WHAT GRASSROOTS WAS UP TO IN 2024
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Films at Northern Light Cinema monthly with chat in Oak Barn afterwards
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New groups supported:
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Safer roads group
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Public transport users group
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Articles in Community Fayre for each edition
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Newsletters ‘seasonally’ about what’s on
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Refresh of website and Facebook
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Vegetables in Carnival parade
WHAT GRASSROOTS HAS PLANNED FOR 2025
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Help public transport users group
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Help set up car sharing scheme
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More films, articles, newsletters
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Carnival
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Community Quiz team!
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Respond to needs of any new groups
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Network across Derbyshire/Notts.
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Fundraise
www.grassrootswirksworth.org
grassrootswirksworth@gmail.com
WILDER WIRKSWORTH
MAKING SPACE FOR NATURE ON WILD MAPLE FIELD
Our vision is to develop a nature reserve by converting this field of grassland into a range of different habitats that over time will increase biodiversity and encourage wildlife. There’s always something to do and we welcome your help.
Add your name to our mailing list via our website or Facebook page, or just turn up to a work party. Dress for the weather (it can be cold and wet), and bring strong gloves if you have them – we have spares and tools to share. We look forward to seeing you.
Celebrating an amazing 2024 on Wild Maple Field
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2,500 trees planted during winter 2023/24, including a hedgerow (with fence) to protect wildlife-only area
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Worked with Earth Pathways who organised funding for a Peace Grove of 50 trees
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All trees mulched and monitored for health. Any dead trees replaced.
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Began restoration of historic dewpond by excavating silt to expose cobble base
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Erection of fence (using reclaimed materials) to deter dogs
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Frogspawn introduced and froglets spotted.
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Seven bird boxes erected and barn owl box purchased using donated funds
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Removal of perimeter barbed wire, with help from DWT, protecting flying birds from accidents
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Many species spotted, incl regular owl and kestrel sightings. Voles are plentiful!
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Weekly butterfly transects, monitoring sightings and building on last year’s data
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Planted specific meadow plants along known butterfly routes
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Meadow area scythed and ground prepared with green hay ‘imported’ from local Ashleyhay farm. Wildflower seeds sown
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‘Insect Hotel’ created during WMF’s first anniversary celebration event.
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Began work to expose the limestone bank area of geological interest, creating a further different nature habitat.
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Established a pattern of regular volunteer work parties – nearly 100 people have given their time to help nature on WMF and enjoyed time in the outdoors
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Work parties provide opportunity to engage with local people using the public footpath across the Field
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Mailing list of >150 people receive regular email updates, >830 follow the Wilder Wirksworth Facebook group
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Consulted with a range of specialists who have given expert advice and funding
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Linked with neighbouring landowners to create plans for corridors for nature.
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Officially established as Wild Maple Field CIC, with five Directors
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And much more besides!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT MAPLE FIELD!
Work Party Dates
Sat 8 Feb
Mon 17 Feb
Sat 8 Mar
We’ll be on the field from 10am-1pm. Check our Facebook page or join the mailing list for full details
www.wildmaplefield.co.uk
SOCIALS/LOCATION
What3words
WIRKSWORTH COMMUNITY GROWERS
Community Garden
We have continued to meet twice a month, the First and Third Sunday, as we have since 2011 when we first started planning and working on the Community Garden. We often meet during the week too. We have some wonderful new members, though we always welcome more! We always have really great shared lunches together, and have a fabulous well-organised shed to shelter in if it rains.
Aquabox Plant Sale
We grew lots of vegetable plug plants for the Sale in May, and together with Grower friends raised more money than ever before for good causes.
Bees
We lost our only bee colony last Spring, but collected three swarms in May, of which two proved viable. We now have two hives very well provided with honey so we hope our two colonies survive whatever the weather has in store and we will start next year ready to divide one of the colonies to make three hives, and also harvest some honey for ourselves and our friends.
Veggie Bed Regeneration Project
Our veggie crops were pretty poor this year, and the edges of our beds had decayed and become a trip hazard. The Wirksworth Open Gardens Committee very kindly awarded us £700 with which we have purchased timber for sleepers, and we have started constructing them. They are going to be deep enough for us to practice No-dig Cultivation. A kind friend has donated us a lot of biochar, compost and seaweed which will be great for the soil microbes.
Flowers and Fruit
We continue to maintain our willow arches and fedge. We had a lot more flowers in our borders this year, but hope to grow even more next year. We are planning to improve the Bog Garden, and the soft fruit area.
Anyone is welcome to come to the Garden anytime – the gate is not locked.
WIRKSWORTH COMMUNITY RESPONSE GROUP (WCRG)
WCRG came into being in 2020 to respond to needs uncovered by Covid lockdowns.
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Operates via a Helpline (01629 888112)
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Main activity now is assisting with transport to health related appointments.
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There is an active group of about 20 transport volunteers.
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Emergency prescriptions, occasional collection of food for isolated residents
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WCRG has offered assistance to a small number of residents how are socially isolated by befriending and connecting people to activities in the wider community
More transport volunteers would be greatly appreciated if anyone with a car has a little time to spare.
Email or leave a message on the helpline (01629 888112) to enquire about becoming a volunteer.
Chair of WORG : Jill Rapoроrt
jillrapoport52@gmail.com
WARMER WIRKSWORTH
Encouraging the community to make use of warm spaces across Wirksworth from November to March.
Providing activities/co-ordinating existing activities to enable people to reduce their energy use/ keep warm in welcoming places.
We have been promoting this with a poster displayed across Wirksworth, plus organised a full-page ad in Community Fayre, to inform the community
Contact Helen Knott on 07948472672 for further information.
RAMBLERS DERBYSHIRE DALES GROUP
Protecting and enhancing the 1,700km of rights of way network, including 36km of footpaths and bridleways in Wirksworth, plus monitoring the access land
Our Ramblers are a sociable, friendly bunch who welcome visitors from other walking groups and those new to walking.
We value our astonishing network of 1,700 Km of paths; our footpath team check these regularly, reporting problems and monitoring changes to paths and access areas with the authorities; we welcome volunteers to help with this work.
WILD ROOTS CREATIVE
Engage, Create, Connect
Wild Roots Creative is a Community Interest Company that was set up in the summer of 2020 by two friends, Sally and Claire, who share interests in traditional craft, creativity and nature and enjoy working with other people! Despite being set up in the middle of a pandemic, Wild Roots Creative has gone from strength to strength in a short time thanks to the valued support of our creativity loving customers and the trust placed in us by many grant funders to put their funding into high quality creative activity delivered with care and with a sustainable outlook.
Wild Roots Creative offers lots of different opportunities to get involved. Below are our regular groups – get in touch for more details.
Greenspace Community Crafts
Our fortnightly group meets at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Greenspace is all about doing something good for the community, something good for you as well as making some lovely stuff to take home.
Wildlife & Wellbeing
This group is all about making spaces and improvements for nature and wildlife as well as learning new skills and trying new crafts. We meet every other week at our outdoor site in Wirksworth.
Roots for a Positive Future
Creative nature-based activities for 10-16 year olds and the parents/carers
Greenaway Community Crafts
A fortnightly craft group at the Greenaway wellbeing hub in Matlock. Offering a chance to try new crafts, be part of a group and make some lovely stuff to take home.
Phone Sally: 07791 947027 or Claire: 07725 993 708
info@wildrootscreative.org