Issue 32 | Spring/Summer 2021
The Peak District National Park Magazine
FREE for you to enjoy
Celebrating 70 years of the UK's first National Park Shaped by passionate people with a love of the outdoors
• Events • News • Your stories
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Britain’s Original National Park Started by You, Supported by You Established 17 April, 1951 following decades of campaigning. We’re still as passionate about the place today. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/donate
Sarah has missed having the opportunity to get out across the national park and meet with visitors and communities alike during the Covid pandemic.
From the chief executive
T
Contact us: customer.service@peakdistrict.gov.uk 01629 816200 Peak District National Park, Aldern House, Baslow Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AE
@peakdistrict
/peakdistrictnationalpark /peakdistrictnationalpark
Issue 32 | Spring/Summer 2021
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
The Peak District National Park Magazine
FREE for you to enjoy
Celebrating 70 years of the UK's first National Park Shaped by passionate people with a love of the outdoors
• Events • News • Your stories
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
ON THE COVER: Our stunning anniversary cover by Stephen Sibbald features just a few of the past and present faces that have helped shape and influence the Peak District that we know and love today.
Unless otherwise stated, views expressed in this magazine may not be those of the Peak District National Park Authority. Editorial team: Alison Riley, Fiona Stubbs, Liam Benson, Tom Marshall, Steve Manchester Design: Sheryl Todd
parklife@peakdistrict.gov.uk All images and content © Peak District National Park Authority 2021 unless stated otherwise.
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he only thing to have altered about the climate emergency since the onset of the COVID pandemic is that it has become more acute. I, with the other leaders of the UK’s national parks, view a UK recovery from the impacts of COVID as a green recovery from the social and environmental impacts of the human driven climate crisis. We need bold approaches that will shift things by an order of magnitude and at scale and the UK national parks see our collective role as innovation engines for a green recovery. And we have started. Here in the Peak District we are building a coalition of partners and communities to pioneer a new more sustainable approach to travel across the national park. Why? Because at the moment to visit the Peak District the first question asked is ‘how do I get there?’ and today the answer for 90% of us is ‘by car’. This is unsustainable. We need a less fragmented, more connected and better integrated system for movement around the Peak District which allows us to move in a far more net zero and inclusive way.
This is about bold ambitions, starting small and scaling quickly This will help rebuild our tourism economy, maintain the gain we saw in 2020 of a greater diversity of people enjoying the national park and support a safer, less congested, home for communities that live in the national park. And if these reasons aren’t enough, it will help us solve the climate emergency. We’re building a bold plan with gateway sites around the national park such as at Chesterfield, Macclesfield, Matlock and Buxton, with recreation hubs as primary destinations in the national park and low key dispersal from here to more sensitive areas. Our aim is for travel between these to be enabled by an integrated sustainable transport offer that reduces access by car by enhancing access via high quality active travel (such as on the Monsal Trail) and an integrated public transport system. This is about bold ambitions, starting small and scaling quickly. We have started with the Hope Valley Explorer, we’re building strong partnerships with Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Councils and are working with some fantastic local community groups. My thanks to them for their vision and support. Chief executive Sarah Fowler @peakchief sarah.fowler@peakdistrict.gov.uk Coronavirus (COVID 19) At time of writing (April 2021) the government’s COVID-19 lockdown easing roadmap was on track with the next key changes anticipated on 12th April, which will also provide the opportunity for many of our visitor centres to re-open once again. Please ensure your visit is in line with any ongoing government guidance, and tips and advice can be found throughout this edition of ParkLife for a safe and enjoyable trip.
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PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
Every person has their own reason for loving the Peak District National Park
Contents There’s been plenty going on across the Peak District despite the pandemic – our news pages have a round-up......................... 4
FEATURES
From humble beginnings – reflections from our chair............................................................39
INSPIRATION
A buzzing on the line – rail-side bumblebee action....................................................14
A myriad of milestones – 70 years of the Peak District National Park...................................... 6
At your own pace – walks to discover this spring...................................................................18
Constantly developing – how planning continues to shape our past and future...........10
Seven spots to enjoy this summer with our go-to guide...............................................19
Working with nature – conservation in action in the South West Peak........................12
Start your adventure with our centrefold A3 map...................................................20
Walk on the wild side – Seven nature encounters not to be missed...............................16
Know before you go – how to keep your visit safe and enjoyable................................22
Celebrating a year of Foundation fundraising like no other.......................................26
A little piece of the Peak District – gifts to tempt and inspire this year..............................24
Absorbing stuff – the remarkable role of our uplands in storing carbon...............28
On your bike – trails to explore...........................32
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES
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PHOTO: ALEX HYDE
NEWS
Read all about it – books to enjoy at home, or get you out and about, plus copies to WIN...................................................34
My Peak District – in conversation with our chief executive, Sarah Fowler.............30
The ‘Cake District’ – a stunning 70th birthday-bake to enjoy at home!..............35
5 minutes with... inspirational local farmer Lydia Slack....................................................37
Keep it social – share your memories with us..........................................................................36
35 www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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News Art installation celebrates National Park’s 70 years Artists from Glassball, local schools, families, volunteers and National Park rangers are involved in a two-year arts and heritage project that is exploring the legacy of how the first National Park in the UK was formed. GUIDEline focuses on the north west boundary area (from north of Glossop to Marsden), and what it means to visit, live and work along a mark made on a map 70 years ago. Cora Glasser, lead artist at Glassball explains: “Our starting point was the original Park boundary document from 1951, which described the route in words alone. “One element of our project celebrating the official birthday of the Park’s formation involves creating 3D printed and wooden laser cut words from the original description to display along the National Park boundary on a Covid-safe walk. “Individuals and families can creatively arrange the words in suitable locations, photograph them and send the results in
Peregrines at 10 year high in the uplands
PHOTO: TIM MELLING
Goshawks and peregrines had a successful breeding season during 2020 in the Peak District’s uplands, according to a recent report. The Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative (BoPI) recorded 14 fledged young peregrines from six nests – the highest number for ten years – while an estimated 16-17 young goshawks fledged from nine known nests. There were mixed fortunes for both short-eared owls and merlins, and hen harriers did not return to nest in the study area in 2020 after successful breeding in previous years. Despite six incidents of illegal wildlife crime against birds of prey during the same period, efforts by the police and local gamekeepers have also recently secured the conviction of an egg-collector following a detailed investigation.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Get inspired along the National Park boundary with the GUIDEline project.
to the GUIDEline website or post on social media.” The GUIDEline website is growing as stories, recollections, LiDar scans, photographs, video and audio are being added. Join in and share your pictures on social media, use #GUIDEline. For more information or to share your
thoughts on how the boundary was created around Glossop, you can contact Cora Glasser by email: info@glassball.uk or visit www.guideline.org.uk GUIDEline is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, and is supported by the Peak District National Park Authority.
Helping a maiden in distress National Park ecologists, local plant experts and landowners have joined forces to save a plant from extinction. Maiden pink is a very rare Peak District plant with less than a handful of remaining sites. Rebekah Newman, ecologist, explains: “Maiden pink is a nationally nearthreatened species and after checking local records, we discovered that of the 17 populations recorded before 1990, there are now just four populations left. “Most species which grow alongside maiden pink are taller and fastergrowing so the plant’s survival is critically dependent on grazing or some other disturbance to allow it to successfully compete and survive. We are developing site management plans for all the remaining populations to ensure maiden pink’s survival.” Seed and cuttings have been taken from the wild populations and grown on in a local nursery.
Maiden pink to get a helping hand to thrive in the Peak District. Steve Furness of the Alpine Plant Centre in Calver says: “Our aim is to establish robust nursery populations so that we can bolster the existing populations with genetically identical but nursery grown plants. It’s like a zoo breeding programme for plants.” To celebrate the 70th year of the Peak District National Park a number of sites are to be planted with 70 maiden pink plants to boost existing populations and establish new ones.
NEWS
Have you read ACID? The archaeological excavation at the Roman fort of Navio, near Brough-on Noe, is featured on Archaeology and Conservation in Derbyshire and the Peak District the front cover of this year’s Navio’s long-lost Archaeology and vicus revealed Conservation in Derbyshire and the Peak District ACID magazine. Inside: Inside, reports from Tom Peak District lead in Vermeer’s earring Parker and Reuben Thorpe (Archaeological Research Services Ltd) show what has been unearthed at the first century monument. David Inglis, University of Sheffield, reveals new evidence about the wider landscape at Navio discovered by Castleton Historical Society volunteers and student archaeologists too. Read about the unlikely links between the white paint on a world-famous historic Dutch painting, Alpine ice and Peak District lead workings in a report by Chris Loveluck, University of Nottingham. The National Park Authority’s Anna Badcock reports on a project that is aiming to conserve and restore traditional stone field-barns in the Peak District National Park, and Natalie Ward writes about Scheduled Monuments. Archaeology doesn’t get much more up-to-date and high-tech than in the article by archaeologist John Barnatt who dives deep into Ecton Mines with an international underwater exploration project, using submersible robots in the flooded workings of the old copper mines. TV historian and archaeologist Neil Oliver also features in this edition of ACID in an interview by the magazine’s editor Roly Smith. ACID showcases archaeological and conservation projects that have taken place in the Peak District National Park and Derbyshire over the last 18 months. It is produced jointly by the Peak District National Park Authority and Derbyshire County Council on behalf of the Derbyshire Archaeological Advisory Committee. You can read ACID online at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/acid-magazine and paper copies will be available at National Park Visitor Centres and Derbyshire libraries.
ACID
ISSUE 18 JANUARY 2021
Swarkestone’s windmill Find of the Year
Our year in numbers: planning and heritage statistics
Revealing the past at Whitle.
Tudor farm group digs deep The Tudor Farming Interpretation Group has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and support from the Peak District National Park Communities Small Grant Scheme for a community archaeology project near Longnor. Digging Deeper – The Origins of Whitle aims to reveal how people lived and farmed centuries ago at Under Whitle farm in Sheen. Plans to excavate a potential medieval house platform were put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic, but the group hopes to dig later this summer. Dr Ian Parker-Heath says: “Covid restrictions depending, we hope to offer
people the chance to experience the thrill of uncovering the past and research how people lived. Volunteers will dig alongside professional archaeologists, learn new techniques such as archaeobotanical sampling, and be able to work towards the nationally recognised Archaeology Skills Passport.” Archaeology trail guided walks are planned for later in the year with the trail open to the public in the future. Talks, reports and a website will share the group’s findings. For more information contact: Dr Ian Parker-Heath diggingdeeper. underwhitle@outlook.com
After being paused during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, it’s hoped the popular Hope Valley Explorer seasonal bus service will be welcoming passengers again from late summer this year. Subject to Covid-19 restrictions, the service is anticipated to run across weekends and bank holidays from late July to the end of October. Larger capacity buses to support the potential need for social distancing and increased demand will mean the service will no longer be able to take in Edale, but will continue to visit Winnats Pass, Fairholmes
PHOTO: DANIEL WILDEY
Hop aboard in the Hope Valley this summer
and other local destinations across the valley. Timetables will appear on our website and social media as soon as they are confirmed.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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Putting the Peak District National Park first for
70 YEARS
Seventy years ago on 17th April, 1951, the Peak District became the UK’s original national park. Now, as more people than ever are seeking a green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s time to celebrate the past, present and future of your No.1 National Park.
