Celebrate Chesterfield

Triple success for Superior Wellness at What Spa? Best Buy Awards

Chesterfield’s Superior Wellness has taken home three awards in the prestigious What Spa? Best Buy Awards 2023.

The Best Buy Awards are published in the 2023/24 edition of What Spa? magazine. The WhatSpa? magazine is one of the UK’s leading consumer hot tub buyer’s guide and has advised and informed thousands of hot tub buyers across the UK for over 10 years.

Three products produced by the Chesterfield-based firm, the Platinum Spas Palma, the AquaSolus Derwent and the Thermal Spas Hydro were all successful in obtaining the consumer hot tub award.

  • The Platinum Spas Palma is a family size hot tub in the brand new improved deluxe range.  It is designed for six people with one lounger and five seats.  It includes 87 powerful jets and LED lights. With a brand-new look and feel for 2023 the Deluxe range now has a more aesthetically pleasing design with the curvature of the acrylic.
  • The luxurious AquaSolus Derwent is the ultimate hot tub with one lounger and four seats.  Designed with hydrotherapy at the forefront, the Derwent has 66 jets, as well as an LED waterfall and LED fountain making it the perfect hot tub if you are looking to sit back and relax. The Derwent hot tub has an integrated WIFI, Gecko In.stream2 Bluetooth music system and is Wi-Fi compatible making it an excellent choice for relaxing or entertaining friends.
  • The Thermals Spas Hydro hot tub comes with one lounger and four seats which is the perfect hot tub for family entertainment or if you simply want to relax.  It also includes the energy efficient R10 insulation to keep your running costs lower.

Graham Message, Business Development Manager said “I am delighted that we have been awarded three Best Buy Awards once again. The What Spa? Magazine and website are a very important tool for the end customer to use when finding their perfect hot tub.  It is also great for our partner network to proudly say they are selling an award-winning hot tub.”

The Best Buy Awards features the very best hot tubs to buy. The Awards acknowledge the hot tub models that excel across a range of criteria, including design, aesthetics, comfort, hydrotherapy and value-for-money.

Superior Wellness supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

superior wellness exterior

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Full refurbishment completed at The HQ in Chesterfield

Leading property and asset management firm, FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), has completed all phases of a full refurbishment of The HQ, Rowland Hill House to reveal 44,000 sq ft of modern open-plan office space.

The £1.2m project has seen FIREM upgrade the former Royal Mail building to Grade A office space specifically designed for flexible working, offering bespoke and turnkey packages tailored to meet specific business needs and requirements.

After the completion of the first phase in April 2022, FIREM began a second phase of works to the ground and third floors, completing in February 2023.

The rise of hybrid working has created a shift in office requirements for businesses across the region, with The HQ pioneering a new approach in the Chesterfield business community.

Award-winning commercial vehicle hire company, Northgate Vehicle Hire, has recently signed a lease of 8,000 sq ft, alongside other tenants, Derbyshire Police and Reed in Partnership, demonstrating the diversified offering of the office facilities to suit a range of businesses.

Tim Knowles, founder and Managing Director of FIREM commented: “The HQ’s office concept has never been seen before in Chesterfield and reflects the work we are doing to progress Chesterfield’s business offering in line with nearby cities.

“It is arguably the most competitive office product in the Chesterfield market, offering businesses a bespoke turnkey service from day one that can be modified to suit their changing needs and requirements.”

Modern, well connected office spaces are now available across Chesterfield. Regardless of your workspace requirements, from co-working and hotdesking to spacious offices for a large team, our aim is to make you as productive as possible.

To find out more about the wide range of office spaces on offer across the town, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

FI Real Estate Management supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

The HQ reception

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Chesterfield’s Grade A office spaces contribute to town’s ongoing success

Grade A office spaces in Chesterfield are proving a major success, bringing new investment and jobs to the local area. Recently-completed developments are attracting businesses to Chesterfield, as well as providing modern spaces for existing firms in the town to grow.

