It’s taken £15,000 and over 160 volunteer man-hours, but a project to restore one of Derbyshire’s finest examples of ancient woodland is complete.
Just over a year ago, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust received a grant of £15,085 from The Veolia Environmental Trust, awarded through the Landfill Communities Fund, for the restoration of Lea Wood in Matlock.
Lea Wood is home to several declining species of bird, mammal and plants which have benefitted from the opening up of the ground layer.
Reserve Officer Kate Lemon, who co-ordinated the project, said: “The funding has enabled us to safeguard Lea Wood and ensure it is a haven for many of our vulnerable species for years to come.”
The clearances have uncovered sites of archaeological interest revealing the industrial past of the woodland, which is being investigated by Lea Wood Heritage Community Project.
The funding is also helping cover the cost of training to give volunteers the knowledge and experience to manage the wood for future generations.