First to speak up
PHOTO: WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY
The Peak District National Park was designated first thanks to the actions of pioneering ramblers and campaigners, and over the decades many ‘firsts’ have been achieved.
First arrests Benny Rothman was an outdoor enthusiast who organised walks and cycling trips for young mill workers from the Manchester area. On Sunday 24th April, 1932, he was one of six people arrested for his role in the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout and, later, one of five jailed. The harsh sentences unleashed a wave of public sympathy fuelling the right-to-roam movement and support for national parks. Aged 21, speaking at Derby Assizes, Benny said: “We ramblers, after a hard week’s work, in smoky towns and cities, go out rambling for relaxation and fresh air. And we find the finest rambling country is closed to us... Our request, or demand, for access to all peaks and uncultivated moorland is nothing unreasonable.”
1600s to 1860 Parliamentary Enclosure Acts ‘fence off’ half of England’s countryside.
1600s–1800s
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Ethel Haythornthwaite, national parks campaigner.
First lady
National Trust) from development, and later helped acquire land around Sheffield that became its green belt. In 1945, she was appointed to the government’s National Parks Committee which made the successful case for the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. She also helped make green belt land part of national government policy in 1955.
Ethel Haythornthwaite was an environmental campaigner and pioneer of the countryside movement. In 1924, she founded the group that would become the Friends of the Peak District (FoPD), aimed at protecting the Peak District countryside from development. In 1928, she fronted the appeal to save Longshaw Estate (now looked after by the
1872 The world’s first national park established at Yellowstone, USA.
1860s 1865 The Commons and Open Spaces Society formed.
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Benny Rothman, rambler and early activist.
1930s The depression created mass unemployment and, for many people, the only release was to go to the countryside for cheap, healthy exercise. The northern moors were strictly preserved for grouse shooting, this led to demands for access and protest meetings.
1876 Hayfield and Kinder Scout Ancient Footpaths Association formed.
1870s
1880s–1900s 1880s–1900s Manchester YMCA Rambling Club formed 1880, Yorkshire Rambler Club, 1900.
1930s
70th ANNIVERSARY
Find out more 70 remarkable people PHOTO: PROVIDED BY MICHAEL DOWER
Discover more about these historic figures and find more personalities who are passionate about the National Park at www.peakdistrict.gov. uk/70People70Years
John Dower, father of UK national parks.
CELEBRATING NATIONAL PARKS
Tom Tomlinson – first national park warden.
First legislation
First warden
John Dower said: “National parks are not for any privileged or otherwise restricted section of the population, but for all who come to refresh their minds and spirit, and exercise their bodies in a peaceful setting of natural beauty.” Published in 1945, John Dower’s report ‘National Parks in England and Wales’ defined what national parks are, and is still current today. He was also on the National Parks Committee, led by Sir Arthur Hobhouse, which proposed 12 national parks, and laid the foundations for the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
Tom Tomlinson was the first Peak District National Park warden, appointed in 1954. He walked the moors of Kinder Scout and Bleaklow every working day for nearly 20 years. His job included helping lost or injured walkers off the mountain, preventing vandalism and aiding farmers to recover sheep buried in the snow. As the other National Parks were established the new wardens would visit to find out how he did the job. The voluntary warden service of parttime volunteers (from ramblers clubs) was also created in 1954 – the volunteers wore a green armband. Briefings took place at the Nag’s Head, Edale. By 1963, there were 120 part-time and full-time wardens.
First visitor information Fred Heardman was an access campaigner and national park supporter. He was on the Peak Park Planning Board that set up the Park in 1951. He was landlord of the Nag’s Head, Edale, and in 1953, set up the National Park’s first information service there in the snug. Fred dealt with thousands of visitors, providing them with local information. He was a mine of information for ramblers and climbers, an experienced guide and a mountain rescue organiser, and wrote walking guidebooks too. He had the nickname ‘Bill the Bogtrotter’. He was awarded the BEM in 1960. There is a plantation, near Edale, named Fred Heardman’s Plantation.
The Peak District and its pioneers paved the way for the family of 15 UK national parks we enjoy today. Also celebrating 70th anniversaries this year are the Lake District (9th May), Snowdonia (18th October), and Dartmoor (30th October). www.nationalparks.uk
70th anniversary
You can find more ways to celebrate at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/70
Fred Heardman BEM (pictured right) – first unofficial information officer.
1951 The Peak District was the first British national park to be set up. Negotiations started for the first access agreements in the country for the public to walk on private moorland.
1932 The Mass Trespass took place on Kinder Scout. The Rights of Way Act passed.
1940s 1945 The Dower Report suggested how national parks could work in England and Wales. A new government set up the National Parks Committee, chaired by Sir Arthur Hobhouse.
1947 The Hobhouse Report suggested 12 national parks. The new Town & Country Planning Act set up a land-use planning system, including national parks.
1950s 1949 The government passed the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.
1954 The Peak District National Park’s warden service (now rangers) was set up.
1960s 1960 Fieldhead information centre opened in Edale.
1965 The country’s first national trail – the Pennine Way – opened. It starts in Edale.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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Here for
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
EVERYONE The pioneering spirit which led to the Peak District becoming the UK’s first national park lives on... with accessibility still very much at its heart.
Leading the way
Yvonne Witter, chair of Peak District Mosaic and member of the Peak District National Park Authority.
1971 The National Park purchased the Stanage-North Lees estate. 1973 Tissington Trail High Peak Trail opened. opened.
1970s
Her love of the Peak District National Park has opened up many roles for Yvonne Witter – but one message runs through them all. “Many people do not think the outdoors is for them, but I want to encourage everyone,” says Yvonne, chair of Peak District Mosaic, which leads walks and events to help people from black and ethnic minority communities to experience and enjoy the outdoors. A member of the Peak District National Park Authority since 2019 and a GetOutside Champion for Ordnance Survey, Yvonne
1974 The Sandford Committee said national parks needed larger budgets and more staff.
1991 Access agreements reached with Chatsworth Estates for moors above the parkland, and with Sheffield City Council for Houndkirk, Burbage and Hathersage moors.
1980s 1981 The Wildlife and Countryside Act passed – first comprehensive protection of listed species and habitats, and conservation schemes like Countryside Stewardship. Monsal Trail opened.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
has also been instrumental in developing the recent Peak Wise training programme to recruit new community champions for Peak District Mosaic, in partnership with Peak District National Park Authority staff. Yvonne’s tireless enthusiasm for the outdoors has earned recognition on many levels. In 2013, she featured in the National Trust’s Octavia Hill Awards as runner up in the Inspirational Hero category, celebrating people who inspire and nurture the next generation of countryside enthusiasts. In November 2020, she was included in the BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List.
1990s 1984 The National Park purchased the Eastern Moors Estate to provide access, and safeguard ecological and archaeological sites.
70th ANNIVERSARY
Mills tones • The millstone is the emblem of the Peak District National Park. • It features in our boundary markers on key gateway routes into the National Park and in our logo.
Gillian Scotford and Jane Cooper, accessibility champions.
Maxwell Ayamba, journalist, academic, campaigner.
Access all areas
Continuing to campaign
Gillian Scotford and Jane Cooper are co-founders of Accessible Derbyshire, an award-winning tourism charity, set up in 2013, dedicated to improving the travel experiences of disabled people in Derbyshire and beyond. They are also joint managing directors of Access for All UK, which provides access consultancy, training and support services to clients in all sectors throughout the country. Between them, Gillian and Jane have six children, three of whom are disabled. They became the inspiration for the charity, business and years of fundraising efforts. A project close to their hearts is Changing Places toilets – life-changing facilities which enable severely disabled people to travel and to be changed with dignity. Gillian and Jane are co-founders of the English Inclusive Tourism Action Group, reviewers for the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain and have been judges in tourism awards. In 2018, they were invited to share their knowledge globally as guest speakers at the World Summit on Accessible Tourism in Brussels.
Journalist and academic Maxwell Ayamba made headlines of his own in 2018/19 when a nationwide theatre production – Black Men Walking – received rave reviews across the UK. The play was based on the real-life walking group, 100 Black Men Walking for Health – co-founded by Maxwell in Sheffield in 2004 – and brought issues of representation in the countryside into the spotlight. Maxwell, however, has long championed countryside access for minority communities. He was the first black person to serve on the board of Ramblers Association UK (2005-09) and was a member of the Peak District National Park Equality Comprehensive Audit Standards Committee in 2004. In 2016, he founded the Sheffield Environmental Movement (SEM), promoting access to the Peak District for black and ethnic minority communities. He has published numerous academic papers, is regularly involved in media work and has served on a number of local and national boards and committees, advising on equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Their current basic form can be traced to before the Norman Conquest (1066). Corn mills are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1068. • Quarrying for grit stone was first recorded in the area in the 12th and 13th centuries, though archaeological evidence suggests that millstone production began during the Roman period. • Extraction continued into the 19th century, with stone used for a variety of purposes including grinding corn, sharpening tools in industrial centres such as Sheffield and crushing timber for wood pulp as far away as Scandanavia. • The millstone has changed over the centuries. A mushroom-shaped conical stone is an earlier shape that appears to be peculiar to the Peak District and may be medieval in origin. The more familiar wheel-like cylinder shape was produced in the 18th and 19th centuries.
An abandoned millstone at Stanage.
2017 South West Peak Landscape 2016 Partnership MoorLIFE 2020 launched. project launched Castleton visitor to protect Peak centre re-opened 2011 with new Tunnels re-opened District and museum and café. on the Monsal Trail. Pennine moors.
2000s 2000 Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act gave walkers rights to roam on open countryside.
2003 Moors for the Future Partnership set up to restore moorlands.
2010s 2004 Peak District was the first to introduce Open Access under the CRoW Act. Access land doubled to 550 square km.
2019 Millers Dale Station refurbished as a café and information point for the Monsal Trail.
2020s 2020 Bakewell visitor centre refurbished during lockdown.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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Hayfield village.
Protecting
THE PEAK The Peak District National Park contains some of Britain’s most beautiful, best-loved landscapes; its special qualities have been protected by the UK’s highest level of policy and planning law since 1951. Head of Planning Brian Taylor talks to Alison Riley about what it takes to protect and care for the first national park.
