Jo Smith's Avatar

Jo Smith

@josmithwild

CEO, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Driving change, #rewilding people and places & supporting #communities to take #climate action to create a more #equitable and #sustainable future where #wildlife and people thrive, together.

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15.11.2024
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Latest posts by Jo Smith @josmithwild

This simply isn’t the way to do rewilding; nor is it going to win people over.

A model that seeks to acquire landholdings so quickly is clearly going to make mistakes in community engagement & in land management, and I’ve seen solid evidence of both by these guys.

bsky.app/profile/theg...

22.12.2025 12:53 👍 58 🔁 9 💬 6 📌 1

🤮

22.12.2025 12:30 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Two people are kneeling on grass in a sunny field, examining a small container. One person holds the container while the other looks at a book with plant illustrations. The background features a lush green forest, and the sky is bright blue with fluffy clouds. Text at the bottom reads, "Allestree Park is wilder than ever."

Two people are kneeling on grass in a sunny field, examining a small container. One person holds the container while the other looks at a book with plant illustrations. The background features a lush green forest, and the sky is bright blue with fluffy clouds. Text at the bottom reads, "Allestree Park is wilder than ever."

🌿 Nature is flourishing at Allestree Park!

A new University of Derby report shows our rewilding project is already making a big impact. Visitors are noticing more wildlife and improved wellbeing.

A huge win for Derby, and this is just beginning!

More:
https://pulse.ly/p3ibgeirpz

#Rewilding

11.12.2025 13:41 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Please sign the @peatfree.bsky.social petition linked by @jackwallington.com
Shocked last week to see peat extraction by Godwins happening right opposite a reserve where peat restoration is happening
@the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @craigbennett3.bsky.social @josmithwild.bsky.social
#PeatFree

08.12.2025 06:38 👍 11 🔁 9 💬 1 📌 0
Two storks stand atop a nest against a clear blue sky. Text above them reads "Your donation doubled," and below, "2-9 December."

Two storks stand atop a nest against a clear blue sky. Text above them reads "Your donation doubled," and below, "2-9 December."

The white stork hasn’t bred naturally in Derbyshire for centuries… but together, we can change that!

🩵 Let’s bring this iconic species back to our skies and revitalise wetland habitats for all local wildlife.

Help bring back lost species: https://pulse.ly/hfa6zwszal

#Rewilding

08.12.2025 08:00 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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🐾 DOUBLE your donation and help reintroduce the white stork, pine marten, and Eurasian elk, with twice the impact.

🎁 £10 becomes £20
🎁 £25 becomes £50
🎁 £50 becomes £100

Thank you to Reed Foundation for match funding!

Donate by 9th December: https://pulse.ly/ellffdz00i

#Rewilding

03.12.2025 09:01 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0

Middleton Moor yesterday. We explored the possibilities, the future, and the past. It will improve for biodiversity and connect. More importantly, it is easy to access and people will be able to enjoy it.
Please donate if you can and share.
@derbyswildlife.bsky.social
@josmithwild.bsky.social

25.11.2025 06:57 👍 9 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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A fabulous day yesterday with our board, lead Wilder inclusive governance cohort and senior team talking exciting plans for nature and communities 💚

25.11.2025 11:50 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The worries and benefits of Storm Claudia, greening flood defences in the Trent Valley, a tale of two cities and their parks and gardens and a fabulous opportunity to support nature in Derbyshire. My @thetimes.com Nature Notebook online & in yesterday’s paper.

23.11.2025 12:09 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
A collage of frosty leaves, seed heads and catkins

A collage of frosty leaves, seed heads and catkins

View of frozen pond and group of volunteers

View of frozen pond and group of volunteers

Art in nature
A frosty day @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Peak Village, Rowsley
Consulting with residents on plans for the allotments...improving biodiversity and growing your own
@josmithwild.bsky.social

21.11.2025 17:39 👍 11 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0

💚

20.11.2025 18:12 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Volunteers with rakes by an autumnal canal

Volunteers with rakes by an autumnal canal

A day to remember clearing reeds on the Cromford canal...new volunteers, enthusiasm, laughter and cake..and, yes, we will ache tomorrow
@derbyswildlife.bsky.social
@josmithwild.bsky.social @jimdixonwriter.bsky.social
#LeaWoods #Volunteering

20.11.2025 16:50 👍 12 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
A red flag marking the boundary of one of the planting plots, bags of trees, spades, and some planted trees with their guards on.

A red flag marking the boundary of one of the planting plots, bags of trees, spades, and some planted trees with their guards on.

DWT staff and volunteers planting up the second plot

DWT staff and volunteers planting up the second plot

Al down at the boundary of the plot

Al down at the boundary of the plot

The tree mix. Pedants will notice that I missed Guelder rose off the list. There were 30 of those per plot too. Impressed with my Latin? The trees are labeled in Latin by the supplier so it helps us ID which stick is which at this time of the year!

