Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s vision to restore habitats and rewild spaces for people and nature across the Trent Valley in Derbyshire has galloped ahead following the success of the Call of the Wild project.
The project, kickstarted with almost £330,000 in funding from the National Highways Network for Nature Programme, has reinstated the actions of missing wild herbivores across six sites managed by the Trust. The aim being to create, restore and connect spaces for nature, and encourage wildlife to thrive.
The wetlands and low grassland along the River Trent currently provide some habitat for wildlife, but represent a significant opportunity to create a richer ecosystem for the species that depend on them.
Through this project, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is demonstrating how the actions of grazers are fundamental to the natural development of diverse and dynamic habitats within a complex, healthy and functioning ecosystem.
In the relatively recent past, large herbivores such as aurochs, elk, beavers, wild horse, wild boar, red deer and bison roamed Derbyshire, shaping the landscape. To reinstate the actions of these lost wild herbivores, the Call of the Wild project has reintroduced ten highland cattle and eight Exmoor ponies.
Using GPS-collars, which train livestock through sound to migrate across the landscape, the small herd’s movements and behaviours have been monitored to show the impact of landscape scale grazing and demonstrate the effectiveness of geo-fencing for future projects.
These larger herbivores have browsed brambles and trees to create a mosaic of habitats; dung and grazed grass and vegetation to different heights to create habitats for invertebrates; encouraged wildflowers to grow providing pollen and nectar for invertebrates; increased food availability for birds and ultimately lead to more diversity in nature.
Posted On: 10/04/2025
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