Former coal mine to be transformed into new woodland in Derbyshire

Woodland Trust planning to purchase entire former industrial zone to create 162 hectare wildlife haven

The Woodland Trust is hoping to acquire a 162 hectare former coal mine in Derbyshire to transform into forest (Woodland Trust)

Thousands of trees are set to be planted in a post-industrial part of Derbyshire to transform a former coal mine into a new woodland.

Under the plans, a 162 hectare site would be covered in 260,000 trees to create one of the region’s largest areas of native forest.

The Woodland Trust has initially purchased a quarter of the land, and is seeking funds to acquire the remainder in order to create a large haven for wildlife.

Coal production only stopped at the site in 2016 when the Lodge House open cast mine stopped operating, and since then work has been underway to fill in the gaping hole left in the ground.

Beccy Speight, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, described the purchase as an opportunity to connect the community with a site for nature “right on their doorstep”.

“It has the potential to be an attractive natural amenity; somewhere to get close to nature and enjoy peace and tranquillity – a space to help boost both mental and physical health,” she said.

“If we’re able to secure the site we’ll restore and manage the land for the long term and ensure it is open to the public and freely accessible to explore as well as providing a haven for wildlife.”

The charity said they are particularly keen to engage children and young people at the site with tree planting.

They estimate the total cost of the project will run to around £5m, and plan to launch a fundraising campaign to help fund it.

Tree planting has been highlighted as a crucial component in plans to boost Britain’s dwindling wildlife and help push back against climate change, as woodland can act as a crucial store for carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

“Just 10 per cent of England is wooded, which lags way behind the European average of 38 per cent,” said Ms Speight.

Surveys conducted at the site have revealed it is already home to over 40 bird species including linnets and skylarks, with evidence of badgers and endangered water voles living nearby.

With the Shipley Country Park and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Woodside Farm nearby, the creation of a new woodland would result in a joined-up zone of more than 500 hectares of wildlife-friendly space.