New Buxton Woodland Watch project launches with Community Climate and Nature Action Fund support
Wednesday 26th August 2026
A new project giving residents and visitors the opportunity to become citizen scientists and help monitor Buxton’s woodland wildlife has begun, following a £3,700 award from the High Peak Borough Council Community Climate and Nature Action Fund.
Buxton Woodland Watch, delivered by Buxton Civic Association (BCA), will combine a new digital woodland guide and interpretation with citizen science recording to encourage people to explore, understand and actively contribute to the protection of Buxton’s woodland environments.
The 12-month project will extend the mobile technology developed for the Poole’s Cavern Visitor Guide, creating a digital resource where people can discover local woodland habitats and species, while recording their own wildlife observations. Users will be able to submit sightings of plants, birds, insects, fungi and other wildlife, including photographs and location information.
The records will contribute to a community biodiversity dataset that can be used by BCA’s woodland management and conservation team to understand species presence, monitor habitat condition and identify environmental pressures.
The aim of this programme is to help residents and visitors, develop their confidence and skills in identifying and recording wildlife.
David Green, CEO for Buxton Civic Association, said:
“Buxton’s woodlands are important places for both people and wildlife, but understanding how these environments are changing depends on having good information and involving the communities who use and care for them. Buxton Woodland Watch gives people a practical way to contribute to that work while discovering more about the wildlife on their doorstep.”
Funding will:
- Develop a mobile-friendly digital woodland guide and citizen science platform.
- Provide information about local woodland species and habitats.
- Enable residents and visitors to record wildlife observations, building a community-generated biodiversity dataset.
- Encourage wider community participation in climate and nature action.
- Support Buxton Civic Association’s ongoing woodland conservation and management work.
The project aims to generate 300 or more biodiversity records during its 12-month delivery period. Participant feedback and engagement data will also be used to assess whether the project increases knowledge of woodland ecosystems and confidence in biodiversity recording.
The project directly supports the objectives of the High Peak Borough Council’s Climate Change and Nature Delivery Plan by encouraging community participation in nature recovery, improving local biodiversity monitoring and increasing understanding of woodland habitats.
The platform and guides will launch in the new year and create a lasting digital resource intended to support continued public engagement with Buxton’s woodlands beyond the funded project period.
