by Felicity Jackson
Instead of large areas of close-mown grass, which is not great for wildlife (and costly to maintain), flower-rich meadows would be allowed to develop, supporting pollinators such as bees and butterflies and a whole range of other creatures. In under a century, we have lost 97% of our precious wildflower meadows, we need to try to turn this decline round – because these are so biodiverse, look wonderful – and also sequester carbon. Scrubland, wetland and woodland are also really valuable habitats, and these would also be included in the plan.
Of course, some management would be needed; the idea is definitely not to allow the park to become impenetrable jungle. Currently the existing nature reserve, which is 2/3 of the total park area and surrounds the former golf course, is managed in a variety of ways, some of it pretty ‘wild’ already and supporting a lot of wildlife. We have long and short grassland, scrub and hedgerow, waterways and marsh, and plenty of woodland, and this kind of mix would be envisaged for the golf course too. A really important feature of Allestree Park is the extent of the wonderful views over the Derwent valley. Since the course closed, visitors have been able to walk and linger over the fairways and really appreciate these vistas, and these should definitely be preserved. The sledging slope likewise!
It must be pointed out that over the years FoAP have been very active and have carried out and instigated many improvements to the park. We have also organised numerous public activities, and we would expect this work to continue. We would like to see an interpretation/educational area included, preferably under cover, which would be available for schools and the general public, to enhance the park experience. We also have pressed for provision of cafe and toilet facilities, pretty essential for all.
As you may know, various additional ideas had been put forward, including some some public attractions. Reintroduction of certain species, such as harvest mice, is a possibility. The main thing is to ensure the park remains such a wonderful asset, and also a great place for our wildlife to thrive.
For the latest information (an illustrated bulletin) from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on the Rewilding Project (Spring 2026) please click here: