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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:
Our current projects include:
The Old Churchyard
The Old Churchyard
We are trying to increase 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, whilst enhancing the general attractive overall look of the churchyard. We hope that this more varied habitat will attract many more bees and other insects and a greater variety of bird life as well.
We started on 22 March 2025 with 9 volunteers planting 4 areas with approximately 80 tree saplings that produce flowers and fruits or nuts and so are attractive to wildlife (hazel, rowan, hawthorne, blackthorn). They appear to have already taken well and are now sprouting buds and leaves.
For the flowering perennials, we have purchased many small plug plants that are very cheap and now have nearly 800 plants being nurtured in various homes in Baslow! We will grow these plants on until they are large and strong enough to bring them down on planting days at the churchyard in late spring early summer.
We will shortly be planting about 40 native wildflower plants that Mike Holcombe has grown on and is kindly donating to this project.
Our thanks go to the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund and the Woodland Trust for the funding and tree saplings to enable this to happen.
Chatsworth Land by the Cavendish
Chatsworth Land by the Cavendish
Last Autumn we worked closely with the Chatsworth Estate on a potential project to plant trees and improve the biodiversity of the field between the Cavendish Hotel and the footpath next to the A619 Cock Hill.
Unfortunately, this has been put on hold whilst Chatsworth agree their new Environmental Stewardship Scheme with DEFRA, but we are still hopeful that it will all be back on for late Autumn 2025.
Baslow Natural History Booklet
Baslow Natural History Booklet
We have a small team working on the development of a Baslow natural history booklet on the lines of the Baslow History Group booklets, to celebrate the great diversity of flowers, trees, birds and animals that can be seen in our village.
It would focus on:
what is special in Baslow
what changes as the seasons change, and maybe what changes are happening now due climate change, agrochemicals etc.
what can be seen at various hot-spots, probably by tracing two or three walks.
and what can be seen in gardens and what garden plants work to attract wildlife.
We have applied for a small grant to enable the publishing of the initial print run of this booklet.
If you have a particular passion and knowledge about some of our local flora or fauna and would like to contribute to the booklet, please contact Ian Johnston on 07771 808017 (by texting ONLY please).
Improving Our Gardens for Wildlife
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:
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Pond in a Pot - https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/pond-pot
Bring Birds Back - https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/bring-birds-back
Grow don’t mow - https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/grow-dont-mow
Rewilding Britain
https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/how-to-rewild/rewilding-advice/how-to-make-your-garden-wilder
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