WildDerby 'do one thing' for wildlife activity day
On Sunday 10 June 2007, we launched Springwatch in Derby with the WildDerby 'do one thing' for wildlife activity day. During the day, there was bird watching, a Peregrine Falcon Watch and Pondamania. Up to 300 people attended these activities during the day. For those who could not attend these activities, there was a WildDerby Garden Watch which they could do in their own garden.
Derby's Springwatch Festival - Go Wild in Osmaston Park
On Sunday 24 June 2007, over 2500 people joined us at Derby's Springwatch Festival - Go Wild in Osmaston Park. Our free, family environmental fun day, allowed people to meet many groups and organisations, enabling them to take their interest in wildlife further. From close up encounters with wildlife, to trying a range of activities, joining a 'Springwatch Garden Party', or learning how to become a Springwatch Tracker, there was something for everyone. Visit the BBC Springwatch 2007 Gallery 
to see more photographs.
WildDerby Summer Scheme
During August 2007, free wildlife fun days for children were held at:
- Allestree Park Local Nature Reserve
- the former Sturgess School site off Kedleston Road
- West Park Meadow Local Nature Reserve, Spondon.
On each site, children and their parents discovered the wildlife on their doorstep through activities such as waterlife, wild bookmarks, tree spotting and bug hunting.
For details of our future wildlife fun days, email your name and address to us at wildderby@derby.gov.uk asking to be put on our Let’s go Wild programme mailing list, and we’ll post you a copy when available.
Eco-Fest
On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September 2007, 9,000 people attended Eco-Fest at Markeaton Park. This free biennial festival is designed to provide an entertaining and enjoyable two days for the whole family while, at the same time, raising awareness of environmental issues. This year’s main theme was climate change and every organisation participating was asked to reflect this in what they brought to the event. As part of the festival, WildDerby organised a 'do one thing' for wildlife marquee.
BBC Nature of Britain series
Derby’s wild side was revealed to television viewers across the region on Wednesday 24 October 2007. The BBC‘s Nature of Britain series, fronted by Alan Titchmarsh, looked at urban wildlife, including some of Derby’s wildlife treasures such as Markeaton Brook and its crayfish, the Peregrine Falcons at the Cathedral, and The Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve at Pride Park.
Great Tree Giveaway - Derby's Tree Party
On Saturday 10 November 2007, nearly 800 people came along to our Great Tree Giveaway in Derby's Market Place, part of the BBC Breathing Places Tree Party. At our fun-filled autumn event, free trees were given away (one per family) along with some top tree tips. To view where most trees have been planted, you can download 'The forest we planted in 2007' 
561kb plan. As part of the event, video clips of schools and community groups planting trees and shrubs in October was shown on the Big Screen in the Market Place, along with clips from the Nature of Britain programme. On the same day, Derby's Museum and Art Gallery, The Strand, hosted a 'Tree-mendous Fun' workshop packed full of activities for all the family, such as seed planting, tree bling and tree collage. Natural England ran a butterfly bling craft activity workshop. Visit BBC Derby's Big Tree Give Away gallery to see more photographs.
Elvaston Lane Pond Restoration
On Sunday 13 January 2008, Derby City Pond Warden Association removed invasive plants and rubbish from Elvaston Lane Pond, to encourage the return of Great Crested Newts.
Garden Bird Bonanza
On Saturday 26 January 2008, over 1000 people joined WildDerby and partners (RSPB, Derby Museums, BBC Radio Derby, BBC Breathing Places, Natural England ) in Derby's Market Place for family fun bird activities and helped us do one thing for garden birds. People came along and made free bird feeders, took part in bird mask making, visited the BBC Bus, made themselves a free bird box, went on a bird walk and found out about the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Visit the BBC Bird Bonanza 2008 Gallery to see more photographs.
Action Day for Wildlife on Markeaton Street Pond
On Saturday 23 February 2008, Friends of Markeaton Brook carried out tree planting and litter picking along Markeaton Brook. The Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group put up bat boxes at the end of Markeaton Street.
Tree and shrub planting at Chaddesden Park Nature Reserve
On Friday 29 February 2008, the Friends of Chaddesden Park planted hazel, holly, blackthorn, maple and hawthorn in the nature reserve, with the help of over 50 pupils from Chaddesden Park Junior School. 100 native trees and shrubs were planted, which will encourage a greater diversity of habitat and create an additional food source for birds.