O
“
ur national parks were founded in the same post-war social reforms that saw the creation of council housing and the NHS,” says Brian. “We owe much to those who campaigned over the decades and to pioneering planners for the national parks we enjoy today. If we could speak to them now, I wonder if they would agree it’s as much about communicating as it is about complying with the law.” Brian, who hails from a rural community in the Lake District, started working for the Peak District National Park Authority as a village officer over 20 years ago, and until recently was head of policy and communities. Now in the Authority’s lead planning role, which encompasses both policy and development control, Brian knows it requires a joined up approach. He says: “It’s about making sure we have a
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
good policy and regulatory framework for our statutory purpose – to protect and care for the National Park – and to deliver this through our planning services by providing specialist conservation advice. “We deliver policy on the ground through landscape scale partnerships like the Moors for the Future Partnership and the South West Peak Landscape Partnership. We also manage small incremental changes and protect the detail that helps conserve the character of the National Park. We do this by advising, informing and influencing individuals and land managers to achieve positive outcomes for the environment, for communities, partner organisations and businesses.” The Authority receives around 1,000 planning applications each year. Brian says: “We approve around 80% of planning applications and most of the decisions are made by our planning officers. Applications
After work, Brian Taylor likes to get out and enjoy the Peak District.
which are large, controversial, or go against policy are decided by Planning Committee.” Brian and his colleagues are keen to share that good planning protection and conservation can just as easily be about what you don’t see, as much as what you can. Behind every single decision will be a considered thought process, consultations, negotiations, paperwork and sometimes court cases that take place away from the landscape but ultimately aim to protect it.
PLANNING Contour House, Baslow.
Pylons are being removed near Dunford Bridge.
Grand designs
Partnerships and collaborations have been and still are essential in making good things happen in the Peak District National Park. There have been so many, great and small, over the 70 years with farmers, residents, landowners, parish councils, community groups, volunteers, campaign groups, businesses, large estates, power
and water companies. One giant-sized project has been removing huge high voltage pylons. National Grid put high voltage lines through the Woodhead former rail tunnels, removing structures from the high, open moors, and in the latest stage we are supporting the removal of seven pylons near Dunford Bridge.
Standing up for the landscape for 70 years Over the years, the National Park has faced many development challenges. In the 1950s, there were hopes for an international motor racing circuit centering on Parsley Hay, near Hartington – now host to one of our most popular cycle hire locations. The picturesque Longdendale valley was at the heart of proposals in the 1970s and 80s for a large scale electricity pumped storage scheme on the moors above the valley.
In the 1990s, the Authority turned down plans to extend Eldon Hill quarry. The 2000s saw a landmark court ruling in our favour to protect Longstone Edge, limiting the amount of rock quarry companies could remove. And in 2018, the Authority’s planning team won a national award from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) for our outstanding achievement in protecting a cultural heritage landscape with the Stanton Moor Principles.
Affordable housing
Backdale Quarry.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place The Peak District is a major source of limestone and the National Park Authority is one of the largest mineral planning authorities in England. However, many quarry permissions were granted before the area was formally designated. In fact, the National Park boundary itself was drawn around Tunstead Quarry near Buxton – it had been worked since 1929, and by 1973 was the largest in Europe.
In the 1990s and 2000s the Authority’s policy planners pioneered the approach to local needs affordable housing, whilst avoiding the high pressure for open market housing in the National Park. This work led to similar policies being put in place across UK National Parks, winning RTPI awards in the process for policies, guidance and innovative use of legal agreements. The Authority continues to work closely with local councils to create well designed affordable homes that fit beautifully within the National Park environment. You can see good examples in villages throughout the National Park, for example in Bakewell, Bradfield, Bradwell, Edale, Waterhouses, Youlgrave and more.
Low Bradfield.
National parks All UK national parks have two key ‘purposes’ under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act: • To conserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage. • To promote opportunities for people to understand and enjoy their special qualities. The legislation allows us to manage the impact of development on landscape and biodiversity, and enables us to conserve and enhance cultural heritage, including buildings in settlements. www.nationalparks.uk
The pioneers Ethel Haythornthwaite, John Dower (pictured), John Foster and others were true pioneers of planning and policy whose efforts helped create the National Parks we know today. Read more in their profiles at www. peakdistrict.gov.uk/70People70Years
PHOTO: DOWER FAMILY ARCHIVE
Together we can do so much
Our design guides promote good architectural design. Together with supplementary guidance, we help householders and developers get it right. In the 1990s, the David Mellor cutlery factory was built at Hathersage. It is a circular building with a lead (or lead lookalike) roof, designed by Sir Michael Hopkins. It stands on the site of the village’s former gas holder (a circular structure). Thirty years later, it still looks great. In 2018, the Contour House in Baslow, built in a linear shape and using local stone for its walls and roof, won our Best Residential Scheme in our popular design awards. Going forward we want to push on with an approach to more sustainable design working closely with local agents.
More information For planning advice in the Peak District National Park, email customer. service@peakdistrict.gov.uk or call 01629 816200. You can find out more at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/planning
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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✓Happy wildlife ✓Happy valley ✓Happy farmer Denis Moors, High Ash Farm.
Agriculture has always been a major industry in the Peak District but the last 70 years have seen major changes, with more to come. Farming and land management in the National Park provides around 3,000 jobs*, just over half are part-time. In the South West Peak, part time farmer Denis Moors talks to Alison Riley about how he manages 50 acres and a hostel.
D
enis describes himself as a part-time farmer as his main business at High Ash Farm is the sixty-bed schools hostel he has run since 1986. A former teacher, originally from Stoke via South London, he saw the Peak District as the ideal location for the business, with city schools and industrial museums on the doorstep. Denis champions wildlife and the environment to visiting youngsters. High Ash Farm is a small upland farm of 50 acres at Barrowmoor, near Longnor. It has
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
*Defra Agricultural Census
a mixture of species-rich hay meadows, acid grassland and rush pasture, through which several watercourses and a tributary of the River Manifold run. “The farming side helps the kids get a smell of it,” Denis says. Apart from grazing and haymaking down the years, and the trees planted by the previous farmer, Denis believes the land has been relatively untouched for a hundred years. “The farm has always been low intensity and we’ve never spent any money on weedkiller or fertilizer. A neighbour takes hay off for us
and grazes the pastures with his cattle. The cattle are White Park, a traditional British breed with long horns. The kids think they are all bulls because of their horns and that if you wear red they will chase you – we have plenty of misperceptions to put right and teach the kids how to be in the countryside.” Unlike others, Denis is not dependent on making a profit from the land by maximizing production. He uses the hay as an example for the youngsters: “Let’s say we sell the hay for £1 a bale, if we put fertiliser
FARMING
The South Wes t erPeshakip Landscape Partn
PHOTO: NEIL BARDEN
PHOTO: DENIS MOORS
The South West Peak Defined by the spectacular gritstone ridge at the Roaches and Axe Edge moors and its rural communities and independent spirit, the South West Peak is where the rivers Dove, Manifold, Goyt, Dane and Wye rise. You can read more about the South West Peak Landscape Partnership (SWPLP) and its projects at www.southwestpeak.co.uk
Doing it our way we get more wildflowers which brings insects, birds, hares and badgers – and that is more valuable to us than selling hay Due to the pandemic, there have been no visiting school groups but it has allowed Denis time to enjoy an area of the farm he calls ‘Happy Valley’ where nature is flourishing with help from the South West Peak Landscape Partnership (SWPLP). Working with Ann Cantrell, grassland officer for the SWPLP’s Glorious Grasslands project and Ashley Deane, Slowing the Flow project manager, and volunteers, they have surveyed habitats and species, developed plans to enhance the land and re-naturalise watercourses, and brought funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to carry out interventions. Since 2019, they have fenced an area to keep the cattle off and encourage more wild plants to grow, raised the water level in the stream and helped it meander. Ann Cantrell says: “Denis’s ‘Happy
Valley’ is turning up some rare species including the violet oil beetle, which relies on unimproved, flower-rich habitats. The release from grazing has enabled spring and late summer flowers to flourish and complete their lifecycles. In turn, they provide an abundance of nectar and pollen for pollinating insects. A walk through the meadow and every footstep releases a cloud of insects from small flies, bees and hoverflies to colourful butterflies and grassland moths. Getting the grazing right is critical to maintaining the quality of the grassland.” Denis is looking forward to seeing what wildlife it will attract this spring and summer: “I want it all tomorrow but we’ll have to wait and see.” He has noticed a kestrel watching birds on the feeders in his garden. “I want to encourage lapwing, snipe and curlew – I hear them and usually only see them on neighbours’ farms. We have scrapes on our land but quite a lot of rushes so you don’t always see them when they’re nesting.” Denis has shown what can be achieved on a relatively small area of land in a short space of time. His land connects other important habitats in the area and helps wildlife move through the landscape more easily. Common blue butterflies benefit from the abundance of wildflowers. PHOTO: SWPLP
For more information about support available for farmers and land managers, speak to a National Park farm adviser on 01629 816 270.
Slowing the flow The SWPLP and Cheshire Wildlife Trust are working with land managers and nature to restore rivers’ natural flood defences and reduce downstream flooding by improving wetlands, floodplains, and riverbank woodlands.
PHOTO: ANN CANTREL
on the ground we could grow more grass, make more hay and gain more profit. The kids ask me why we don’t do that, I explain by doing it our way we get more wildflowers which brings insects, birds, hares and badgers – and that is more valuable to us than what we would make selling hay.”
PHOTO: NICK MOTT
Uncommon grassland fungi have fruited at High Ash Farm. Internationally important ballerina waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis), left, and crimson waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea), right, have been newly recorded on the site. PHOTO: SWPLP
Glorious grasslands This SWPLP project is helping farmers protect and restore traditional hay meadows to allow diverse plants and animals to thrive. These grasslands provide food for livestock and improve drought resistance. The project is also identifying ‘waxcap grasslands’ that are important for rare fungi.
Oxeye daisies flower and seed when the grazing is right. PHOTO: SWPLP www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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BIODIVERSITY
Creating a
BUZZ Bilberry bumblebee (Bombus monticola).
T
he bilberry bumblebee is a local treasure, with a bright copperorange tail reaching halfway up its body and golden yellow rings encircling its wings. It is a priority species for conservation in the Peak District National Park, found in only a few locations in England. Towns and villages on the High Peak and Hope Valley railway lines are home to this pretty bee, so if you’re travelling by train this summer you may come across a bilberry bumblebee feeding on the flowers in the station. Working with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, who led online bee ID training sessions, local volunteers have made bee-friendly planters at the stations and produced ‘spotter’s guide’ posters. The Buzzing Stations project is highlighting how lucky we are to have the bilberry bumblebee on our doorstep and is encouraging people to look after
‘Awake little queen’
Bumblebee Express planter at Buxton station, made by volunteers.
all bumblebees. Set up by station group volunteers in the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, initiated by Friends of Glossop and Buxton stations, the project takes on board the Friends groups at Edale, Hope, Bamford, Hathersage and Grindleford stations.
