Pine martens could return to county countryside

A pine marten is one of the animals that could be making a returning to Derbyshire

Three different animals could be reintroduced in Derbyshire following the successful return of beavers to the county after 800 years in 2021.

Two types of bird - the red-backed shrike and black grouse - could be reintroduced along with pine martens as part of the first-ever Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Derby and Derbyshire drawn up by the county council and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

The strategy for businesses, councils and landowners has also earmarked 11 vulnerable species in need of help.

The list includes hedgehogs, adders, hen harriers and water voles.

The strategy details action to stop the illegal persecution of birds of prey and a raft of measures to improve the habitat of existing wildlife in Derbyshire.

These include restoring more natural riverbanks, installing bat boxes, creating "hedgehog highways" that connect green spaces and gardens within urban areas and work to protect trees that are useful to wildlife.

The black grouse could also be coming to Derbyshire

Carolyn Renwick, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for infrastructure and environment, said: "Nature in Derbyshire needs our help. We need to take action now to protect our environment for tomorrow.

"We've looked at the location and condition of Derbyshire's habitats to identify areas where biodiversity is in decline or the ecosystem is in need of a boost.

"And we've put together an action plan for how councils, businesses, landowners and other organisations will work together in the future to make sure nature and habitats on our doorsteps can thrive and survive."

The proposal is to reintroduce the three species over the next five years.

Beavers were reintroduced to Derbyshire after 800 years

Beavers were introduced to Willington Wetlands, near Repton, in 2021.

Two years later two babies beavers were born for the first time in Derbyshire since the 13th Century.

Other creatures the strategy is designed to support include white-clawed crayfish, white-letter hairstreak butterflies, ring ouzel birds and the common toad.

A consultation on the draft strategy is due to run until 20 March.