‘Natural Health Service’: Derby approves UK’s largest urban rewilding project

Plan to transform 130 hectares of Allestree Park could see reintroduction of species such as red kite and harvest mouse

I'm excited about the potential for large wildflower-rich grassland areas mixed with naturally regenerating scrub," said Prof Alastair Driver, director at Rewilding Britain. It won't be long before these areas are ringing with warbler song and sizzling with grasshoppers and crickets."

The source of Driver's excitement is Allestree Park, the largest open space in Derby, to which Derby city council has given the green light this week to become what Rewilding Britain believes to be the UK's largest urban rewilding project.