The tree mix. Pedants will notice that I missed Guelder rose off the list. There were 30 of those per plot too. Impressed with my Latin? The trees are labeled in Latin by the supplier so it helps us ID which stick is which at this time of the year!

First official planting day done at Overdale Nature Reserve, near Hathersage. 2 out of the 11 plots now complete. @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @josmithwild.bsky.social
Some tired volunteers now! It's hilly!

06.11.2025 19:35 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 2 📌 0

Great photos! 💚

07.11.2025 09:55 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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An inspiring day talking about reintroductions and recovery with @derekgow1965.bsky.social yesterday.

30.10.2025 08:15 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Been at Allestree Park in #Derby today. Britain's largest urban rewilding project. Exploring a new corner of the park, ready to work with a client there. It's hard not to love where I work.
#nature #therapy #counselling #outdoors

02.10.2025 13:40 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Good to attend the Labour Party Conference to advocate for investment in nature.

Lots of interesting panels and debates. Although sadly nature mostly just used in the imagery and not much mention in speeches or policy announcements.

01.10.2025 10:02 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Today @derbyswildlife.bsky.social we got involved in some #CitizenScience
Even if you haven't got a #GreatUKWaterblitz kit, you can still take part in the Big River Watch between now and 25 Sept
@theriverstrust.bsky.social @earthwatcheurope.bsky.social
@josmithwild.bsky.social

19.09.2025 19:00 👍 9 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0

It’s a good point. We have that. Will try and get it added to the website page! 💚

14.09.2025 08:24 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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We urgently need your support to help wildlife find its way home to Middleton Moor.

If we lose it, rare species, vital wildlife, and wild spaces are at risk.

We have until the 30th of November to raise £1.2m.

Donate today to save Derbyshire's wilder future.https://pulse.ly/siftooynkl

13.09.2025 12:00 👍 3 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 2
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England's nature is dying.

Research by the @theguardian.com has revealed that only 2.83% of England's natural landscapes are properly protected. This is far below the government's commitment to #30x30.

Read the full article here: buff.ly/WRChHu5

#Rewilding #NatureRestoration

12.09.2025 15:01 👍 3 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
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Middleton Moor £1.2 Million Appeal | Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has been given a once-in-a-generation opportunity to purchase Middleton Moor.

www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/appeals/midd...

12.09.2025 10:43 👍 6 🔁 4 💬 2 📌 0
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Bid to raise £1.2m for Derbyshire's newest nature reserve Wildlife campaigners hope to raise more than £1m to buy land for a new nature reserve

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

12.09.2025 09:22 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
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Rooted in Hope at Laverstoke Court 🌿

In Derby, the community came together to reimagine an overlooked patch of land behind a housing block.

What was once an abandoned strip of grass is now a thriving shared garden. It shows that no space is too small to lead the way in rewilding and reconnection

28.08.2025 12:00 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Spotlight on Europe’s rarest bear: global conference in the Central Apennines | Rewilding Europe Steps taken to help people share space with bears in the Central Apennines of Italy mean the future of the Marsican brown bear now looks brighter. In 2026, an event in the Central Apennines rewilding…

Spotlight on Europe’s rarest bear: global conference in the Central Apennines

Steps taken to help people share space with bears in the Central Apennines of Italy mean the future of the Marsican brown bear now looks brighter.

rewildingeurope.com/news/spotlig...

25.08.2025 12:42 👍 5 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0
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A day at Common Farm, our fourth large scale rewilding site and the most exciting one so far! The last photo is the “before”.

16.08.2025 09:34 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The Planning Bill still weakens vital protections for nature.

A central levy can’t replace local, science-led safeguards.

It risks trashing habitats today on the promise of restoration tomorrow.

Nature deserves better.

#wilderfutures #naturejustice #planningbill #cashtotrash #30by30

18.07.2025 14:59 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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By 2030 we aim to:
🌱 Rewild 100,000 acres of land and water
🐾 Reintroduce pine martens, black grouse & white stork
🌍 Support 250 communities to lead local nature recovery
🌾 Grow a greener, fairer economy with people, wildlife & climate at its heart

Together we can create a wilder Derbyshire 💚

12.07.2025 12:00 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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We're creating more space for nature and helping people benefit from it. Through rewilding, species reintroductions and landscape-scale change. By 2030, we aim to bring back pine marten, black grouse and white stork. Learn more- https://pulse.ly/nd5hsllxws

24.06.2025 15:00 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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Want to see pine marten and white stork in Derbyshire? So do we! Help us make it happen #Rewilding #WilderByNature #Reintroductions

22.06.2025 16:00 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0