Sturgess Fields
Sturgess Fields are situated in Derby between Kedleston Road (near The Jonty Farmer public house) and the A38, adjacent to Markeaton Park. The site is comprised of three fields, interspersed with mature, broadleaved woodland, and has Markeaton Brook running through it. One of the fields is a playing field, but the other two are relatively unimproved grassland that are cut in late summer. The site supports an abundance of wildlife including Woodpeckers, Warblers, Kingfishers, the endangered White-clawed Crayfish, Slow Worms and a profusion of Dragonflies and Damselflies in the summer.
Sturgess Fields are designated Green Wedge land. The Green Wedge policy sets out to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild or agricultural land that may run through an urban area. Recently planning permission was sought by Derby University to build a road through the fields. This was rejected by the City Council and further upheld by a Public Enquiry into the matter.
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Sturgess Fields Nature Trail Just over a year ago The Friends of Markeaton Brook were approached by the University of Derby (UoD) to join with them in a Big Lottery Fund Project to develop and enhance the amenity that already existed on this important area for wildlife. Those of you who have followed the story through our Newsletters will know that we obtained the grant in June of last year and held meetings to progress the project with our partners the University, WildDerby and Groundwork. We have continued the project in good faith in spite of the University having, by March last year, making an appeal against the City Council Planning Department so that they could build a road over this very site. As we know, this appeal was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate. |
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We have held 10 project meetings with our principal partners, UoD and WildDerby. A draft Environmental Management Plan for the site has been prepared by an independent environmentalist. Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire has worked with local schools in order to bring about visits from local children to study the flora and fauna in the area. The University has put up the notice boards and litter bins that were part of their tasks towards completion of the project.
The Friends Volunteer Wardens were due to be on site from September, but unfortunately restrictions have been placed on them due to insurance worries from the University, apparently stemming from the lack of grounds maintenance for the trees on the site which are now running a year late. The Nature Trail Leaflet that was to have been produced by Groundwork, WildDerby and UoD has been stalled by lack of input from the UoD. The Nature Trail itself has not been agreed by the landowner, and the construction of a safer footbridge over the Brook to be built by the Probation Service, was vetoed by the UoD.
We knew that this project was not going to be easy but we had no idea, due to a change of personnel in October last year, that we would be working face to face with a faction of the UoD who have a different agenda from ours. Accordingly the Friends, while encouraging the University to deal with their own issues, have reluctantly had to contact the funder, Big Lottery Fund, to inform them that there are considerable doubts as to the viability of the project within the agreed timescale.
In the meantime the University have made another application to the City Council to develop the Sturgess Fields. Details of this application can be found at http://eplanning.derby.gov.uk/acolnet/planningpages02/acolnetcgi.gov ·
- Find Application Quick Search box ·
- Type in 02/09/00125 and click "Search" ·
- On the next screen view more details by clicking the underlined application number.