Residents in Arboretum have been rewarded for their sustainable choices with improved green spaces in the ward. The community won the upgrades as a prize for earning the most points in a local ward competition, run through the Green Rewards programme.

New planters and screening have already been installed at Cummings Street and Church Street at their junction with Lower Dale Road, with new trees set to be planted soon. On Church Street, the large planters will prevent drivers from parking or driving on the pavement, creating a much safer environment for pedestrians.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:

Arboretum residents have done a fantastic job. By working together to log their green habits at home, they climbed to the top of our leaderboard and won these brilliant street improvements. It shows exactly how individual, everyday actions can add up to a major win for the local community.

Green Rewards is a free online platform for all Derby City and Derbyshire Dales residents. Launched by Derby City Council in March 2025, it helps people make sustainable choices and reduce carbon emissions.

The programme helps to deliver the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2025-27, bringing the city closer to its goal of net zero by 2035. Users earn Green Points for positive actions like reducing waste, travelling sustainably, and protecting nature.

Every month, the top three individual point-scorers win a £20 voucher to spend at a choice of major retailers. Next month, people registered for Green Rewards have a chance to win a £20 voucher for using their new food waste recycling bin for four consecutive weeks from 22 June.

Regular ward competitions also give residents the chance to work together to win prizes for their community. The next one begins on Monday 1 June, and the city ward that earns the most points between then and Friday 31 July will win its own new community green space.

The Green Rewards platform was expanded recently with a new online tool called the Climate Classroom. This feature offers short, 10-minute learning modules that reward users with significant bonus points. New topics are added regularly, giving residents a quick and easy way to build their environmental knowledge and boost their scores.

The project was developed with support from the Midlands Net Zero Hub and funded by Innovate UK. It is part of a broader push across Derby and the Derbyshire Dales to back community-led climate action. It gives residents the tools they need to lower their energy bills and reduce their environmental footprint.

Residents can sign up for free to start logging their actions at the Derbyshire Green Rewards website.