in their daily lives towards nature? Does being part of a meadow seed scatter, encourage people to have a wilder part of their own garden and make them less likely to use pesticides for example? Will our local farmers respect what we are trying to do and explore less environmentally damaging farming practices? Will people plant rather than dig up native hedges?

  To capture any shift, we need to be baselining attitudes and behaviours sooner rather than later. My views have already been changed, just by being part of the consultation, and so if we are going to look at behaviour change, we need to be baselining really soon. I can hear that we are looking at evaluating the project by looking at the impact of people's mental health and on species recovery but have we got in mind a study exploring Derby resident's wider behaviour change towards nature that will resonate beyond the park's boundaries into their own personal spaces and lives?
• Share Children's language development - using the outdoors to support development of language so children can achieve their potential on Facebook Share Children's language development - using the outdoors to support development of language so children can achieve their potential on Twitter Share Children's language development - using the outdoors to support development of language so children can achieve their potential on Linkedin Email Children's language development - using the outdoors to support development of language so children can achieve their potential link

  Children's language development - using the outdoors to support development of language so children can achieve their potential

  by J, about 4 years ago

  Listening to Graham Spencer talk so passionately about the way nature can support the people's mental health and how the re-wilding of Allestree Park can achieve this, got me thinking about something I have worked on for many years ( in another area) - that is - supporting young children to develop adequate speech and language skills. Such skills are known to have an impact on how well a child does at school, how well they make friends and the extent to which they can make a positive contribution to their community.

  In Derby, you have the Talk Derby initiative... Continue reading

  Listening to Graham Spencer talk so passionately about the way nature can support the people's mental health and how the re-wilding of Allestree Park can achieve this, got me thinking about something I have worked on for many years ( in another area) - that is - supporting young children to develop adequate speech and language skills. Such skills are known to have an impact on how well a child does at school, how well they make friends and the extent to which they can make a positive contribution to their community.

  In Derby, you have the Talk Derby initiative https://talkderby.org.uk/ which has these aims. As part of my team's research in another part of the country, we found that children talk more outdoors and there are more opportunities for adults to use a wider range of vocabulary with them. I am thinking that the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust could ensure that all its Engagement Officers and Volunteers have training in how best to support children's language development, so they are using the best techniques in their interaction to support the children's language, which will also then be modelled to families who attend their sessions. There is a lot of research about the techniques that can best support children's language development and it seems a golden opportunity to put these into place outdoors, where there are so many opportunities for interaction and where we can demonstrate the best techniques to our communities.

  It would also be great to have a "Talking Walk" so families have a leaflet they can use when walking around the park that supports the things and ways they can interact with young children to capitalise on the language learning opportunities. I would be happy to develop one for Friends of Allestree Park if people thought this would be a good idea.

  Both of these ideas would enhance the Forest Schools initiative already implemented by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. I believe https://talkderby.org.uk/ offer training to professionals, parents and volunteers about this and so it would be good to link up with them.

  This children's language development initiative also has national profile following from the Bercow and Bercow10 reviews of children's speech, language and communication needs which identified that in some areas up to half of young children did not have adequate language development to support them to achieve their potential. So, the ideas above would sit well with the national and international standing of the Allestree Park re-wilding and would showcase the wider benefits to society of re-wilding our urban parks and helping people appreciate nature for nature's sake, not just to exploit it for more adventurous pursuits.

  I will e mail FOAP to offer my help around this if you think this would be of benefit once the consultation is complete.
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  Wildlife corridors connecting to Allestree Park

  by Ros, over 4 years ago
  

  Building on Jamie's idea of Hedgerows as wildlife highways radiating out from Allestree Park I would like to refer you to our Quarndon Parish Neighbourhood Plan which identifies important wildlife corridors between Allestree Park and Kedleston Park. As yet these have no protected status but protection of trees and improvements to the condition of hedgerows within these corridors would be of great benefit .

  
  

  Building on Jamie's idea of Hedgerows as wildlife highways radiating out from Allestree Park I would like to refer you to our Quarndon Parish Neighbourhood Plan which identifies important wildlife corridors between Allestree Park and Kedleston Park. As yet these have no protected status but protection of trees and improvements to the condition of hedgerows within these corridors would be of great benefit .