Examples of this can be seen at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, One Waterside Place and The HQ. Did you know that office spaces at the Northern Gateway Enterprise centre are already 75% let?

To find out about their success, we’re taking a look at some of the prime locations you can choose from when investing in Chesterfield.

If you want to know more about how Chesterfield’s office spaces can help your business grow, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

One Waterside Place

Grade A One Waterside Place office

For large, modern, and well located office space, look no further than One Waterside Place.

Bolsterstone Group recently delivered the new 36,000 sq ft Grade A office space at Chesterfield Waterside in the Basin Square neighbourhood. This development provides large spaces (up to 15,000 sq ft) which are critical to support inward investment into Chesterfield.

Furthermore, companies based in the centre have the advantage of being a very short walk away from Chesterfield Rail Station.

Tenants including BHP Accountants and Varley have already made One Waterside Place their new home.

Speaking on why Chesterfield is such an attractive proposition for any relocating business, Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolsterstone Group said: “Chesterfield has so much going for it. We are centrally located, close to big cities and the Peak District and have amazing transport links.

“Chesterfield station provides a link to London in under two hours. Manchester or Leeds can also be easily reached in just over an hour.

“As well as affordable house prices, Chesterfield also has a great mix of independent and boutique shops, cafes and restaurants.

“The town’s location together with its offer is ideal for companies who are looking at providing a good quality of life for their employees.”

Tom added that he believes the provision of high-quality office space in the town is hugely important. He commented: “It is needed to both help existing companies grow and also support direct inward investment from companies looking to relocate into the area.

“Quality offices are also more sustainable in economic, social and environmental ways. This can benefit companies looking to improve their ESG agenda as well as helping Chesterfield achieve its net zero ambitions.”

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre Grade A office space

The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has exceeded initial expectations since its opening in 2022.

Several organisations are now operating from the building, with more than 75% of the space available already taken.

So, what do businesses love about it? Of course, it’s central location – in the heart of Chesterfield town centre. But tenants also benefit from ‘easy in and out’ letting terms at the Grade A development.

Tenants also benefit from access to a range of other council services. This includes business support and corporate rates for leisure passes, parking permits and conferencing facilities.

With its town centre location, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is easily accessible by car, train, bus and cycle users. It’s situated opposite the new Saltergate multi-storey car park and close to all major bus routes and Chesterfield Train station.

Edwards Employment Solutions moved into the building in 2022. Managing Director Izabella Edwards commented: “Our move to the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has been an absolute game changer for us.

“From a business point of view, we are benefitting from the excellent location. People looking for a new job are able to pop in and see us when they are in town. We even have our clients from local businesses coming in to see us!

“We now have such modern and functional facilities to host people – it’s really working well for us.  In addition to this, my team and I are really enjoying being back in Chesterfield Town Centre and making the most out of shopping and eating out at lunchtime.  I would encourage any business thinking about making the move to go for it, we’ve certainly not looked back.”

The HQ

Grade A office space at The HQ, Chesterfield

Specifically designed as a solution to modern ways of working, The HQ recently underwent a £1.225m refurbishment to upgrade the existing building to Grade A office facilities.

With 44,000 sq ft. of flexible and conventional office space, The HQ has been popular with several local and regional businesses. Firms working across various industries operate from the development, including ChargedEv and Derbyshire Police.

Businesses benefit from not only the high-quality space but also the community and support network within the building. This gives them a forum to connect and collaborate with businesses they otherwise may not meet.

Dominic Knowles, Head of Offices at FI Real Estate Management, which operates The HQ commented: “The market town boasts an active and vibrant business community that is keen to forge partnerships, giving local and regional firms the opportunity to expand their networks.

“Chesterfield is also ideally located near the motorway network with great access to the M1; the neighbouring cities of Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham can all be reached within an hour.

“Nestled on the edge of the Peak District and surrounded by a selection of high-quality bars, restaurants and shops, Chesterfield is the perfect location for those looking to create the desired work-life balance.”

