Ancient woodland protected
AN ANCIENT woodland in Derby has been designated as a nature reserve.
Elms Wood, off Moor Lane, in Allenton, is more than 400 years old and one of just two woodland areas in the city classed as ancient.
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WOODCRAFT: Children from Allenton Community Primary School construct spider webs made from nettles found on the woodland floor and, top left, Elise Patel, aged nine, makes a triangle from sticks. Left, Nick Law, local wildlife sites officer for the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, in Elm Wood in Moor Lane, Allenton.
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Now it has been officially named as a nature reserve by environmental organisation Natural England, meaning it will be protected for years to come.
School children, councillors and community groups joined celebrations to mark both the change and the 60th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, which allows such designations to take place.
Natural England board member Christopher Pennell said: "Designating areas as Local Nature Reserves means that they can be positively managed to protect and benefit wildlife.
"Standing in the middle of Elm Wood, you wouldn't know that you were just a mile or so from the city centre.
"At Natural England we are working to increase people's opportunities to experience the natural environment, close to where they live."
Elms Wood is the 10th area of land in Derby to be named as a local nature reserve, after being nominated by landowners Derby City Council and approved by Natural England – the organisation which advises the government on the environment.
It was chosen because of its age and the fact it is home to species of plants and wildlife which are specific to the area.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has now drawn up a management plan to ensure the area flourishes in the future, with volunteers from Osmaston Green Gym helping to provide bird and bat boxes, create ponds and remove non-native plant species.
Among them are Tim Flynn, 20, and his grandparents, David and Judith Weston.
Mr Flynn said: "Until I got involved with the green gym I didn't even realise the wood was there.
"Hopefully now it is a nature reserve more people will find out about it and be able to come down and enjoy it."
Derby Deputy Mayor Fareed Hussain, attended the celebration.
He said: "I am very pleased to have been asked to officially mark the declaration of Elm Wood as Derby's tenth local nature reserve.
"It again demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting and improving Derby's green heritage."
There are now 1,400 UK local nature reserves, 123 of which are in the East Midlands.
The nine other local nature reserves in Derby are Chaddesden Wood; Darley and Nutwood; Sinfin Moor; Sunnydale Park; Allestree Park; Chellaston Brickworks; Elvaston; The Sanctuary, in Pride Park; and West Park Meadow.
2 Comments
by Gary, Derby
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 11:28AM
“It's a pity they didn't do this years ago,before they pulled half of it down to built a swimming pool.”
by Joanne, Derbys
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 10:54AM
“This sounds wonderful; so few of these protected areas left- especially in urban areas.
I wonder if Access to the Countryside Act could also be applied to the issue of full public access to Elvaston Park/Castle grounds in the future; also the latest proposal
by a private developer to build a massive housing estate at Stanton Ironworks, and concerrently a major road to cut through ancient countryside/greenbelt land in Erewash Valley?
I hope the same principles apply to all areas, and local councils abide by conservation laws and protection of the enviroment.
I also think national conservation bodies like this should have much more muscle to enforce protection, rather than just in an advisory role.”