Area Society: Derbyshire

'The Society was founded in 1982 when cottage garden plants were becoming "unfashionable". Those starting the Society wanted to protect this vanishing planting style. They were concerned that, in the move to easily maintained gardens, hard landscaping was becoming more important than the plants ... The Society has around 35 regional groups, some with as few as seven members and some with over 200. Most groups meet monthly and have talks in winter and visits to gardens and plant sales in spring and summer.'

Member of the Cottage Garden Society Grouping

Member of the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK Grouping

Member of the Mammal Society Grouping

Member of The Wildlife Trusts Grouping

'We love hardy perennials for their variety, colours, shapes, sizes and longevity. We help each other to grow them better, to try different species and we exchange and spread information about them ... Local Group membership is open to all members of the national HPS. Most groups charge a small additional subscription. Groups welcome new members and visitors; they are a great way for those of all ages and levels of experience to share their enthusiasm for plants and gardening ... Most Groups offer ... talks by experts with the opportunity to ask questions and talk to them.'

Member of the Hardy Plant Society Grouping

'We are the charity that campaigns to protect and restore the country's 7,000 miles of inland waterways ... We campaign locally and nationally for the waterways – supporting restorations, lobbying parliament, championing regeneration and raising waterways users concerns ... Our members and volunteers are waterways-lovers from all walks of life who want to preserve and improve the network for future generations.'

Member of the Inland Waterways Association Grouping

'Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) are partnerships of a broad range of local organisations, businesses and people who aim to help bring about improvements in their local natural environment.' (NOTE At the time of Review there did not seem to be a readily accessible official list with Website Links of current English Partnerships. However, I have prepared Records within the relevant Localities for the 'live' English Partnership Websites discovered so far.)

Member of the Local Nature Partnerships: England Grouping

Member of the Badger Trust Grouping

Member of the Local Nature Partnerships: England Grouping

'Explore the role of the Association in supporting Peak Rail Plc in their ambition to reopen the former Midland Railway line from Matlock to Buxton. The primary functions of the Association are to recruit the volunteer workforce for the railway from our members and raise finances for carefully selected projects on the railway ... Peak Rail currently operates a Heritage Railway nearly 4 miles from Matlock to Rowsley in Derbyshire. Negotiations are currently underway to seek a significant extension northward towards Buxton.'

'In the belief that many features of the traditional accounts of the character and career of Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society aims to promote, in every possible way, research into the life and times of Richard III, and to secure a reassessment of the material relating to this period, and of the role of this monarch in history ... The Richard III Society functions at a local level, both within the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world, through its regionally organised Branches and Groups ... The activities usually combine a programme of meetings and talks and, in the UK and Europe, visits to Ricardian sites.'

Member of the Richard III Society Grouping

'The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) believes old buildings have a future. From cottages to castles and from churches to cathedrals we are here to help buildings and the people who care for them. Through our unique training schemes, courses, advice and research we help people put our expertise into practice ... Held every spring and autumn, the SPAB's popular lecture series offers three or four informal talks linked to an engaging historic building or conservation theme ... One of the benefits of being a member of the SPAB is access to our Regional Groups, who arrange visits, events, and meetings across the country.'