Land

The Land and Biodiversity Sub-group is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the natural environment of Baslow. Through our work, we aim to involve our local community in conserving precious habitats; increasing biodiversity, raising awareness about environmental issues and inspiring individuals to take action.

We believe that everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment. Whether you're a local resident, a frequent visitor, or simply someone who cares about the environment, we invite you to join us in our mission.

Our current projects include:

St Annes Churchyard Planting

In 2025, we increased the biodiversity in St Anne’s old churchyard, by introducing some native hedgerow shrubs, native wildflowers and also other perennial flowers that are great for pollinating insects. We hope that this more varied habitat will attract many more bees and other insects and a greater variety of bird life as well.

In March, nine volunteers planted four areas with over 50 tree saplings that produce flowers and fruits or nuts and so are attractive to wildlife (hazel, rowan, hawthorn, blackthorn).

Volunteers around the village also carefully nurtured about 700 tiny plug plants until they were large enough to be safely planted out in early summer and autumn along with native wildflowers. The intrepid team of members of the Environment Group did a fantastic job of planting three beds of wild flowers and pollinating plants. And now they are flowering beautifully and insects are returning.

Volunteers planting saplings in the churchyard at Baslow St Anns Church.

In autumn, 170 lavender plants were planted along the churchyard wall from the Prince of Wales pub to just past the war memorial. This wall is south west facing, so they should get plenty of afternoon sun here to help them thrive and produce a low hedge that the insects will love.

As well as the planting, the team have watered and weeded the tree saplings and flower beds, so that they are ready for winter. A great effort from the team, across the year.

Our thanks go to the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund and the Woodland Trust for the funding and tree saplings to enable this to happen.

Tree Planting Near Grislow Field

In March 2026, a small team of Environment Group volunteers planted a further 24 oak and birch saplings in a really beautiful spot below Baslow Edge next to the Gorse Bank footpath. In time hopefully these will create a woodland link to the woods under the edge, to expand the area for nature in this predominantly grazing landscape. Our thanks go to the landowner, Winston Thorpe, for his kind permission.

Volunteers tree planting near Grislow Field

Baslow Natural History Booklet

In 2025 a small team worked on the development of a Baslow natural history booklet to celebrate the great diversity of flowers, trees, birds and animals that can be seen in our village. The booklet is now complete and published, containing 220 pages of fascinating info on the birds, flowers, insects and wildlife of the Baslow area.

It is available for £10 from the Baslow Spar Village Shop and Church Farm Gallery.

Click here to read more and download the activity sheets.

We have been funded by the Foundation Derbyshire - Hall Family Fund to enable the publishing of the initial print run of this booklet.

Visit Bubnell Cliff Farm

Nature Friendly Farming and Environmental Sustainability.

Since taking on the family farm in 2022, Tom Mills has focused on establishing a pedigree rare breed Longhorn herd, and now prioritises environmental sustainability and a nature friendly approach to managing the land, and producing Longhorn beef, some of which is sold directly to the public.

Over a third of the farm is now managed with nature as the focus using the Longhorns to create woodland pasture. Herbal leys and legume rich grassland have been used to enhance soil health, reduce the use of artificial fertilisers and deliver benefits for invertebrates and small birds. Over 565 metres of hedgerows and many individual trees have been planted along historic field boundaries.

See Nature Friendly Farming in Action

Come and visit the farm with a guided tour from Tom to see nature friendly farming in action on either of the times and dates listed below:

10.00am Saturday 6 June 2026
2.00pm Wednesday 24 June 2026

If you are interested, please contact Graham Dale at info@bepl.org.uk for further details and to book your place.

Improving Our Gardens for Wildlife

One of the things that we can all do to assist nature and improve bio-diversity, is to encourage wildlife in our gardens. There is lots of great advice available on the Internet to help us do this, here are just a few examples: