Heather Wheeler MP visited the Willington Wetlands Nature Reserve in South Derbyshire. There she met Ben Carter, Director of Development at the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, who discussed with her how Willington fits into the wider landscape and how it is helping the local community.
Willington Wetlands is one of South Derbyshire’s prime examples of nature-based solutions to climate change. The wetlands can store huge quantities of carbon, as well as being an excellent means of mitigating flooding and fostering biodiversity. Once a gravel pit, the area was gradually rewilded as the pits were allowed to fill with water; now it is one of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s flagship reserves.
Willington Wetlands also hosts a family of beavers which help to manage the landscape, diverting floodwater into surrounding meadows and away from the nearby village of Willington. Recent Government legislation extends protections over these beavers, making it an offence to deliberately harm them or damage their dams without a license. British beavers were hunted to extinction 300 years ago, but now they are seeing a resurgence in places like Willington.
Heather Wheeler MP said:
“I am delighted that the Government is implementing forward-thinking measures such as giving further legal protection to beavers. This policy will doubtless resonate with nature lovers from around the UK, but residents of South Derbyshire will especially benefit. Ben Carter and I had a very constructive conversation on how Willington Wetlands and the surrounding area will be positively impacted by this new legislation.”
“The Willington Wetlands can play a vital role in combatting climate change and flooding in South Derbyshire. Not only that, but they’re a stunning part of our regional ecosystem of which we should be incredibly proud!”