Bee-friend a bilberry bumblebee To see bilberry bumblebees, a short walk from most of the stations will take you onto the hills where they make their home. Follow the self-led bumblebee trails or look out for volunteer-led bumblebee safaris, where local guides will help you find and photograph these precious bumblebees (subject to COVID-19 guidance). Check out the station planters – you never know who may be sharing a platform with you! Tag us with your photos #BuzzingPeak on social media. You can find out more at www.bumblebeeconservation.org and www.peakdistrictbytrain.org
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Awake little queen is a beautiful new song about the bilberry bumblebee composed by award winning singer-songwriter, Bella Hardy. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, commissioned Bella to write and perform the song to help raise awareness. You can download the full track, music video and lyrics from www.youtube. com/watch?v=Sqoncl9cEds
Folk composer Bella Hardy’s new song celebrates the bilberry bumblebee.
Did you know? • Bumblebees are vital pollinators which help produce our food. • Changes in agriculture have had a drastic impact on bumblebees, leaving them often hungry and homeless. • Bumblebees feed only on flowers so they need lots of flowering plants to thrive. • You can help by growing bee-friendly flowers.
PHOTO: NICK OWENS
Travelling by train this summer? Make a beeline for Buzzing Stations to discover one of the Peak District’s buzziest tiny residents.
PHOTO: PHILIP JOHNSON
NEWS
PHOTO: DANIEL WILDEY
Poet Mark Gwynne Jones recording sounds for the audio artwork.
THE FINAL CHAPTER: Voices from the Peak Look Wild and get closer to nature.
Look Wild and be an iNaturalist You will need: • Smart phone • iNaturalist app • Desire to find out about local species Look Wild is a virtual challenge taking place in all 15 UK national parks, for all ages, and it needs you to join in to make it work. To take part, visit iNaturalist.org, download the app (from the AppStore or Google Play) and share your observations. You’ll get feedback from scientists, experts, and other naturalists. It’s ideal for the budding naturalists in your family. The entries will help show what’s happening to birds, bugs, fungi, flowers and trees at local and national levels and could inform future nature conservation work. Harriet Saltis, conservation volunteers
ranger, says: “If you are new to recording wildlife then this citizen science project is a great way to learn how. You don’t need to know what you are looking at as the app and the community using it will help you identify species. “You can upload photos from your garden, on your walk to school or in any UK national park. It’s fun for families and a good introduction to volunteering. Happy photographing and posting!” iNaturalist is a social networking service for all including the public, naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists. It maps and shares observations of biodiversity. Every entry helps. There are short videos on iNaturalist that explain how to join in. Find out more at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/lookwild
PROTECTION FOR MOUNTAIN HARES The National Park Authority has lent its support to a campaign by the Hare Preservation Trust to see mountain hares receive the same protection as afforded to the main UK population in Scotland. The mountain hare is an iconic and highly emblematic species of the Peak District moorlands – the only population present in England. The Authority believes that similar legislation to that implemented in Scotland would be equally appropriate to apply to the Peak District, for a species of national conservation importance. Any such measures would see the mountain hare added to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981), with the
A mountain hare in its winter coat.
presumption that they then may only be killed in exceptional circumstances and under licence.
Poet and recording artist Mark Gwynne Jones has created a series of audio artworks to celebrate the 70th birthday of the Peak District National Park. More than two years in the making for research, interviews and sound recordings, the poetic soundscape has been released online in three audio chapters. Mark worked on the project with local sound producer Paul Hopkinson. Mark says: “The research took me on a voyage of discovery and in unexpected directions – even to the source of the River Derwent. It also put me in touch with voices from the past including a recording of a local hill farmer talking of the big winters of 1911/1912 for the chapter Snow!, and the recorded voice of a cotton-picker in the American Library of Congress archive for the mills’ story in the final chapter.” Chapter 1 – Burning Drake tells the story of forces underground that have shaped landscape and people, and of how miners tracked and found lead through ancient methods, including a ‘Burning Drake’ or shooting star.’ Chapter 2 – Snow! is about the cold, white stuff, with true stories about the transformative effects snow has on the landscape, on wildlife, and on lives and livelihoods. Chapter 3 – Kinder Scout takes listeners from the source of the River Derwent to the world’s first water powered cotton spinning mill, to the Kinder Trespass, the creation of the UK’s first National Park, and the now vital battle to heal the moorlands. You can listen to all three chapters at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/voicesfromthepeak – headphones recommended! The work has been supported by Arts Council England, Peak District National Park Authority and Derbyshire County Council. To be kept informed about future performances, please email: alison.riley@peakdistrict.gov.uk www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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7
PHOTO: TIM MELLING
You may spot a green hairstreak on the bilberry-covered moorlands.
wild wonders to enjoy
Natural encounters can be around every corner in the Peak District, if you just know where to look... Tom Marshall tells you more.
1
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
From the gentle meanders of the White Peak dales to the tumbling wintry torrents of the upland Dark Peak, there’s one member of riverside royalty that’s easy to spot all year round. Around the size of a starling but dressed to impress with a smart white ‘shirt’ and glossy brown/black head and back, the dipper is constantly living up to its name. Look out for them on streamside boulders or perched low to the water on riverside trees. Alongside their characteristic bobbing movement, they use an extra set of eyelids as ‘goggles’ to allow them to feed deep underwater. A flash of black and white speeding past torpedo-like over the river’s surface may well be a busy dipper travelling across its territory.
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The dipper can be easily spotted all year round with its smart white ‘shirt’. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
The mountain hare has a unique place in the Peak District.
2
Hare today
Although white rabbits are often a figure of fantasy or magic, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve seen one in the Peak District uplands in winter. Rather larger but similar in appearance, the mountain hare has a unique place in the Peak District, its only other UK stronghold outside of the Scottish mountains. Sporting a well-camouflaged brown/grey coat in the summer, it’s during the snow-capped months that the sight of this hare of the high tops is the biggest treat.
PHOTO: TIM MELLING
Bring your goggles
WILDLIFE
3
Top of the plops
Still one of our fastest-declining mammals, remarkably the water vole is quite happy to make a home just a stone’s throw from many Peak District villages, including the bustle of Bakewell. You might see one hungrily munching on bankside vegetation, looking out across the water from an old drain or tunnel entrance, or hurriedly paddling along a canal or river’s edge just above the surface like a furry clockwork toy. One of the clearest tell-tale signs of water voles, however, is hearing a distinctive ‘plop’ as they jump into the water. If you’re still unsure if it’s ‘Ratty’ the water vole (of Wind in the Willows fame), or the much maligned namesake, then barely visible ears and a furry tail mean it’s the real deal.
PHOTO: DAMIAN KUZDAK
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
The magnificent sight of a red deer.
As you walk along the riverbank listen out for the ‘plop’ of a water vole jumping into the water.
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Stag do
5
Winging it
Few insects say ‘summer’ more Wild deer can be found across the than the butterflies. Although the Peak District, but few can beat the Peak District has its fair share of vibrant magnificence of a male red species familiar to many, a real treat of the deer stag. bilberry-covered moorlands is the green By the autumn, e d, b hairstreak. An effective mimic of the breeding season Be wil roud – rictP e away t s fresh spring leaves when feeding tensions are i D k #Pea n often hid te, so and resting, once in flight the silvery high and males a la c o fe wildli until it’s to g hand sheen is a sure giveaway. will take the n in unsee gest help ure on Bilberry-strewn footpaths and opportunity to ig at the b e to n w our iv open woodlands at lower levels may show off their g n o a you c it is to foll n be just as likely to play host to these prowess by is o v e r r you s. Mo springtime jewels. calling, strutting top tip e 22. pag their stuff or, as a combative last resort, a clash of antlers. Always For some wildlife, the Peak District best enjoyed at a safe distance, it can still National Park is only a spot for a feel like a ringside seat as the clatter of summer visit. After a winter in northern heads or bugling calls carry across the hills. Africa, spring sees the arrival of the ring For an even more immersive experience, ouzel – or ‘mountain blackbird’ – to our look out for the autumn ‘bolving’ rock edges and escarpments. Similar to the competitions when people can put up garden blackbird but with a silvery sheen their best vocal impressions of our resident and distinctive white ‘moon’ band across red deer! their chest, male birds waste no time in A ring ouzel. singing to secure a territory from April PHOTO: TIM MELLING each year. Such is the specialised nature of the ring ouzel’s nest – set in the rock faces themselves – dedicated partnerships between researchers, rock climbers and volunteers help to allow them to nest safely each summer.
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Mountain climber
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Nature on the line
One of the easiest ways to get close to wildlife in the Peak District is to explore how nature has grown alongside the more than 30 miles of former rail lines in the National Park. These level, surfaced and easy to navigate routes offer a chance to discover abundant wild flowers, be wrapped in the dawn chorus of summer-visiting warblers, pied flycatchers or redstarts, or see bees and butterflies that are now the new commuters of these routes. Bats and house martins may call old station buildings home and even rare orchids thrive where the railway once powered through. Find out which trails are closest to you: www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/trails
Find out more Still not sure what you’ve spotted? Why not head to the National Parks’ LookWild campaign and take part through the iNaturalist app! (more on page 15). Join some of our ranger guided walks for a chance to encounter the wildlife mentioned in ParkLife www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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VISITING
Return to
PHOTOS: TOM MARSHALL
NATURE
Exploring wild flowers at our North Lees campsite.
As lockdown restrictions ease, visiting the National Park is top of many people’s lists. To inspire you to explore further afield, we have brought together some of the best information for self-guided walks and cycle routes. Take a stroll for some fresh air
and Litton. Leaflets available in local businesses or download from www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/villagetrails
Enjoy many family-friendly, accessible paths and trails:
• Black Harry trails Routes for horse riding and mountain biking in the Longstone Edge area. Ten routes cover nearly 20km. Download the leaflet from www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/ blackharrytrails
• Miles Without Stiles Handbook available to buy from National Park Visitor Centres or download routes for free from www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/mws • Walks Around guides Available to buy from National Park Visitor Centres and from our online shop www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/shop Or try the new short walks for families from Visitor Centres – pick up a leaflet inside. • Millers Dale children’s trail Free leaflet available from The Refreshment Room at Millers Dale Station on the Monsal Trail. • Peak District Kids A website for families with kids featuring hiking, biking, eating and accommodation, and great safety tips www.peakdistrictkids.co.uk • Village trails Discover walks around six villages: Hartington, Longnor, Hathersage, Stoney Middleton, Tideswell
• Audio trails Seventeen trails including Burbage, Grindleford, Kinder Scout and Win Hill. Download to your smartphone, with a map of stopping points to listen to each track www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/enjoythe-moors/audio-trails
Supported walks (when possible) Our programme has been postponed due to the pandemic; however, dementia-friendly self-guided routes will be available on the website soon www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/ healthwalks • Peak District Health Walks Guided walks with National Park rangers, in partnership with Derbyshire Dales Walking for Health. • Dementia-friendly Health Walks Guided walks with National Park rangers, in partnership with Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Walking for Health.