Scrub clearance at the Darley and Nutwood Nature Reserve
On Tuesday 4 March 2008, the Darley and Nutwood Nature Reserve Management Group carried out a half day of scrub clearance along the main track through the reserve. This scrub clearance will encourage nesting birds and allow a more diverse ground cover to develop. For further information, contact the Darley and Nutwood Nature Reserve Management Group on 01332 557249, or email keith@dodd394.fsnet.co.uk
Hedge planting at the Darley and Nutwood Nature Reserve
On Tuesday 18 March 2008, the Darley and Nutwood Nature Reserve Management Group, and children from Becket Primary School, carried out a half day of hedge planting along the northern boundary of the reserve. This hedge planting will help secure the boundary and encourage nesting birds.
Bird box making and installing at Chaddesden Park Nature Reserve
On Tuesday 1 April 2008, the Friends of Chaddesden Park made and installed bird boxes in the nature reserve. These boxes will help to encourage more bird species into the park, and provide additional habitats for existing birds.
Sinfin Wild Week
From Monday 28 April to Sunday 4 May 2008, the Friends of Sinfin Moor Park and Nature Reserve, and other WildDerby partners, carried out a week of activities to clean up the nature reserve and transform it into a haven for wildlife. BBC Radio Derby covered the week of activities, which helped celebrate Derby's status as a BBC Breathing Places City.
Thank you to everyone who took part. Without your continuous effort, it would not have been possible.
What did we achieve?
- a pump-house painted green
- nature watch with 295 children
- put up 120 bird boxes
- 2 health walks
- 4 benches concreted-in
- 2 notice boards to tell people about the nature reserve
- included 150 volunteers
- 150 bags of litter picked up and well over 2 tons carried away
- 20 frog lodges and 10 habitat piles created
- over 24 different groups involved
- 200m path dug out and laid
- 1000 wildflowers planted
- and plenty of happy photos.
Who do we thank?
Friends of Sinfin Moor Park and Nature Reserve, Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water, BTCV, Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire, Derby College - Broomfield Hall Campus, Derby City Pond Warden Association, Redwood Junior School, Grampian Primary School, Sinfin Primary School, Merrill College, West Park School, Ashcroft Primary School, Moorfield Childrens Centre, ASDA, Woodbine Garage, Rolls Royce, Derbyshire Probation Service, RSPB Derby Local Group, Derby City Primary Care Trust, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Sinfin Churches, Derby City Council's Parks, Estate Management and Waste Management teams, BBC Breathing Places and BBC Radio Derby.
Donations were received from the Environment Agency, Derby City Council, Rolls Royce, ASDA, Area Panel and BBC Breathing Places, as part of Derby's Year of Action for wildlife.
Derby's Springwatch Festival - Go Wild in Derby's Market Place
On Sunday 8 June 2008, over 2500 people came along to our free Springwatch Festival in the Market Place to find out how to do one thing for wildlife, and to help WildDerby continue celebrating Derby's status as a BBC Breathing Places City.
During the day, people had the opportunity to meet and find out about BBC Breathing Places, plus various local groups, such as the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB Derby Local Group, Derby City Pond Warden Association, Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire, Friends of Markeaton Brook and the Trent Rivers Trust.
There were various activities on offer, such as pebble painting, willow weaving, face painting, circus skills, making nature notebooks, henna painting and bird and bat box making. Plus, there was the opportunity to view the Peregrine Falcons on Derby Cathedral.
BBC Radio Derby broadcast live from the Springwatch Festival, and more photographs can be seen on their BBC Springwatch 2008 Gallery.
Action Day for Wildlife - Balsam Pull in Markeaton Park
On Saturday 28 June 2008, the Friends of Markeaton Brook spent six hours removing Himalayan Balsam from the banks of Markeaton Brook, so our native plants can grow. Himalayan Balsam is an invasive plant, which crowds out native vegetation along the banks of watercourses.
Day of Pondamania
On Saturday 26 July 2008, Derby City Pond Warden Association helped 65 people to discover the creatures which lurk in Allestree Park Lake. During the six hour event, people were able to take part in pond dipping and mini-beast hunting, receive advice about ponds, meet their local pond wardens and learn about the pond warden scheme and adopting a local pond. For further information about the Derby City Pond Warden Association, telephone 01332 830657, or email dgolson@aol.com
Wild Week on Ponds
From 1 to 7 June 2009, Derby City Pond Wardens Association (DCPWA), BBC Derby and WildDerby organised a variety of pond activities. The aim of the Week was to create new ponds and to help people find out about their importance to wildlife.
