Giant former grouse moor near Sheffield to be rewilded to stop fires
The 600-acre site will now be ‘restored through natural processes’
A giant former grouse shooting moor near Sheffield is set to be rewilded so it is ‘less prone to wildfires’.
Eyam Moor, between Hathersage and the plague village of Eyam, has been donated to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
The 600-acre site will now be ‘restored through natural processes’ to support wildlife, store carbon and manage floods.
The trust says rewilding helps hold more water in the landscape so that it is less prone to wildfires.
It comes after Peak District moors near Sheffield were hit by a string of wildfires this summer.
The trust believes parts of Eyam Moor were historically used for grouse shooting but under their ownership it is now banned.
Rachel Bennett, director of wilder landscapes and wilder communities at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the landowners for so generously donating this land for nature.
“Their vision and commitment mean that this landscape will be there for future generations and will give wildlife space to thrive.”
The landowners, who asked to remain anonymous, said they wanted to see nature restored “at scale.”
They added: “Eyam Moor is a place of great beauty and potential as a haven for nature.
“We are confident that in the Trust’s hands it will provide a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy and cherish.”