Where Have All the Rabbits Gone?

A Vanishing Sight in Derbyshire’s Countryside

If you grew up in Derbyshire, you’ll probably remember seeing rabbits everywhere. They’d dart across fields at dusk, pop up along country lanes, and disappear down burrows before you could blink. They were part of the landscape — as ordinary and comforting as buttercups in summer or a blackbird’s song at dawn.

But ask a child today when they last saw a wild rabbit, and many will shrug. Some have never seen one at all.

It’s one of those quiet changes that creeps up on us, a missing piece of the countryside we only notice when it’s gone.

A Disappearing Act Hidden in Plain Sight

Once so common they were barely worth mentioning, wild rabbits have almost vanished from huge parts of Derbyshire — and across the UK too.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust lists rabbits among the species in serious decline.
National surveys show numbers in the East Midlands dropped by a staggering 88% between 1996 and 2018.
Across Britain, scientists estimate that wild rabbit populations have fallen by around 60% in just two decades.

So the empty fields and silent verges we see today aren’t just our imagination — they really have changed.

What’s Happened to Them?

There isn’t one single reason, but a mix of problems that together have created the perfect storm for rabbits.

Disease:
Back in the 1950s, myxomatosis wiped out millions. Rabbits did slowly recover, but in recent years another killer, Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2), has hit them hard again. It strikes suddenly, often with no symptoms at all.

Habitat loss:
Modern farming has tidied up the countryside. Hedgerows trimmed, rough ground cleared, and field margins reduced — all the messy bits rabbits used to love have disappeared.

Predators and weather:
With fewer rabbits around, the pressure from foxes, stoats and birds of prey hits even harder. Add in harsh winters, floods, and droughts, and life gets even tougher.

Fragmentation:
When local populations vanish, there are no nearby groups left to move in and repopulate the land. Once a warren goes quiet, it can stay that way for years.

Why It Matters

Rabbits aren’t just cute — they’re a vital part of the ecosystem. Their grazing helps shape wildflower meadows, their burrows give homes to insects and reptiles, and they’re a key food source for predators.

When rabbits disappear, it ripples out across the food chain — subtly changing everything from what grows in the fields to what hunts above them.

A Derbyshire Memory Test

This story isn’t just about numbers — it’s about us.
Where did you see rabbits as a child? Was it a field near your village, the edge of a local park, or by the side of the A6 on summer evenings?

Do you remember the moment you realised they weren’t there anymore?

We’d love to hear your memories — they could help wildlife groups map out where rabbits once thrived and, hopefully, where they might thrive again.

Could They Make a Comeback?

Experts say yes — if we give them a chance. Leaving rough ground, restoring hedgerows, and reducing the constant pressure on their habitats could all help. Nature has a remarkable way of bouncing back if we just make space for it.

For now, though, it remains one of Derbyshire’s quietest disappearances — a once-familiar sight slipping out of daily life.

So next time you’re out walking, take a look across the fields. If you’re lucky enough to spot a flash of white tail in the grass, stop for a moment — you might just be seeing one of Derbyshire’s few remaining wild rabbits.