Dominic explained why the provision of Grade A office space is key to the town’s future. He added: “Providing quality office space ensures the town keeps pace with nearby cities.

“Investing in office space helps attract more businesses, which then stimulates further investment in the area, boosting employment and enriching the working lives of the local community. It also helps employers incentivise staff to come back into the office.”

Chesterfield Property and Construction Group

Bolsterstone Group, FI Real Estate Management, Whittam Cox Architects and Chesterfield Borough Council are all represtented in the town’s Property and Construction Group, which aims to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield.

Find out more about the group at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/

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Peak Edge Hotel crowned in prestigious National Pub & Bar Awards

Peak Edge Hotel has been awarded Derbyshire’s Pub of the Year in the National Pub & Bar Awards 2023.

The National Pub & Bar Awards aims to put exceptional on-trade businesses across the UK in the national spotlight, showcasing the hospitality industry’s diversity, creativity, and vital importance to the UK economy.

Peak Edge Hotel, which has been selected on overall best practice across several operational categories, will be officially crowned with the accolade at a glittering celebration on the 28th June.

Nestled on the edge of the Peak District, Peak Edge Hotel is an independently owned hotel and restaurant, which provides guests with a luxurious place to unwind and indulge.

Steve Perez, Chairman and Founder of Global Brands & Casa Hotels Group said: “Myself and the team at Red Lion at Peak Edge are delighted to be shortlisted for the Best Pub in the East Midlands.

“We’ve been working tirelessly at the venue, through difficult times for hospitality renovating and expanding the premises over the past five years, honouring the heritage of the building while providing a fantastic space to serve locally sourced food.

“Being shortlisted for this award really recognises how hard the staff have been working – from our brilliant Executive Chef Ben who’s always working on new seasonal menus, to Craig, the Farm Manger at our Walton Lodge Farm Estate, who supplies the high quality Dorset lamb, Belted Galloway Beef, Black Berkshires pigs, egg from our hens, honey from our bees and herbs from the garden just 1.3 miles away from the restaurant, for a true taste of the Peak District.”

Tristan O’Hana, Editor of Pub and Bar Magazine, which runs the awards, commented: “We were overwhelmed by the level and quality of entries this year.

“It just goes to show what magnificent work is going on across the UK hospitality sector. With outrageous energy costs, recruitment shortages and a punishing taxation system, these businesses are once again facing tough times.

“Now, more than ever, it’s vital that people support their local pubs and bars. So, ahead of the long Easter weekend, why not check out the finest in your county?”

Peak Edge Hotel supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

The Garden Room at Peak Edge

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Central Technology receives prestigious industry recognition with VCSP award

Chesterfield’s Central Technology is celebrating success after winning Veeam Software‘s Cloud Services Provider ‘Partner of the Year’ 2022 award. 

Veeam Software is a global IT company which develops backup, disaster recovery and modern data protection software for virtual, cloud-native, SaaS, Kubernetes and physical workloads.

As a partner-centric organisation, Veeam recognises partners that leveraged customer support and Veeam expertise to deliver Modern Data Protection in increasingly complex IT environments so that the most diverse workload types, data, and applications are protected.

Alex Walsh, Channel & Alliances Director UK&I at Veeam, explained: “2022 added to the challenges businesses were already facing as they emerged from the global pandemic. Chief among them was the ever-present and rising incidence of ransomware attacks, that left only 24% of UK&I organisations unaffected. With secure, immutable backups the last line of defence against ransomware, protecting enterprise IT across all ecosystems is essential to keep businesses running.”

As a long-standing partner of Veeam, Central Technology offers clients Veeam-powered backup and recovery solutions. The firm’s cloud services are built on a foundation of innovation, reliability, and security, with a commitment  to delivering exceptional customer service and technical expertise. 

CT’s team of experts provides customers with 24/7 support and proactive monitoring, ensuring that their systems are always up and running. The firm’s customer-centric approach has helped it build long-term relationships with customers, resulting in high customer satisfaction and retention rates. 

