Soil and the vegetation growing on it are major stores of sequestered carbon. Well managed, they can absorb huge quantities of CO2. Badly managed, and they will add enormously to climate change as peat dries out, woodland and heather cover burn and fields become bio-diversity deserts.
The Hope Valley contains large areas of upland peat bog and heather moorland. The valley sides are a mixture of woodland and grassland. The valley bottoms are substantial watercourses, transport corridors and human habitat. All these ecosystems need protecting from carbon loss and managing to increase their ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
Hope Valley Climate Action has active projects to increase the amount of tree cover in appropriate areas, to manage the roadside verges and transport corridors in ways which encourage biodiversity, and to help nature recover on the valley sides.
We have campaigned to eliminate the use of peat in garden and herbicides on public land and to ensure that our community voice is heard by DEFRA as they deploy the new farm subsidy scheme (ELMS).
We would love to do more but we need more people involved. If you want to get your hands dirty planting trees or surveying wildlife or if you care passionately about these issues and want to get involved in campaigning and educating, please get in touch with one of our projects or contact hughesonline@btinternet.com for more information.
Our Projects
Bamford
A tree for every villager – contact hughesonline@btinternet.com
Grindleford Tree Planting group
contact thorpe@hotmail.com
Mam Tor
A plantation of trees is being planned on private land in the Hope Valley, close to Mam Tor'. The proposed planation will have half the area (approx. 600 sq m) planted intensively ( 3 – 4 saplings per sq m) while the other half will be planted conventionally (saplings 1 -2 meters apart) with the same indigenous species. Planting is proposed to take place in the 2022 – 2023 planting season). The Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield will coordinate monitoring research on-site with postgraduate students. More details as the project plan is developed.
Verge management
Surveying, managing and campaigning to improve the biodiversity of roadside verges – contact Carol Collins or Jim Miles
Wildlife gardening
Gardens can provide a home for wildlife too share ideas and visit gardens - contact Carol Collins or Jim Miles
Thornhill Carrs
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s rewilding project near Bamford – see the video here - get involved in recording the wildlife – contact hughesonline@btinternet.com
Contact us if you'd like to get involved
Our news
Help shape the future environment of the Derbyshire Dales
A new survey gives residents an opportunity to have their say about caring for the Derbyshire Dales into the future.Please join in! Do the questionnaire
Organic gardening for all from Eyam Green Group
Organic gardening A simple definition of being ‘organic’ is gardening with nature. The overall approach Is sustainable and supports biodiversity. Most importantly it’s growing without
Wildlife friendly gardening
HVCA Garden Wild is a network of people interested in wildlife gardening. No formal meetings, minutes or committees! We visit each others gardens, ask questions, share knowledge and
Glimpses of heaven
Over the last few months, many of us have had more time than usual to reflect on the world around us. And frankly, it’s alarming.
Buglife Beelines project.
Buglife, The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is a British-based nature conservation charity. They are running a project called “Beelines” which identifies or proposes bee-friendly corridors that
Improving Verges for Wildlife
Pollinating insects and other insects of all types are in serious decline in the UK as in many other countries. They are vital for our
