New wetland area created at city wildlife reserve

The new wetland area has been created at the Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve in Derby

It might look like a muddy patch of wasteland, but a nature reserve which sits between Derby County's Pride Park stadium and the River Derwent has been turned into a suitable breeding habitat for ground-nesting birds.

Derby City Council has spent £43,237.01 on creating plots of short vegetation, bare soil, gravelled areas and permanent water pools at the Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve.

The work has created areas favoured for breeding by various species including lapwing, blackcap, plover, blackcap, sand martin, reed bunting, and skylark.

It is hoped the project will turn the area into one of the most significant in the region for breeding birds.

The council said it has made the area more open for ground-nesting birds

The Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve was established on former industrial land in 2004 and is one of 10 designated local nature reserves in Derby.

The work to create the breeding habitats has been funded through the council's Our City, Our River scheme and section 106 funding contribution from construction companies to mitigate a new development's impact on a local area.

The area is not open to the public, but there are several viewing points, two with disabled access, which can be accessed from the Derby Arena car park.

Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council cabinet member for streetpride, parks and leisure, said: "This exciting habitat project demonstrates our commitment to biodiversity and the local environment, creating a unique habitat in the city that supports the recovery of beautiful and vulnerable ground-nesting birds.

"This investment in The Sanctuary ensures that Derby's green spaces not only survive but actively thrive as crucial stopovers and breeding grounds for a wide range of birds."

Nick Moyes, who initiated the creation of The Sanctuary, said: "The Sanctuary is one of Derby's least known spaces for wildlife, yet its location close to the city centre, and its valuable habitats for many unusual visiting and breeding bird species, make this particular local nature reserve one of the most important in the region."