Rob Longden, Managing Director at Central Technology states: “Winning the Veeam Cloud Services Provider Partner of the Year 2022 award is a proud moment for us, and we are grateful to our customers and partners for their support.

“We believe that this recognition is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional cloud services and to our vision of becoming a leading IT solutions provider in the United Kingdom and beyond.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Veeam and delivering world-class cloud services to our customers for many years to come.”

Central Technology supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Central Technology VCSP win

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Award-winning Chesterfield FC Community Trust programme recognised by experts

A pioneering, award-winning programme delivered by the Chesterfield FC Community Trust, in partnership with three other organisations has the potential to be rolled out across the UK, according to healthcare industry experts.

Thr1ve Young People’s Social Prescribing Service recently won the award for Most Effective Contribution to Integrated Health and Care at the recent HSJ Partnership Awards 2023.

Judges described the work done by the Thr1ve team as “outstanding” and commented: “The passion and energy from the panel shone through. It’s a simple solution to a very complex issue.

“The service is genuinely embedded into the community and the data sharing solution is ground-breaking. There is huge potential for spread and scale across the UK.”

Jayne Bacon, the Trust’s chief operating officer, said: “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved across the partnership.

“I hope this recognition will inspire others to prioritise integrated care and work towards creating healthier, more connected communities for young people.”

The programme is delivered by the Trust in partnership with Derbyshire Voluntary Action, Derbyshire Community Health Services FT and North Hardwick & Bolsover Primary Care Network.

Their mission is to reach out to young people struggling with their confidence and connections. Thr1ve recognises young people’s potential and offers support to help boost confidence, independence and participation.

THR1VE aims to fill a gap in NHS mental health services between early intervention and CAMHS support for more serious conditions.

Winners in a total of 21 categories were announced during a ceremony at Evolution London, hosted by comedian Joel Dommett, which was attended by over 900 guests and marked the achievements of a total of 141 finalists.

National healthcare leaders and professionals from both the NHS and private sector, as well as figures from non-clinical backgrounds, celebrated the crucial contributions of the private and third sector within the NHS.

Chesterfield FC’s Community Trust and Derbyshire Voluntary Action support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

CFC Trust Thr1ve programme award

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Sports agency announces move to Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has welcomed yet another tenant, with I Am Sports Management announcing the building in the heart of Chesterfield as its new home.

The ‘Grade A’ office space is already more than 60% occupied, with firm taking advantage of the central location, modern facilities and wide range of business support.

I Am Sports Management is a Christian Based Sports Agency. The organisation manages player representation, as well as providing a wider personal service to young players as well as established professionals.

On top of representing athletes in the world of sport, the company’s clients are supported with Mental and Spiritual wellbeing, family support and finance guidance.

Business owner, Steve Jacques commented: “All that we do is based on the foundation of our faith and is delivered in a transparent, ethical and moral basis and treating players as people not assets.”

I Am Sports Management joins several new arrivals to the Enterprise Centre, with digital transformation firm Konektio and charity CP Teens also announcing a move to the development in recent weeks.

Steve explained why the centre provided the perfect base for his organisation: “We wanted a central location but something that was a more contemporary feel and this was exactly what we were looking for. We actually expected to have to go to a city to get this environment.”

“I was born and bred in Chesterfield. In spite of working significant amounts of time in London and with extensive overseas travel, Its my town! It’s ideally central for travel by car, rail and air and has a great mix of activity and peace round the corner in the Peak District.

“Don’t be fooled by the idea of a ‘sleepy market town’. The facilities here are excellent and superb value for money for B2b businesses.

Find out more about basing your business in one of Chesterfield’s quality grade A office spaces at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

i am sports management

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“Together we can all help bring about lasting change and prosperity to the town”

Destination Chesterfield Chair, Peter Swallow is calling on everyone associated with Chesterfield to ‘talk up the town’ and collaborate further to ensure the local economy continues to thrive in the future.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, we ALL need to talk up the town.