Bikes are available for all at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/bikehire
Explore more on two wheels Discover more of the Peak District with pedal power: • If you’re looking for easy-going, level, traffic-free routes for bikes, buggies and wheelchairs then the trails are for you. Discover some of the National Park’s most picturesque scenery from the Monsal, Tissington, High Peak, Thornhill and Manifold trails. • If you are more of an explorer, there are circular day routes or half day cycling leisure rides on quiet lanes with sections of trafficfree trails. Visit our website to find Ordnance Survey maps and helpful advice. These carefully researched routes offer the very best of the Peak District on two wheels. • If you’re looking for an extended challenge and want to enjoy the journey as much as the destination then multi-day routes offering more of a challenge could be for you. • Plan your ride at www.peakdistrict.gov. uk/cycleroutes For advice on mountain biking, check out Peak District MTB for where to ride and useful safety information at peakdistrictmtb.org
Check out the map over the page to locate your nearest Visitor Centre. If you’re new to visiting the countryside, you will find useful advice on page 22 about staying safe and how to be #PeakDistrictProud as part of your visit. Remember to share your adventures with us on social media (page 36) and tag us with #peakdistrict.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Discover the magnificent
7
VISITING
After a winter in lockdown, we have longed to be back visiting the places we love but with so many unknowns in the ongoing pandemic, many of us are looking to avoid the risks of crowded places. Here are seven beautiful out-of-the-way places to explore...
T
he Peak District National Park covers a large area of 555 square miles, which offers plenty of opportunities for you to find some peace and quiet. So open up your road atlas or Ordnance Survey map and do a little research before you travel. You will be rewarded with the thrill of discovering new places and be able to enjoy less busy spaces. Here are seven hidden gems to start off your summer of discovery in our 70th anniversary year (coronavirus restrictions permitting). You can locate them on the map over the page. Let us know where your favourite spots are. We’d love to see your pictures on social media – tag us with #peakdistrict.
Damflask
Enjoy views across the water on this reservoir-side route and look out for the rowers. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/damflask
Magpie Mine
The atmospheric remains of the last lead mine in Derbyshire make a great subject for a photograph. www.pdmhs.co.uk/magpie-mine-peakdistrict
Manifold Way
Follow a minor road and a former narrow gauge railway line in a tranquil limestone dale. See Thor’s Cave high on the hill. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/manifoldway
Tideswell Dale
A peaceful dale to explore down to the River Wye which used to power cotton mills. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/tideswelldale
Tissington Trail
Traffic-free walking, cycling and riding on the former line of the London and North Western railway. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/tissingtontrail
Warslow Moors
Off the beaten track, Warslow village is historic and picturesque. Download the free GetOutside app from Ordnance Survey for family-friendly things to do outside. getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/ warslow-staffordshire-moorlands
National Park boundary walk
A varied 200-mile long distance walking route all the way around the edge of the Peak District National Park. Take your time and do it in stages. www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk/ boundary-walk
elf! oursnge y t a Tre ave a ra walks
We h aps and lore. u exp oks, m of bo to help yo irect from yd ts k leafle e you bu helps loo m i e t s a y r h e rc Eve ur pu dscap us, yo ter the lan rict.gov. af dist .peak www uk/shop
Manifold Way.
Need more inspiration? You can find further information at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting or call in at a Visitor Centre.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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National Park boundary walk
Damflask
It may be your first time back in the Peak District for a little while, but there’s always a friendly welcome at all of our visitor and cycle hire centres, along with our campsite. Find those closest to your visit below.
Warslow Moors
Magpie Mine
Hidden gems (see p19)
Ambassador centre
Manifold Way
Tissington Trail
Tideswell Dale
As Covid-19 lockdown easing measures change, opening times at our facilities may vary this year. Call ahead or check on our website to avoid any disappointment.
VISITING
Picnic perfect – a great way to enjoy the Peak District when coronavirus measures allow this summer. Photograph taken prior to Covid-19 restrictions.
...how to be #PeakDistrictProud If the Peak District National Park is your destination this spring and summer, here are a few simple tips to make sure your day is stress-free, safe and enjoyable! Before you leave home • Decide on your destination within the Peak District – and particularly where you will park the car. Many places can get very busy and some parking allocations fill up by mid-morning or even earlier. Having a location in mind and setting off early can avoid queues, waiting to park or driving around to find alternative spots. • Grab a bag for your rubbish – one of the FACT:arly e biggest ways you can It costs n r to a yea help is to take home £40,000 er and collect litt ational what you bring. Bins om N are costly to empty rubbish fr ority and maintain, and Park Auth . e sites alon remote areas may not have them at all. • Leave the BBQ at home – open fires are not permitted anywhere in the open countryside in the Peak District, and fines may apply in some areas – don’t risk it! • Check before you pitch – ‘wild camping’ requires the permission of the landowner. Don’t assume your chosen location is suitable unless you’ve already secured permission. There are no wild camping options on National Park Authority land.
✓Safety check • Do I have the right gear? • Do I know what the weather will be like? • Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day? www.adventuresmart.co.uk 22
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
When you’ve arrived
Before you head home...
• Say hello at a Visitor Centre – our teams are on hand to help your day go smoothly, from maps and guides on the best routes, to refreshments or picking up those lastminute items you’ve forgotten! • Take the lead – keeping dogs under close control on a lead from 1st March to 31st July (and all year round near livestock) helps keep you and your pet safe, and protects farm animals and wildlife. • Get in the zone – parking your car in a designated bay (not on verges or across entrance gates) ensures emergency and farm vehicles can get through on narrow roads and traffic can flow smoothly.
Take home a taste of the Peak District or a special memory by supporting our many local businesses, with hundreds of products made right on our doorstep. However you’ve been #PeakDistrictProud during your visit, be sure to let us know on social media! #peakdistrict Locally-made products can be found at our visitor centres. Why not treat yourself!
Don’t be selfish with your selfie! Young livestock can be easily frightened and mothers very protective, so give animals plenty of respect and space.
✓Protect yourself and the countryside • Follow any signs. • Leave gates and property as you find them. • Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home. • Keep dogs under close control. • Consider other people. www.peakdistrictproud.co.uk
✓Be Covid safe • Follow government guidelines. • Protect local communities. Keep your distance. Sanitise your hands frequently. • Opening times and availability of some facilities and attractions may vary as Covid-19 restrictions change. If it looks busy it is too busy, be prepared to change your plans and find somewhere less crowded. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/covid19
PHOTOS: DANIEL WILDEY
Know before you go...
NEWS
Fake eggs helping to save wading birds
Get involved with Buxton Wild Weeks. Pictured is Jackie Wragg.
Going wild for wildlife in Buxton This year, South West Peak Landscape Partnership (SWPLP), Buxton Civic Association, Transition Buxton and the Buxton Advertiser have joined forces to launch Buxton Wild Weeks focusing on supporting wildlife. There will be two Buxton Wild Weeks: from Monday 24th May and from Monday 5th July. Local schoolchildren will take part in environmental activities and members of the community will be encouraged to connect with, enjoy and support their local wildlife. Support from the Bingham Trust has purchased biodiversity kits for schools and the community to borrow to help them discover the wildlife in their school
grounds and local area. Jackie Wragg, SWPLP youth engagement officer, says: “Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, one thing that continues to be certain is the huge benefits we can all experience individually from being closer to nature and wildlife. “By thinking about wildlife and sustainability in school and at home, as well as in the wider community, during Buxton Wild Weeks means we can all help make a difference.” SWPLP is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information about Buxton Wild Weeks, email Jackie Wragg on jackie.wragg@peakdistrict.gov.uk
It sounds like the start of an April Fool’s prank or fake news, but fake eggs in artificial nests really are being used to find out which predators are making life hard for wading birds. Wading bird populations, such as lapwing, curlew and snipe, are in decline across Europe but Peak District moors and farmland provide important habitat for them to breed. Scientists are looking to find the optimum habitat that will give these ground-nesting birds their best chance to raise their young successfully. Leah Kelly, a PhD student at the University of Sheffield, is studying whether there is a relationship between habitat management (cutting of rushes) and the incidents of predation on wader nests. The results could inform future agrienvironment schemes. Leah says: “Using artificial nests means that the experiment can be scientifically designed and measured. They mimic real wader nests but the egg is made of plasticine so it can be examined for tooth or beak markings and show what kind of predator finds the nest.” Her work is co-supervised by the RSPB and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as part of the South West Peak Landscape Partnership. You can read more online about the artificial nest experiment in the South West Peak and Geltsdale, Cumbria, in the Zoological Society of London’s journal: Animal Conservation, at: https:// zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1111/acv.12672. Further information and technical guidance notes for land managers and farm advisors will be published in the future.
Moorland restorers win national award Despite the challenges of a global pandemic and a harsh winter, Moors for the Future Partnership (MFFP) managed to adapt and innovate to continue their important conservation work restoring 6.74 km² of peatland to boost biodiversity, benefit local wildlife, improve water quality, reduce flood and fire risk and increase carbon capture to tackle climate change. Their efforts have been recognised with a Campaign for National Parks Park Protector Award. David Chapman, MFFP chair, said: “I am very proud of the way that the Partnership has continued to keep things going at pace, successfully carrying out over £5million of restoration works on the Peak District and South Pennine moorlands despite a snowy carpet blanketing the moors this winter, and coordinating the programme of works
Moors for the Future Partnership beat the snow to continue their work and win national recognition. from their kitchen tables. The Park Protector Award is well-deserved for their innovation and agility in keeping the show on the road during a global pandemic.”
Using artificial nests and eggs helps identify predators of wading birds. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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Always a warm welcome From humble beginnings in the local pub, to bustling centres that now welcome hundreds of thousands of people each year, our visitor centres have long been the first port of call for intrepid Peak District explorers. Liam Benson discovers what makes them special.
F
rom far-and-wide or just down the road, the Peak District has been a destination of choice for over a hundred years. Since the early 1950s, our National Park visitor centres have been adapting to increasing numbers of visitors and their desire to learn more about this inspiring place; secured for the nation by those who had the early vision of what a national park could be.
Whether you know our centres well, or have yet to step inside for a friendly welcome, they have undergone great change to ensure the very best visitor experience for everyone.
Bakewell
The former Old Market Hall and 17th century Grade II listed building is at the heart of this bustling and picturesque town
on the banks of the River Wye. Formerly a market hall, courtroom, butchers, library and even a chip shop, it is easy to see how the open space and expansive arches reveal clues to its varied and remarkable past. Celebrating its own 50th anniversary as a visitor centre, it remains a hub of information on the doorstep of the local community.
Timeline of our visitor centres over the years... 1954
Edale visitor centre starts life as a volunteer-ran service in the Old Nag’s Head Inn in the village.
1971
Cas tleton
1950s
1960s 1966
Fieldhead visitor centre in Edale officially opens.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
1967
Original premises are acquired for Castleton visitor centre on Castle Street with temporary display – max capacity just 6-8 people!
1969
Castleton visitor centre is refreshed and modernised and officially opens to the public.
Bakewell visitor centre opens in the Old Market Hall in the town.
Fieldhead
1970s
1980s 1980
Fieldhead visitor centre houses the ranger briefing centre and often helps with Mountain Rescue call outs. Interpretation is installed to reflect the role the centre plays in mountain safety.
1982
Derwent visitor centre opened as part of recognised development work to conserve the character of the area and improve the facilities for visitors.
1986
Ranger briefing centre is introduced at Derwent visitor centre.
SUPPORT
On sale now Walks Around Guides Compiled with local ranger knowledge, they are the perfect starting point to your explorations. £2.80, 8 guides available.
Stanage Sunrays T-shirt Sales of T-shirts benefit global conservation projects; 50 trees have been planted so far. £20. Edale visitor centre.
The springboard for adventures in the Hope Valley and the National Park’s flagship centre. A warm welcome is guaranteed as you step inside this contemporary centre which boasts interactive displays and video walls, a museum as curated by the Castleton Historical Society, great shopping – and a fabulous café using local produce and food suppliers. The village’s Christmas lights ‘switch-on’ is a seasonal must for those ready to wrap-up and brave the winter weather!
Derwent
Run in partnership with Severn Trent Water, situated at Fairholmes (in the Upper Derwent Valley), and central to the Howden, Derwent and Ladybower Reservoirs complex, this site is a haven for ramblers, wildlife lovers and cyclists alike. With a refreshment kiosk and a bike hire facility, the location has a distinct close-to nature feel, and is just minutes from the imposing and iconic Derwent Dam.
2004
A completely refurbished centre will be welcoming visitors from early summer 2021.
Edale
Nestled at the foot of the Pennine Way, with close links to neighbouring Sheffield and Manchester by rail, Edale is now the home to the national centre for moorland research. It’s hard to believe the forerunner of this centre began its life in the local pub. The village is enclosed by the Kinder Scout plateau rising to a height of 2,008ft (636 metres) to the north and Mam Tor ridge to the south. Did you know Fieldhead campsite is next door to the visitor centre? It’s an ideal base to start exploring the Hope Valley – why not leave the car at home and hop on the train? Be sure on your next visit to come say hello and be inspired by this wonderful part of the world. For more information, visit peakdistrict.gov.uk/visitorcentres
2006
New and bigger centre at Castleton opens incorporating Castleton Historical Society’s artefacts to showcase the village’s rich history, launched by Brian Blessed.
Help support a #PlasticFreePeakDistrict with these reusable cups made from recycled materials. £12, various colours.
All available in our visitor centres or at shop.peakdistrict.gov.uk
2020
Completed development of a new state of the art centre at Edale visitor centre, designed to reflect upland setting as well as the home to Moors for the Future research.
Cas tleton
2000s
2010s 2011
Cas tleton
Peak District rCup
Installation of a new staircase at Bakewell visitor centre improves access to the mezzanine floor and better showcases local arts and crafts.
2014
Tour de France Grand Depart trophy awarded to the hosting location of the opening stage of tour is proudly placed on display at Bakewell visitor centre.
Brand new retail displays at Bakewell visitor centre help to maximise space and show off the remarkable architecture.
PHOTOS: LIAM BENSON
Castleton
2020
New and improved online shop launched to help you make the most of your visit.
2021
Derwent visitor centre welcomes a brand new look (summer 2021).
2020s
2017
Castleton visitor centre is refurbished to increase accessibility to the retail and museum area and a café serving local produce is also introduced. Launched by Countryfile’s John Craven.
Bakewell www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
25
The healing power of
PHOTO: DANIEL WILDEY
NATURE From post-war recovery to the tentative easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the countryside remains as important as ever to our health and wellbeing. In these challenging times, our landscapes are themselves in need of care and attention – and the Peak District National Park Foundation is helping us all to give something back.
T
he creation of national parks was a key part of Britain’s recovery following the Second World War. Now, as the Peak District celebrates its 70th birthday, national parks again have a crucial role to play in the nation’s recovery, this time from the ravages of Covid-19. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of the countryside and nature for our health and wellbeing. But our treasured landscapes themselves need love and care... and that’s where we come in. The Peak District National Park Foundation registered with the Charity Commission in 2019 and raises funds for conservation and engagement projects across the Peak District. Our ambitious inaugural fundraising campaign – #70kfor70 – set out to raise £70,000 to mark the Peak District’s 70th birthday as the UK’s first national park. And, as we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we’re thrilled to report that the campaign has raised £130,000 – and has already funded some vital projects. We’ve contributed to conservation programmes such as moorland restoration through Moors for the Future, heathland restoration at Stanage Edge and conservation work on the Monsal Trail. We’ve kitted out the Peak District’s junior rangers, supported access improvements 26
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
with Miles Without Stiles and supported Peak District Mosaic, a charity which works to make the national park more accessible to people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. We’ve also funded Fit For Work, enabling offenders on licence to develop conservation skills. But #70kfor70 is just the start.
We want to see more land managed for wildlife, more rare habitats protected and more people able to enjoy their national park responsibly As more people discover the Peak District, we need to inspire them to Explore, Enjoy and Support their national park – to leave it in a better condition for future generations. We want to see more land managed for wildlife, more rare habitats protected and more people able to enjoy their national park responsibly. With 555 square miles to cover, this isn’t a small task but, with over 13 million visitors each year and thousands of businesses, we hope to inspire more
and more people to support our important work. The Peak District National Park Foundation continues to work hard to secure and direct goodwill to places where it can make a real difference. Foundation chair Jen Lowthrop says: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone and, like most charities, our fundraising has taken a hit. However, we’ve been inspired and humbled during these difficult times by the continued generosity of people, who have helped us to reach our first major fundraising target – and more. “The Peak District’s 70th birthday is a time to reflect and also to look ahead. Without the protections of a National Park designation, the Peak District would look very different. Nevertheless, there are some massive challenges and we have a long list of conservation, nature recovery and engagement projects which need funding. We can all help by being #PeakDistrictProud, enjoying the National Park responsibly and, if you can, by donating. There are lots of ways you can play your part, from monthly donations to fundraising for us. Working together, we can realise our vision of a National Park enjoyed and conserved by everyone.” Visit www.peakdistrictfoundation.org. uk to find out how you can help.
FUNDRAISING
Thomas Bateman and his Sons by Thomas Joseph Banks. PHOTO: MUSEUMS SHEFFIELD
Thomas Bateman Team members from White Peak Planning at work with the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers.
Want to be a Peak Partner? Could your business help to look after the National Park by becoming one of our Peak Partners? In return for an annual membership fee, you’ll receive our exclusive Supporter Logo to show your customers that you care about the Peak District National Park. There’s a bronze, silver or gold package to choose from – all tailored to suit the size of your business – and a bespoke platinum Peak Partnership for larger businesses. All our Peak Partners have the chance to see the difference their support is making by spending time in the Peak District with National Park rangers.
We’d like to give a big welcome to our new Peak Partners: • White Peak Planning • Peak District Kids • Beyond the Edge • Peak Mountaineering • PAF Consultants • Feel Good Do Good
Derbyshire Archaeology Day in February raised more than £1,800 for the Foundation. The money raised will help us to restore the tomb of renowned antiquarian, Thomas Bateman, in Middleton-by-Youlgrave. This year’s Derbyshire Archaeology Day was hosted virtually by the Peak District National Park Authority and Derbyshire County Council. Attendees to the free event were invited to donate £7 to the Foundation in lieu of the usual ticket price.
Monthly donations
For more information about how you can align your company to the work of the Foundation visit www.peakdistrictfoundation.org.uk/ peak-partners
The restoration work carried out at Black Hill.
One of the easiest ways for you to help us care for the Peak District National Park is to give a regular donation. Having monthly supporters means we can support long term conservation and engagement programmes. Nature recovery won’t happen overnight but with your commitment we can plan for a National Park that is enjoyed and conserved by everyone. It’s quick and easy to do through the link below. If you are a UK taxpayer, you can add gift aid and the government will add 25% to your donation at no cost to you. Set up your donation in a few simple steps here– https://peakdistrict. enthuse.com/donate
Keep in touch Before
After
The Big Give Christmas Challenge Thanks to our generous supporters, we smashed the Restore Our Moors fundraising target as part of The Big Give Christmas Challenge. The challenge was to raise £4,000 in match-funded donations from 1st-8th December but, thanks to donors across the country, a total of £4,872 was raised. This money will fund vital moorland restoration work in the Peak District National Park, including the planting of hundreds of sphagnum moss plugs. Sphagnum moss is a major weapon in the fight against climate change as it absorbs and locks up carbon from the atmosphere.
• Sign up to the e-newsletter – www.peakdistrictfoundation.org. uk/contact/ • Donate – Text ‘Donate peak 1’ to 88802 and you will receive a text back asking you to confirm how much you would like to give • Follow us on social media twitter.com/pdnp_foundation facebook.com/ peakdistrictfoundation/ instagram.com/ peakdistrictfoundation 27
Combatting climate change in
STALYBRIDGE
The Peak District’s capacity to store carbon in its peatlands is crucial in combatting climate change. Charlie Kenyon speaks to land agent Nina Ward about how the Stalybridge Estate is working with the Moor Carbon project to restore moorland on the hills bordering Manchester and the National Park. “
T
he restoration work we’ve been carrying out at Stalybridge is part of the Estate’s longstanding commitment to reverse the impact of the industrial revolution and damage caused by air pollution,” says Nina. The peat was severely damaged after decades of pollution in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries from the mills and factories in the towns and cities nearby. The pollution killed off the vegetation and made the peatlands extremely susceptible to wildfires and erosion. These catastrophic consequences are being reversed through the Moors for the Future Partnership’s Moor Carbon project. Extensive work has taken place at Stalybridge over recent years. Nina says: “It is difficult terrain to work on but with the Moor Carbon project and the benefit of Moors for the Future Partnership’s
Saddleworth Moor. PHOTO: GRAHAM DUNN/MOORS FOR THE FUTURE
28
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
expertise it means that we can be more successful in re-establishing heather on bare peat.
It’s vital we appreciate how important peatland habitats are for people and wildlife “It’s vital we appreciate how important peatland habitats are for people and wildlife, both now and in the future. As an Estate with a large agricultural interest, alongside the moorland, we will continue our conservation work and enhance it wherever possible.” In England, healthy peatlands hold 300 million tonnes of carbon – they are a
valuable resource in fighting the effects of climate change. Peatland restoration is a huge task across a vast landscape. Jamie Freestone, conservation works officer for the Moors for the Future Partnership, is working on the ground with the Stalybridge Estate to deliver the Moor Carbon project. Jamie says: “What we are doing gives me a real sense of putting in place some defences against climate change for future generations.” Nina agrees: “The Estate values the environmental, recreational and socioeconomic worth of the moorland. We are committed to its future and encouraged that its value is being widely acknowledged. Huge efforts are being made to preserve and enhance this habitat, alongside measures to address climate change, to include flood defence and carbon capture; spreading the message on respecting this truly precious landscape.”
CLIMATE CHANGE
Factfile
Carbon storing
Heather brash spreading.
Moorlands are home to many fascinating species including:
Pink sphagnum moss.
However, in damaged and eroding peatlands like in the Peak District, the rate of carbon loss can increase to such an extent that they release carbon into our already overheating atmosphere. A 2007 study found that Peak District peatlands’ ability to store carbon is low because of the extent of the damage.
Emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Improving habitat On Stalybridge, over 7,500 bags of cut heather have been spread onto the moor, over 400 stone dams installed, and lime seed and fertiliser applied over 107 hectares. Dams block drainage channels and erosion gullies to slow the flow of water, reducing the risk of flooding, as well as helping to rewet the moors. This improves the health of the moorland, providing better habitat for bog plants. Lime, reduces the acidity of the polluted moors and is mixed with seed and fertiliser to encourage plant growth.
Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).
PHOTOS: ALEX HYDE
Over thousands of years, sphagnum moss growing in wetland habitats throughout the world has drawn carbon from the atmosphere and stored it in the form of peat. This peat is a particularly rich source of carbon due to sphagnum moss’s slow rate of decomposition in these acidic, wet and cool environments. The IUCN estimates that the world’s peat bogs contain more than 550 gigatonnes of carbon (1 gigatonne is 1,000,000,000 tonnes), making them the largest terrestrial stores of carbon. UK peatlands hold the largest land store of carbon, more than the total carbon in all woodlands in the UK and France combined.
Did you know? Moor Carbon is a government-funded project which aims to help reduce UK carbon emissions through the restoration of blanket bog. Its target is to lock in 4,500 tonnes of carbon per year into the blanket bog moors as a result of its work. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 880 cars off the road for a year! Moors for the Future Partnership is led by the Peak District National Park Authority. The Moor Carbon project is one of two major Defra funded peatland conservation projects in the North of England, operating from the Peak District to the Scottish border, an area which spans almost 4,200 hectares (more than 6,700 football pitches). You can find out more at www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
My Peak Dis trict Sarah Fowler
Caring for the environment and connecting people to it are close to Sarah Fowler’s heart – both professionally and personally – as Fiona Stubbs discovers. Sarah Fowler is the chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority.
E
ver since I was a child, I’ve loved being outdoors. I was born in Zambia as my father was working abroad, helping to set up pharmacies across the developing world. When I was three, we moved back to the UK. As a young girl I’d often go out exploring the countryside with my two brothers and sister – I always enjoyed being out on my bike. And I was drawn to nature from a young age. My first experience of the Peak District was a family holiday several years before I came here for work. We were camping and my best memory was cycling on the Tissington Trail. The kids were tiny at the time, learning to ride their bikes. We stopped in Tissington and had a lovely cup of coffee and ice cream. It’s a simple, but very special memory. I believe that, as people, we are innately
Curbar Edge.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
drawn to nature. Three things drive me – a compassion for the planet we live on, compassion for the people we share it with and the connection that exists between the two. We are more compassionate, connected and courageous people when we can connect with a resilient and healthy environment. What drew me to my role at the Peak District National Park was the opportunity to connect people to the environment – working in a pioneering organisation for an extraordinary landscape. By helping people to connect with inspiring places, hopefully they can be inspired to care for them. When I first arrived in this job, I drove around the National Park boundary to get an idea of the scale of the Peak District. We’re close to millions of people in the surrounding towns and cities where life is so busy but, as you enter the National Park, there’s a real
sense of beauty and tranquillity – and a connection to nature. It’s so important to create opportunities for nature to thrive and people to get that connection and experience of our best landscapes, that sense of everyday life slowing for a moment, allowing us all to pause. The thing I’ve missed most over the last year of working from home, due to Covid-19 restrictions, is the ability to get around and see the National Park and the people who care for it. I love that every turn brings a different view and that every person has their own reason for loving the Peak District National Park. The Peak District’s contrasting landscapes are what makes it different to other national parks. It’s not just somewhere I work but somewhere I enjoy with family and friends. I’ve always loved cycling on the Tissington, Monsal and High Peak trails with my two kids – especially when they were younger. I also
PROFILE
Sarah Fowler
Born: Zambia, Africa; grew
up in Wiltshire.
Education: BSc degree in Biology, University of Nottingham; MSc in Aq uatic Resource Management, King’s Colleg e, London. Previous employment: Wil tshire Wildlife Trust; RSPB; English Nature (predecessor to Natural England); Peterboro ugh Environment City Trust; the Environment Agency. Current roles: Chief execut ive of the Peak District National Park Author ity; board member to the VisitEngla nd Advisory Board; board member of the Act ive Partners Trust – chair of the Active Derbyshi re panel.
do my best to cycle to work – and must get better at that! I’m a keen runner and one of my favourite routes is from the top of Beeley Hill to Hob Hurst’s House to Chatsworth Edge. With a mix of moorland, woodland and pasture, you get a sense of both the Dark and White Peaks. I also love White Edge and Curbar Edge – especially in the snow. The weekend before I started my job here, in 2015, I took my kids up there for a walk. It was January and there was snow – it was magical.
We are more compassionate, connected and courageous people when we can connect with a resilient and healthy environment A great recent experience was running the Derwent Valley Heritage Way from Fairholmes to Matlock. Last year, my daughter had signed up to do the London Marathon which, of course, became a virtual event with people running 26 miles on their own patch. So, on 3rd October, my daughter, some friends and I ran our own marathon along this amazing route. Occasionally, I like to take myself out of my comfort zone. I’m not a great lover of heights but some of my friends are – and are incredible climbers, too. I’ve joined them for climbs at Stanage Edge – I enjoy the
Sarah’s missed getting around the National Park over the last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
opportunity to be taught by others. I’m the first female chief executive of the Peak District National Park and the second woman to be CEO of a UK national park. But that’s not something I focus on. Women, such as environmental campaigner Ethel Haythornthwaite (1894– 1986) here in the Peak District, have always played an important role in the creation and development of national parks. We were created for everyone, at a time of great need for the wellbeing of the nation after the Second World War. The launch of the NHS and the expansion of National Insurance were happening at the same time. National parks were incredibly relevant back then. And we are relevant now for modern Britain. We’re tackling Covid-19, a health and wellbeing emergency and challenges around climate change and bio-diversity. I’m driven by nature recovery, sustainability and working in partnership, bringing together a breadth of views. I’m about building partnerships to make lasting change, whether that’s here in the Peak District or working across the 15 UK national parks, to test new ways to help our green recovery. We can be a beacon for the nation in tackling the main challenges of our time – climate and biodiversity emergency. I think I’ve been very blessed that, throughout my career, I have been able to connect with some brilliant people and have been given space to innovate and to follow things that matter to me, allowing me to enjoy my roles. I always tell my kids: “Follow what you enjoy, then you will always be your best.”
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
Family: A son and daught er, both at or very shortly heading off to uni versity.
Sarah’s advice for looking after the Peak District National Park I think the vast majority of people want to look after the countryside. It doesn’t have to be big gestures – small things, such as picking up litter or not lighting a fire, make a huge difference.
Make a difference by picking up litter.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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A tale of two trails This year the Monsal Trail and the Tissington Trail both celebrate big birthdays, but the enjoyment of traffic-free trails does not stop there as Liam Benson discovers more.
Fabulous at forty
PHOTO: DAN WILDEY
With the numbers of visits doubling last summer as we all craved the outdoors once again following lockdown, the Monsal Trail remains as popular as ever. Now in its 40th year – and some ten years since its iconic tunnels opened to the public – this family favourite has a new bustling feel, over 60 years since trains last rattled along its lines.
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Winding through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales, the old Midland Railway trail stretches 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill, in Chee Dale, and Coombs Road, at Bakewell. With six tunnels, most around 400m long and fully lit during daylight hours, they make for a fantastic experience – especially for children! The renovated station buildings and café at Millers Dale offer a perfect halfway stop-off.
Nifty at fifty Not only a brilliant bike ride or perfect setting for a leisurely stroll, the Tissington Trail has a fascinating history. Once the railway line between Buxton and Ashbourne – and even a supplier of milk to London – there is real heritage below your feet. This year marks the 50th anniversary since the site opened as a dedicated route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders since the National Park purchased the site in 1971. There has never been a better time to take a gaze through history, discover the former station platforms, find the old signal box, or appreciate the cowslips and other wildflowers that frequently adorn the banks of the 13-mile trail.
Just as popular today! Queueing around the building at Parsley Hay Bike Hire Centre in 1981, above. Cycling along the Monsal Trail, left. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
EXPLORE
W EE GOOH IE D NELW Hir S
PHOTO: DAN WILDEY
ing ! spend our bikes a i n n g d centre in our s v can h are just tw isitor elp us o way yearly contribut s you e the ra costs to up to the keep nge o f trail si Peak Distri n the ct.
Where style and performance meet sustainability
ANYONE FOR A CYCLE? bikes for those with additional mobility requirements. The National Park’s facilities at Ashbourne Bike Hire Centre and Parsley Hay Bike Hire Centre make the ideal starting point to explore the Tissington Trail. The former picks the route up at the southern point, whilst the latter is located centrally along the Buxton-Ashbourne line. The Monsal Trail is accessible by bike, with independent hire opportunities at both Blackwell Mill and Hassop near Bakewell.
Iconic heather moors, luscious greenery and snow-capped hilltops. Characterised by the Peak District and expertly crafted by UK cycling specialists, Presca. Be at the forefront of sustainable cycle wear with this exclusive jersey. Made from 100% recycled materials including mechanically recycled polyester derived from end-oflife plastic bottles – a synthetic component rich in high performance qualities. The jersey uses 60% less energy and 94% less water than traditional methods.
More of what you like...
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
Whilst the landmark anniversaries celebrate the Monsal Trail and the Tissington Trail this year, there are plenty of other locations to also enjoy and explore.
High Peak Trail
Stunning views and rich wildlife. This 16-mile trail is accessible from Parsley Hay Bike Hire Centre and conveniently intersects with the Tissington Trail.
Manifold Way
The former Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway spans 8.5 miles and takes in the striking Thor’s Cave. The trail has easy access from Manifold Bike Hire Centre at Hulme End.
Upper Derwent Valley
The 12-mile Derwent and Howden Reservoirs circuit is just one of many eye-catching routes at the famous site of the Dambuster 617 Squadron’s training exercises. Accessible from Derwent Bike Hire Centre.
With prices from just £16 for adults and £12 for children, and no prior booking required, taking in the beauty of this wonderful landscape could not be easier. For more information including a brief video on how hiring a bike in the National Park has been made Covid-19 safety assured, please visit peakdistrict.gov.uk/bikehire
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
With miles upon miles of family friendly trails, you can soon soak up everything the trails have to offer by hiring a bike and cycling. Possessing a wealth of experience spanning over four decades, our bike hire centres have put a smile on thousands of faces over the years and have developed greatly to have a fleet of bikes suitable for all sizes, ages and abilities, not to mention an extensive range of accessible access
Cycle jersey £70, men’s and women’s sizes available from our visitor centres and with free delivery.
shop.peakdistrict.gov.uk www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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BOOKS
Curl up with a good book... If you love delving into history, visiting pubs (when we can) or if fiction is more your thing, then read on to find out how to win one of these fascinating books that reveal different aspects of the Peak District National Park.
