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We're looking forward to April and May 2026, when six town‑centre festivals will celebrate creativity, heritage and the future as part of Derbyshire Makes.
 The festival, now in its second year, will transform high streets, heritage sites and public spaces into vibrant hubs of activity, bringing together artists, makers, performers and communities to celebrate the county's extraordinary making, heritage and creative and cultural industries.
Six locations across the county will each host a full day of free, family-friendly activity, so make sure you put the dates in your diary:
- Cromford Mills on Saturday 11 April
- Chesterfield on Saturday 18 April
- Swadlincote on Saturday 25 April
- Heanor on Saturday 2 May
- Glossop on Saturday 9 May
- Bolsover on Saturday 16 May.
Get more information and updates, sign up to the mailing list, or follow @DerbyshireMakes on social media.
📸Autin Dance will feature in the Derbyshire Makes festival this spring. Picture credit: Marlon Bonilla.
Our highways team have spent more than £41 million on maintaining and improving the county’s roads from April 2025 to December 2025.
The record amount of spending for the first nine months of the financial year on the county’s roads is higher than spent in total for recent years, and there are still three months of the year to go. It is expected that the final figure will be around £52m.
Work includes resurfacing roads and pavements, improving cycle routes, greenways and footpaths and fixing potholes, drainage works and mending retaining walls and landslips.
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Caring staff and excellent integrated working between health and social care teams impressed inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when they visited one of our newly remodelled care homes.
Bennerley Fields in Cotmanhay was rated good in all areas by the CQC who found staff were caring, well led and provided high-quality care for the people who stay there.
Residents said they enjoyed the spacious surroundings and felt safe and respected.
Watch a video about the new centre.
The county‑council‑owned care centre, jointly run with NHS partners, was remodelled in 2025 as a specialist assessment and reablement centre – with 40 beds supporting hospital discharge.
It previously operated as a mixed‑model home but now focuses on short‑term assessment, rehabilitation and enablement to help people regain confidence and independence so they can return home – either after a hospital stay or to avoid admission.
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Calling all walkers, cyclists and hikers – we've had to close a 200-metre stretch of the High Peak Trail at Manystones Cutting due to rockfall.
An emergency closure is in place for up to three weeks while we investigate what work is needed to make the area safe and we'll do all we can to get the route re-opened as soon as possible.
Access to Limestone Way, which crosses the trail, the bridleway to Longcliffe and the bridleway on the west side is not affected.
Find out more about our countryside sites and routes and parks to explore.
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Our public health team has been officially recognised as Guinness World Record holders alongside Age UK Derby and Derbyshire and Chesterfield FC Community Trust.
They achieved the accolade for holding the largest chair-based exercise session – when they gathered more than 1,100 people at Chesterfield FC stadium in September – smashing the previous record of 721.
They undertook the feat to demonstrate how physical activity can reduce falls in older people.
Age UK Derby and Derbyshire deliver the Live Stronger for Longer Falls Prevention Service on behalf of Derbyshire County Council.
The service delivers classes to people aged over 50 years of age, to improve strength and balance to prevent falls. They also provide home resources to reduce the occurrence of falls and boost independence.
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We've set a balanced budget for the year ahead and agreed a less than maximum level council tax rise.
At a meeting on Wednesday (11 February) we set our net budget for 2026-2027 at £817.6 million and agreed to a council tax rise of 4.90%. The maximum rise allowed by government without triggering a referendum or seeking permission is 4.99%.
A report on our current financial position includes the impact of external factors, such as pay and price inflation and increasing costs and demand for council services, particularly in children’s services, mainly around special educational needs (SEND) and adult social care, which are contributing to significant additional spending.
We're currently forecasting a budget overspend of £1.6 million which we need to reduce by the end of the financial year. We must also continue to deliver savings and make efficiencies to remain financially stable in future years.
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Join us for an informal online meeting to explore the opportunities on offer to landowners in eastern and southern Derbyshire through the Derbyshire's Heartwood Community Forest programme.
Government grants are available for free tree planting and woodland creation and you can hear about some of the ways that landowners have taken advantage of this opportunity.
If you want to introduce more greenery to your land or a public space, join this free online meeting on Tuesday 24 February to find out more from 6-7pm.
Our team at Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest provides expert guidance to make sure trees are planted safely and in suitable locations.
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As part of Foster for East Midlands Councils, we’re encouraging people from all backgrounds to consider fostering and make a life-changing difference for local children.
LGBTQ+ History Month celebrates diversity, inclusion and representation – values that are central to fostering, where children thrive when they feel accepted and supported.
Across the East Midlands, more foster carers are needed to provide safe and nurturing homes. Many people are surprised to learn they’re eligible: you can foster if you’re 21 or over, have space at home and can offer stability. Single people, couples, LGBTQ+ people, those working or not currently employed may all be able to foster with the right support.
Foster for East Midlands Councils represents Derby City, Derbyshire, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire Councils. We offer one-to-one support throughout the fostering journey – from initial enquiry and training to approval and ongoing care – providing guidance, training and a strong local support network.
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