There is more than £2 billion of investment in progress and on the way across our borough to help ensure that we all have a bright future ahead of us. The lasting and far reaching change we are striving for in Chesterfield cannot be done by one organisation alone; it must be a collaborative effort.

We all have a role and responsibility to tell people about the many great reasons they should live, work, invest and stay here.

Chesterfield’s geographical position within the UK is hard to beat. We are centrally located with excellent road and rail links and a number of major airports within a 90 minute drive.

Furthermore, the benefits of our proximity to the Peak District National Park should not  be underestimated. Chesterfield is the gateway to this wonderful landscape, and it attracts millions of visitors each year – with around half of them staying overnight and many of them passing through the town to get to the Peak District.

Herein lies our challenge. By talking up the town to friends, relatives, colleagues and suppliers from outside the area, we can attract more people to visit and stay overnight in Chesterfield rather than just passing through, the result being more revenue for the town as a whole.

Increasing the visitor economy of the town by 20% is one of the key targets in the Chesterfield Growth Strategy which has been launched by Chesterfield Borough Council.

By increasing the visitor economy, we will also help create jobs for local people and opportunities for existing and new businesses.

We must all shout about what the town has to offer to holiday makers visiting the Peak District.

Living and working in the town on a daily basis, we can often become complacent about what it has to offer visitors to the area.

We have a variety of places to stay, including the award-winning Casa Hotel, as well as great road, rail and bus links into the Peak District. You can even cycle from the town into the Peak District.

Beyond our world famous Crooked Spire Church and the Brampton Mile, we have two theatres, Chesterfield FC, historic market, restaurants, bars, cafes, boutique shops, live music venues, Queen’s Park – which is host to many wonderful events like the cricket and concerts in summer… I could go on, the list of reasons to visit and stay in Chesterfield are endless.

Having a thriving local economy is key to developing conversations with national investors and ensuring Chesterfield continues to grow and develop. If we want to see the town thrive in an increasingly competitive market, we need to do more collectively. We must champion Chesterfield outside the area in order to help us bring investment into the borough and create highly skilled jobs.

Together we can all help bring about lasting change and prosperity to the town which will benefit local people now and future generations.

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Derbyshire County Cricket Club achieves debt free target with 2022 surplus

Derbyshire County Cricket Club recorded its ninth surplus in ten years for the year ending 31 December 2022, as the Club announced it is debt free two years ahead of schedule.

The Club has announced a pre-tax surplus of £174,000 in 2022, which follows three years of positive financial results and have now achieved a key objective of becoming debt free significantly ahead of the 2024 target.

Chairman, Ian Morgan OBE, said: “The Club exceeded its financial targets once again in 2022. We had budgeted for a small surplus of around £50,000, but were able to achieve three times this in a challenging year, during which the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were still being felt, coupled with the rising costs all business are facing across the board.

“This positive result has ensured the Club is in a strong position and now debt free, following four years of large surpluses. It is great credit to the tireless work of our executive team, off-field staff and the continued support of a number of key stakeholders, including our commercial partners and Members, to whom we owe our gratitude.”

The Club started to see a return of revenues to more pre-pandemic levels and particularly in ticketing, had a large revenue surplus versus budget.

Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “In 2020 and 2021 we very much had to lockdown the business to reduce costs; ticket income, commercial sponsorship and conference and events revenues were severely affected, but thankfully we have been able to rebuild the business over the last 12 months, back to pre-pandemic levels and in certain areas beyond.

“Having achieved our objective of becoming debt free we now have strong foundations to build on the positive progress made by Mickey Arthur and the squad last year on the field and further invest in our facilities.”

Chief Financial Officer, Tim Baker, added: “The Club has budgeted for another small surplus in 2023, with a focus on trying to manage rising costs in an increasingly challenging economic climate. We are mindful that 2023 will be a tough year financially and will continue to look for ways to grow our revenues and manage our costs to maintain this healthy financial position and ultimately continue investment in facilities and the cricket budget.”