During the Week, five new ponds were created, seven new pond wardens found, four ponds added to the Million Ponds project, over 16 voluntary groups engaged, over 180 volunteers took part, three days of pond dipping took place, 50 new bird boxes put up, two trees provided for woodpeckers, 300 wildflower plants planted, hundreds of bluebells transplanted, over 200 schoolchildren involved and nearly 20 garden ponds surveyed.
To find out more about what took place during the Week, visit our Wild Week on Ponds webpage. Or you can visit the BBC Derby website.
Elm Wood Local Nature Reserve
On 25 June 2009, during Derby City Partnership Week, a celebratory event was held at Elm Wood to mark the official declaration of the site as Derby's ninth Local Nature Reserve (LNR). The event also marked the regional celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.
To find out more about what took place, visit our Elm Wood Local Nature Reserve webpage.
Green Balloon Club Week
In partnership with BBC Breathing Places, BBC CBeebies organised a Green Balloon Club Week, which ran from 25 July to 1 August 2009. As part of this week of activities for under 7s, Derby Museums organised a Green Balloon Club at the Museum event on 30 July 2009.
To find out more about what took place, visit our Green Balloon Club at the Museum webpage.
WildDerby Big Day Out
Early in August 2009, free outdoor activities for children (up to 12 years old) and their families were held at wildlife sites in Derby.
To find out more about what took place, visit our WildDerby Big Day Out 2009 webpage.
Eco-Fest 2009
This year’s Eco-Fest took place at Markeaton Park on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2009. A free, fun, family oriented environmental festival with lots of interesting activities for children and adults, the main theme this year was climate change.
WildDerby was located in the Do One Thing for Wildlife marquee, which had stalls and activities on a wide range of wildlife issues. Outside the entrance to the marquee, WildDerby and Grow 2 Grow developed a ‘living green wall’ to show people what could be achieved in a small garden. A small wildlife pond was also set up.
For more information about what took place at Eco-Fest visit the this is Derbyshire website, or our own Eco-Fest webpage.
Free Tree Giveaway
On Saturday 7 November 2009, free trees (three per household) were distributed to Derby households to encourage wildlife in gardens. As part of BBC Breathing Places, Osmaston Green Gym and WildDerby were at the Osmaston Park Community Centre, off Moor Lane, Allenton. During the day about 300 trees were given away.
WildDerby Friends
On 23 November 2009 the WildDerby Awards Ceremony for significant contributions to the biodiversity and wildlife of the city was held in the Mayor’s Reception Room at the Council House
The Right Worshipful, The Mayor of the City of Derby, Councillor Sean Marshall presented the Awards before the start of the Fourth WildDerby Friends Partnership Meeting in the Council Chamber.
Derek Golson received the Group Award on behalf of the Derby City Pond Warden Association, following the successful Wild Week on Ponds, SITA grant bid and their partnership work across the city.
Sam Maw of Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire received the Site Award on behalf of da Vinci Community College for the most improved wildlife site.
Doug Tutin of National Probation Service - Derbyshire received the Individual Award for his continuous support of the bird and bat box scheme in the city.
Almost 50 people from various groups and organisations attended the Awards Ceremony and WildDerby Friends Partnership Meeting afterwards.
WildDerby is very grateful for the huge amount of time and effort, most of it voluntary, that these groups and organisations give to the city and its wildlife.
WildDerby is about positive action for wildlife in Derby, for the benefit of local people. The partnership includes organisations such as Derby City Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, BTCV, Groundwork and many local groups. We work together because wildlife in the city matters.
Tree O’Clock
On Saturday 5 December 2009, 158 people joined WildDerby and partners at Allestree Park to participate in the BBC Breathing Places attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most trees planted in one hour. Between 11am and 12 noon, over 1000 trees were planted in just 24 minutes. For more information on the event at Allestree Park, visit the this is Derbyshire website. To find out how things went nationally, visit the BBC Breathing Places Tree O'Clock webpage.
Garden Bird Bonanza
On Saturday 30 January, up to 500 people joined WildDerby, RSPB Derby Local Group, Derby Museums, Derbyshire Mammal Group and National Probation Service - Derbyshire for family fun bird activities in Derby's Market Place to help us do one thing for garden birds. People had a go at making a bird feeder, a bird box, badges and masks, as well as entering competitions and quizzes and going on a bird walk.
For further information contact
Environment Projects Officer for WildDerby
Derby City Council
Regeneration and Community Department
Plans and Policies Section
Roman House
Friar Gate
Derby DE1 1XB
Telephone 01332 255021 Minicom 01332 256666 Fax 01332 255989 email wildderby@derby.gov.uk