Charity behind ancient woods buys land for community

Grith Pioneers is purchasing two fields of farmland in Jackass Lane, Alderwasley, for the community to enjoy

A charity which owns part of an ancient Derbyshire woodland has bought an extra 8.26 acres of land for the community to benefit from.

Grith Pioneers has owned 100 acres of Shining Cliff Wood in Ambergate since 1932 and successfully bid at auction for a section of farmland adjacent to the current site.

Michelle Kershaw-Wright, trustee of the charity, said they managed to raise £103,000 and bought the new land for £102,000.

She said: "It is wonderful we will be increasing the biodiversity in the area and involving lots of local people."

Mrs Kershaw-Wright said: "What we have at the moment is ancient woodland so this [farmland] is a new venture for us"

"We are very glad to be adding to the land held by the charity for future generations to enjoy," she added.

Shining Cliff Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and an independent hostel is also based there.

Mrs Kershaw-Wright said the woods had three main owners - the National Trust, the Wiltshire family, which owns Peak Pits, as well as Grith Pioneers.

She said Grith Pioneers will be consulting with scientists, water ecologists, ornithological groups, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, and people involved in re-wilding projects locally about what to do with their new plot.

Mrs Kershaw-Wright added: "We are hoping to do some sort of re-wilding project, creating a mosaic of habitats to increase biodiversity.

"There might be a natural regeneration of trees, tree planting, possibly a wildflower meadow area, maybe some hedgerows."

One of Grith Pioneers' objectives was to bring children and young people into the woods to learn

"Previously just grass was grown in the fields to feed cows, the fields are empty most of the year so there will be an explosion of wildlife activity in the fields over the next 20 years plus as nature takes over."

She said a small amount of money to buy the land was raised from crowdfunding, but the rest came from Grith Pioneers, Forest School Camps, and local groups including Wildlings pre-school, which uses the space.

Mrs Kershaw-Wright said about 200 people donated, which has been "very heartening".

She said they only have £1,000 to spare towards legal costs and repaying personal loans, so they are open to extra contributions.

The charity would also like to raise money for a shelter for children's groups which use the woodland