The Club has delivered on the objective, set by the Board of Directors, to be debt free apart from a long-term mortgage by the end of 2024, two years ahead of the planned schedule. This was achieved by paying in excess of £2,000,000 of loan repayments over the last few years linked to the building of the WDS Business and Media Centre.

The Club’s Annual Report and Accounts were approved by Members at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 29 March at The Incora County Ground.

Derbyshire will be returning to Chesterfield this Summer for the annual Chesterfield Festival of Cricket. Find out more about the event here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/the-chesterfield-festival-of-cricket/

The club supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Chesterfield’s Mortgage 1st reach the finals in two prestigious Industry Awards.

A Chesterfield-based mortgage broker is celebrating a double success, after being named as finalists in two major industry awards.

Established in Chesterfield in 2008, Mortgage 1st offers mortgage & protection advice to customers all over the UK. With Advisers both in Chesterfield and across the country their team have helped thousands of customers over the years to secure their first home, remortgage, become landlords and protect their family with the right insurance.

With no sign of the firm’s growth slowing down any time soon, welcoming new faces into their team on almost a monthly basis, Mortgage 1st have ambitious plans to become one of the UK’s largest Mortgage Brokers.

Alongside offering quality advice to their customers, the Mortgage 1st team are passionate about supporting young people and work closely with a number of schools across Derbyshire delivering mortgage lessons and raising awareness of careers in the financial services industry.

It’s a combination of the firm’s continuous growth, the quality advice they provide their customers, the career opportunities offered to their team and the support they give within the local community that’s lead them to the finals in two separate industry awards.

The firm has been named amongst the list of finalistsin the ‘Best Mortgage Broker (8 to 50 advisers) category at the Mortgage Strategy Award3 2023. The ceremony is regarded as the pinnacle of success for those in the UK mortgage industry. Winners will be announced at the Gala dinner in London on the 25th of May.

Furthermore, Mortgage 1st is also looking to scoop ‘Broker Firm of the Year (11-50 employees)’ at the Financial Reporter Awards. Winners will be announced at the awards event on the 11th of May.

Lisa Stones, Operations Director at Mortgage 1st (pictured above) commented: “To be named as finalists in both of these awards and listed alongside some fantastic businesses is absolutely amazing. Testament to our entire team, their passion, commitment and ongoing hard work. We would love nothing more than to bring home a winner’s trophy but regardless, we’ll have a fantastic time at the award events and will be celebrating our achievements.”

Mortgage 1st supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

Mortgage 1st Office for social

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60 acres of land to be used for nature conservation in Chesterfield

60 acres of land has been secured by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for a major project to improve nature conservation in Chesterfield.

The charity says the ‘Wild Whittington’ project has been enabled for local people to enjoy nature, thanks to overwhelming support from the public, generous grants and philanthropic loans.

The piece of land at Old Whittington, to the north of Chesterfield, is set to be rewilded, becoming a place of major importance to nature, and to the people of Chesterfield and Derbyshire.

Wild Whittington has been acquired through a mixture of investment in nature, including donations from Derbyshire wildlife Trust supporters and The John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust in response to the Defend Nature appeal.

The site connects St Bartholomew’s woods to the south and Grasscroft ancient woodlands to the north. These woods join to Unstone and then down into the valley of the River Drone. Using rewilding, the plan is to create varied habitats to bolster a vital corridor between the woodlands and support nature’s recovery in Chesterfield and the surrounding areas.

Matt Buckler, Director of Natural Solutions at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said: “We are so grateful for the incredible response we had to our appeal to secure this land from our members, the public, and our generous major donors.

“Here in Derbyshire, we want to take action to restore nature now. Quite simply, turning land over to rewilding projects is one of the most effective ways to get resilient nature back in people’s lives, and it would not be possible without the support we receive.

“The purchase is not only good news for wildlife, its great news for local residents and visitors to the area too. We can’t wait to turn this piece of land into an oasis for wildlife for future generations to enjoy.”

Wild Whittington

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