  
  
• Share Hedges - create a wildlife highway connecting, maintaining and improving the local hedges, radiating out of the park. on Facebook Share Hedges - create a wildlife highway connecting, maintaining and improving the local hedges, radiating out of the park. on Twitter Share Hedges - create a wildlife highway connecting, maintaining and improving the local hedges, radiating out of the park. on Linkedin Email Hedges - create a wildlife highway connecting, maintaining and improving the local hedges, radiating out of the park. link

  Hedges - create a wildlife highway connecting, maintaining and improving the local hedges, radiating out of the park.

  by Jamie, over 4 years ago

  Allestree Park could be the "Spaghetti Junction" of hedge wildlife routes across this part of the city. There are so many poorly maintained hedges across this area along roadsides and in gardens. People are digging them up but they provide such an important habitat for wildlife. As part of the re-wilding of Allestree Park, plant and improve some hedgerows.

  Use this initiative as a springboard to encourage locals to plant and maintain their own hedgerows and get work parties across the community to improve existing hedges across this part of the city. Educate locals about their importance and how to... Continue reading

  Allestree Park could be the "Spaghetti Junction" of hedge wildlife routes across this part of the city. There are so many poorly maintained hedges across this area along roadsides and in gardens. People are digging them up but they provide such an important habitat for wildlife. As part of the re-wilding of Allestree Park, plant and improve some hedgerows.

  Use this initiative as a springboard to encourage locals to plant and maintain their own hedgerows and get work parties across the community to improve existing hedges across this part of the city. Educate locals about their importance and how to maintain them, rather than digging them up and replacing with solid fences that are not bird or hedgehog friendly. Encourage locals to re-wild their gardens and avoid pesticides and slug pellets. Show people how easy it can be and help them appreciate the beauty and benefits.

  Think about incentivising this process. For example, providing free natural hedging plants and advice about maintenance or providing free bird feeders/ cat collars with bells to protect birds and give people media praise when they participate in the initiative. Create a culture of restoration and support for nature instead of the dig- up and artificial turf/tarmac/fence one.

  True re-wilding of Allestree Park, rather than exploitation of its natural assets can be used to spearhead a change in the way we think about nature. Nature supports us enough by providing us with the air we breathe and support for our mental health. It does not need to give us more by us exploiting the space for extreme leisure purposes. If we are true to the re-wilding ethos, we can use this exercise to re-engage people with their role in supporting and restoring the natural environment and to gain pleasure from this alone. That will be the true measure of success of this initiative, not how many compromises we can make to please everyone. Compromise will not achieve a stable base for nature or carbon capture. Please do not allow Allestree Park to become a "Jack of all trades" park but a master of none. We need to be strong for our park and its wildlife and speak up for what is right.
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  Follow sheffields example

  by Ellie, over 4 years ago

  Sheffield have a great relationship with the council, wildlife trust and cycling community providing families, riders and the general public an excellent array of cycling activities all working in harmony together. Great boost to the community and establishing themselves as an outdoor city. We, in Derby have got great cycling history and future, be excellent to add some MTB trails to the cycling portfolio. Parkwood springs/ lady cannings are both excellent examples built by Bike Track who build the pump track on derby on cotton lane. Allestrees natural slope would be ideal for a gravity terrain based track or dual... Continue reading

  Sheffield have a great relationship with the council, wildlife trust and cycling community providing families, riders and the general public an excellent array of cycling activities all working in harmony together. Great boost to the community and establishing themselves as an outdoor city. We, in Derby have got great cycling history and future, be excellent to add some MTB trails to the cycling portfolio. Parkwood springs/ lady cannings are both excellent examples built by Bike Track who build the pump track on derby on cotton lane. Allestrees natural slope would be ideal for a gravity terrain based track or dual slalom course.

  
  
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  Wales does it well

  by Family Focussed, over 4 years ago
  Coed-Y-Brenin and Llandegla both do the mix of eco, outdoor activity and facilities in a sympathetic way which makes them successful and sustainable spaces. Great examples to reference.

  Coed-Y-Brenin and Llandegla both do the mix of eco, outdoor activity and facilities in a sympathetic way which makes them successful and sustainable spaces. Great examples to reference.