My Peak District – with Mosaic champion, Rhyddi Chakraborty

My Peak District

Dr Rhyddhi Chakraborty

She grew up against a backdrop of the Himalayas, but it was the Peak District’s dramatic landscapes which really won the heart of Dr Rhyddhi Chakraborty, as Fiona Stubbs discovers...

Dr Rhyddhi Chakraborty is a Peak District Mosaic champion. She splits her time between her home in Sheffield and Uxbridge, Middlesex, where she is based for work.

Ifirst came to England in 2015, after I was really impressed by the differently marrying my British Asian husband, coloured hills which are actually very Swagata Chatterjee. My first impression accessible. Being Indian, I was very much of the country was of blue skies and used to seeing the magnificent mountains greenery and I was already enjoying of the Himalayas and was aware that the the picturesque English countryside, with Himalaya Range is young fold (formed its horses, foxes, birds and seasonal flowers, by the folding of the earth’s crust due to when my husband introduced me to the tectonic activity). I found myself wanting Peak District that summer. to learn more about the history and

As we drove through the hills, I was geography of the Peak District’s hills. mesmerised by the beauty of the National In 2016, I was making frequent trips Park and started to wonder how I could visit to Sheffield for work but was increasingly the place more often! frustrated that I had hardly any chance to be close to nature in the Peak District. Then, one of my previous professors from the USA visited England for a conference and introduced me to another delegate, who happened to be a Peak District Mosaic champion and volunteer ranger alongside her academic job.

Peak District Mosaic is a registered charity which encourages people from Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic (BAME) groups living in Sheffield, Manchester and Derby to explore the National Park and help in its conservation.

Gradually, I became a Mosaic champion, training in map navigation, leading guided walks and learning more about nature,

Rhyddhi (left) leads a walk for Peak District Mosaic.

Dr Rhyddhi Chakraborty

wildlife and farming. What impressed me about Mosaic is that it enables you to become knowledgeable about the Peak District.

I was very much drawn to the charity by the efficient and effective leadership of Yvonne Witter and her ideas for navigating and exploring new geographical locations in the Peaks. The Mosaic Peak Wise People training programme, offering a hands-on experience of the many tasks of National Park rangers – and being able to work with actual rangers – was an added advantage to me. I feel that at least one walk in nature during the week can help to boost both physical and mental health

Being a nature lover and working in health and social care, I feel that at least one walk in nature during the week can help to boost both physical and mental health, especially for people who live in towns and cities.

I plan to involve more students from BAME communities studying at Born: Kolkata (Calcutta), India

Family: Husband Swagata Chatterjee Career: Rhyddhi is currently leading the Higher National Diploma programmes of Business and Healthcare at the Global Banking School in London. She is also pursuing a Masters degree in Healthcare Management through Anglia Ruskin University. She is a Fellow of Advance HE, which works to improve and support equality and diversity for staff and students in higher education across the UK. She is a member of the Royal Society of Medicine and the Royal Institute of Philosophy. Background: Rhyddhi has a Masters degree in Bioethics and Global Public Health, through a USA blended learning programme. She has a PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, India.

Favourite place: Bakewell, for its rich cultural heritage.Ambition: To introduce more people to the natural beauty and conservation of the Peak District National Park.

Rhyddhi’s advice for enjoying the great outdoors Take a long breath, decide your target destination and keep on walking. Wear comfortable clothes and take your litter home. Plan regular walks and spread awareness of national park conservation

Rhyddhi with her mentor, ranger Terry Page.

all campuses of my college – London, Birmingham and Manchester - to visit the Peak District.

Also, when the Covid-19 pandemic is over, I plan to conduct more studies into the health benefits of getting closer to nature.

I love the Peak District’s contrasting landscapes – there’s so much variety in one National Park. In the Dark Peak, I love the heather and the changing colours but I cannot ignore the glittering White Peak, especially in the sunshine. One of my favourite places is Stanage Edge, from where I can glimpse the whole range of the for both its easy accessibility and its rich cultural heritage.

Dark Peak. In the White Peak, I like Bakewell, and sustainability among your friends and colleagues.

Rhyddhi loves Bakewell for its rich cultural heritage.