Wildlife habitat planned on more than 120 acres

More than 120 acres of land in Derbyshire is set to be converted into a wildlife habitat as part of a nature discovery scheme.

Ecological firm Environment Bank said the site near Newton Solney, along the River Trent, would be restored to create meadows, grassland, woodland and hedgerows.

The project also aims to improve links between existing wildlife habitats, including areas near the Melbourne Railway Local Wildlife Site.

Ecologists said they had already observed skylarks, yellowhammer, linnet and brown hare on the site, with a focus on creating an area to "support an even greater diversity of wildlife in the years ahead".

The plans also include planting areas of woodland, creating scrub habitat and tackling the invasive plant Himalayan balsam.

Environment Bank said the site also contained several historic features, including the remains of medieval ridge-and-furrow farming and a former World War Two depot.

Will Witchell, the firm's head of land for northern sites, said the area provided "a really strong foundation" for nature recovery.

"By improving and expanding these grassland habitats, creating new areas of scrub and woodland and strengthening connections with the wider river corridor, we hope to see even more species making use of the site in the years ahead," he said.

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.