News from Tideswell & District Environment Group (TDEG)

TDEG members have been involved in lots of positive action this spring, aiming to improve our local environment and help nature recover. If you want to learn more about any of the activities or events mentioned below, just contact us at info@tdeg.org.uk . You can also join us online (it’s free!) and you’ll receive our regular email updates (https://tdeg.org.uk/join-us/ ).

Eyes on the Skies!

The sound and sight of Swifts flying high above our homes is one of summer’s great joys. Yet Swift numbers are in steep decline in the UK. TDEG have tried to help our local Swifts by fixing over 25 nest boxes across our area since 2020. Swifts don’t breed until they are five years old, and they stay on the wing until they have identified their perfect nesting site. They are also extremely loyal to that site, once chosen. So some of us with nest boxes are now starting to see their first nesting pairs – it’s so exciting!

In mid-May, we had already seen at least 25 Swifts circling above Tideswell – maybe more will arrive. TDEG are partnering up with the Derbyshire Dales Swift Project to learn more about where our existing Swifts nest. We will then fix more boxes or Swift bricks to improve their opportunities for breeding in our local area. You can help by letting us know about any nesting sites in Tideswell and the surrounding area. We also planning a Swift Walk, open to all, on Monday 16 June, 8.30pm – 10pm, meeting in Fountain Square, to explore the streets of Tideswell looking for active nest sites and learning more about the extraordinary life of these amazing birds. Everyone welcome. If you would also like to get involved in a regular survey for active Swift nests in Tideswell, with training provided by the Derbyshire Dales Swift Project in late June, please get in touch with us at the above email address.

Checking Water Quality in Tideswell Brook

We had a fascinating presentation at our last open TDEG meeting in May from local fly fisherman, Don Stazicker, on the secret life of the River Wye. With some fabulous photos and short videos, Don emphasised the wonderful wildlife in and around this internationally important river, as well as highlighting past and current threats.

TDEG’s Rivers & Brooks group are developing a partnership with the national Riverfly monitoring scheme. Riverflies, such as Mayflies and Caddisflies, are an essential part of the freshwater ecosystem, and can tell us a lot about water quality in our local brooks and rivers. They spend much of their life as nymphs under water and only transform into their adult stage to fly and breed. TDEG volunteers will receive training from the Riverfly Partnership to undertake sampling in Tideswell Brook and this will help inform us about changing water quality. This will be fascinating and great fun – pond dipping for adults! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, get in touch at the above email address for more information, or come along to the next Rivers & Brooks group meeting on 18 June.

A Library of Things is on its way

Following the great success of the TDEG Repair Café, we are delighted to be supporting the development of a new Library of Things in Tideswell. Libraries of Things are popping up all over the country, including a very successful one in Buxton. They aim to loan items to members of their local community, promoting a sharing economy. These items can be anything and generally include DIY tools, garden machinery, kitchen appliances, camping gear, event equipment and generally useful household items. There are many benefits of borrowing items, rather than owning them. We reduce manufacturing and material usage, and thereby reduce waste and carbon emissions. We also save money and ensure items get a full life of use (rather than being stuck in a garden shed).

Members of TDEG are currently investigating storage needs and operational requirements, obviously talking to our neighbouring groups to learn from them wherever possible. If you are interested in helping the small team of local people developing this project, do get in touch with us.

Litter Pickers run out of High Vis!

So many local people turned out for our last litter picking event in March that we ran out of High Vis vests – apologies! Once again, we collected a surprising amount of litter along roadsides and on our open spaces. Much of the litter collected appears to have been thrown from cars or other vehicles. Why don’t people just take it home or dispose of it properly at work?

Our next litter pick is on Sunday, 8 June (meeting at 2pm outside the Co-op in Tideswell).