When the Stars Went On by Anne de Waal Independently published, £4.99, available from bookstores This is Anne de Waal’s first novel for children. It is a story of loss, courage, kindness and hope, told from the point of view of two children: Isaac, a Polish refugee, rendered mute by ‘The Great Sadness’, and Anna Elizabeth, his English friend. The pair develop a close bond through time spent with Anna Elizabeth’s pet spaniel, Shell. There is love and loss as the children navigate the grown-up world and learn to find light in darkness, tolerance and understanding.
T
he twentieth anniversary of the Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) Act in 2020 provides a good opportunity to look back on the doughty band of campaigners who fought for so long to give ramblers their cherished right to roam. This century-old battle brought to the fore a number of larger-than-life characters who were prepared to go to extreme lengths–in some cases even imprisonment–to reclaim the right of access which were taken from the people by the hated Enclosure Acts of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This book describes the life and work of twenty of these “wilderness warriors”, retelling the battles they fought against seemingly intractable politicians and the Establishment and includes memories of personal encounters by the author with many of them. From the nature-loving romantic poet John Clare and access pioneers such as Tom Stephenson and Benny Rothman, to present-day activists and writers such as Jim Perrin, Fiona Reynolds and Kate Ashbrook, Walking Class Heroes describes the contributions made by philanthropists, writers and political militants. Their battlegrounds included the Peak District, Dartmoor and Scotland and their tactics encompassed campaigning journalism, legal dexterity and even mass trespass. Some are no longer with us of course, but several others are continuing the fight for the same kind of public access to the countryside currently enjoyed by our neighbours in Scotland and the rest of Europe.
ROLY SMITH was recently described by a reviewer as “one of Britain’s most knowledgeable countryside writers”. He has written over ninety books on the British countryside and is vicepresident of the Outdoor Writers’ and Photographers’ Guild, having been its president for twelve years, and is also a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. A journalist by training, Roly was Head of Information Services for the Peak District National Park for thirteen years, where he became known as “Mr Peak District”.
www.signalbooks.co.uk
WALKING
CLASS
HEROES PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
Foreword by Stuart Maconie
Peak District Pubs – a pint-sized history by Andrew McCloy Gritstone Publishing, £11.99, gritstonecoop.co.uk Along with other businesses pubs have had a tough time during the pandemic, but Andrew McCloy says that they play a vital economic and social role in rural areas like the Peak District and he celebrates their rich heritage in this book. It traces the evolution of ‘the local’ from humble alehouse to modern roadhouse, and along the way takes in everything from haunted pubs and theme pubs through to new community-owned pubs and micro pubs. There’s an explanation of pub names and signs, revealing loyalties to crown, church and squire, and an introduction to a few pub heroes and villains, rituals and merry-making. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
ROLY SMITH
Foreword by Stuart Maconie
We have three copies of Walking Class Heroes to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
Roly Smith looks back on the campaigners who fought ROLY SMITH for so long to give ramblers their cherished right to roam. From nature-loving romantic poet John Clare and access pioneers such as Tom Stephenson and Benny Rothman, to present-day activists and writers such as Jim Perrin, Fiona Reynolds and Kate Ashbrook, Walking Class Heroes describes the contributions made by philanthropists, writers and political militants. Their battlegrounds included the Peak District, Dartmoor and Scotland and their tactics encompassed campaigning journalism, legal dexterity and even mass trespass.
34
HEROES
WIN!
Q: Which real county is home to the fictional Peak District village this story is set in?
ROLY SMITH
Signal, £9.99, www.signalbooks.co.uk
CLASS
We have a review copy of When the Stars Went On to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the following question:
PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
by Roly Smith
WALKING
Book giveaways
WALKING CLASS HEROES
Walking Class Heroes: Pioneers of the Right to Roam
www.signalbooks.co.uk
ROLY SMITH
ROLY SMITH was recently described by a reviewer as “one of Britain’s most knowledgeable countryside writers”. He has written over ninety books on the British countryside and is vicepresident of the Outdoor Writers’ and Photographers’ Guild, having been its president for twelve years, and is also a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. A journalist by training, Roly was Head of Information Services for the Peak District National Park for thirteen years, where he became known as “Mr Peak District”.
PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
he twentieth anniversary of the Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) Act in 2020 provides a good opportunity to look back on the doughty band of campaigners who fought for so long to give ramblers their cherished right to roam. This century-old battle brought to the fore a number of larger-than-life characters who were prepared to go to extreme lengths–in some cases even imprisonment–to reclaim the right of access which were taken from the people by the hated Enclosure Acts of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This book describes the life and work of twenty of these “wilderness warriors”, retelling the battles they fought against seemingly intractable politicians and the Establishment and includes memories of personal encounters by the author with many of them. From the nature-loving romantic poet John Clare and access pioneers such as Tom Stephenson and Benny Rothman, to present-day activists and writers such as Jim Perrin, Fiona Reynolds and Kate Ashbrook, Walking Class Heroes describes the contributions made by philanthropists, writers and political militants. Their battlegrounds included the Peak District, Dartmoor and Scotland and their tactics encompassed campaigning journalism, legal dexterity and even mass trespass. Some are no longer with us of course, but several others are continuing the fight for the same kind of public access to the countryside currently enjoyed by our neighbours in Scotland and the rest of Europe.
WALKING CLASS HEROES
T
WIN!
Q: Where did the 1932 Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout set out from? We have two copies of Peak District Pubs to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
WIN!
Q: What is the name of the historic inn that was demolished in 1943 to make way for the new Ladybower Reservoir? • Please email your answers – with your name, address and telephone number – to: parklife@peakdistrict.gov.uk • Write either Walking Class Heroes, Peak District Pubs, or When the Stars Went On in the subject line. • The closing date for entries is Friday 26th August, 2021. Winners will be selected at random after this date. The competition is open to everyone except PDNPA paid staff.
A birthday
H
treat
FOOD
appy 70th birthday to us! And a big thanks to Deborah Cox, who created this stunning two-tier celebration of all things Peak District to mark our special day. Deborah, from Manchester, clinched top spot in our social media challenge to find our ultimate birthday bake. She says: “I’m a huge lover of the Peak District and also an obsessive amateur baker and Great British Bake Off fan. “My cake is inspired by Bakewell Tart and Ashbourne Gingerbread. It features Bakewell sponge with raspberry jam and almond buttercream with iced gingerbread decorations.” You don’t need to be a star baker to recreate our birthday cake, thanks to this single tier recipe Star baker Deborah Cox. shared by Deborah.
Almond Sponge • 250g softened butter • 250g caster sugar • 4 large eggs • 1–2 tsp almond essence • 185g self raising flour • 65g ground almonds • 3–4 tblsp milk Two 21cm x 5cm deep sandwich tins, greased and lined with a circle of baking paper 1. Preheat oven to 180C / gas mark 4. 2. Cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. 3. Add the essence and the eggs, one at a time, beating well with each addition. 4. Fold in the flour and almonds, adding a little milk to make a soft dropping consistency. 5. Divide the batter into the tins and bake for about 25 minutes, until the cakes are springy to the touch on top and a skewer inserted comes out clean. 6. Leave in the tins on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out and leave to cool completely.
Almond Buttercream • 350g icing sugar • 175g softened butter • 1–2 tsp almond essence • 1–2 tblsp milk (soften if needed) 1. Cream the butter then gradually add the icing sugar. 2. Beat well until pale and fluffy, adding a little milk to soften if needed. 3. Add almond essence to taste. To finish: • strawberry or raspberry jam • food colourings • 500g fondant icing (leave 10g white then tint 290g pale blue and 50g each pale green, medium green, pale purple and dark purple) To assemble: 1. Trim the cakes if necessary, then sandwich with buttercream and jam. 2. Add a thin, smooth coat of buttercream
Iced Gingerbread Biscuits • 175g plain flour • 2 tsp ginger • 1 tsp mixed spice • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • Pinch salt • 90g unsalted butter • 75g dark brown sugar • 2 tblsp golden syrup • 300g royal icing sugar A flat baking tray lined with baking paper 1. Draw your designs onto card for templates.
on top and sides and chill for 30 minutes until firm. 3. Cover the cake with pale blue fondant. 4. Roll out the other colours and cut overlapping hill shapes. 5. Brush on a tiny amount of cooled boiled water to attach the shapes to the sides of the cake. 6. Roll tiny balls of white fondant for the sheep. Stick randomly on one or more dark green hills. 7. Use a cocktail stick dipped in black colouring to add heads and legs. 8. Decorate with iced gingerbread. 2. Combine flour, spices, bicarbonate and salt. 3. In a saucepan, gently heat the butter, sugar and syrup until melted and combined. 4. Tip in the flour mixture and stir together to a smooth dough. 5. Shape into a flat disc and allow to cool. 6. Knead lightly and roll out to 5mm thickness. Cut around the templates with a sharp knife, then chill for 30 minutes. 8. Bake at 180C for 8–10 minutes, until the edges are very slightly darker. Cool completely on the tray, then ice with coloured royal icing. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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YOUR NATIONAL PARK
Peak views
It’s great to see your adventures and memories of the UK’s original National Park on our social media channels. Of course, social media wasn’t around 70 years ago, but you have been tagging us since 2008, so we have trawled back in time to find some of our favourite posts. We hope you enjoy them.
Naturally inspiring The National Park people landscape inspires ys, wa t en fer dif ny in ma ats nn ‘Waterlicht’ on Wi ly Pass was particular ique un is Th . ble memora ed by nis ga or 17, 20 in t even es, vic De Abandon Normal that w sho ht lig was a laser e blu th wi ss Pa filled the ve rsi me im ly tru a – lig ht lation, temporar y art instal by e ag im s caug ht in thi phy. ra tog ho rP ste @ChrisFo
History in the skies Commemorative flights by historic aeroplanes have drawn crowds over the years to the Upper Derwent Valley. This photo was taken by a member of National Park staff. The flights are organised by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Lancaster bomber has flown down the Derwent Valley to mark anniversaries of 617 Squadron’s raid on German dams.
Did ‘ewe’ know? a This cheeky lamb is breed. e ton its gr re Derbyshi en it’s wh We use this photo and rch Ma in lambing time, to le op pe ind rem April, and t ou . Ab keep dogs on leads in the e liv ep she 00 0,0 40 l Park na tio Na Peak District ep to she ten t ou – that’s ab t. en id res every
Google Doodle On 17 April 2014, we became the first national park in the UK to be featured as the Google Doodle! It was our 63rd birthday and we were so excited. We celebrated it across our Twitter, Facebo ok and Google Plus channels – spot the one that is no longer a thing!
Our social timeline We’ve been on:
Well, well, well! Well dressings are made and displayed in many Derbyshire towns and villages between May and September. These colourful tableaux are created using natural materials such as flower petals and moss pressed into clay. They last one week for local Wakes Week celebrations. If you were in Ashford-in-the-Water in June 2019, you might remember this one celebrating 70 Years of National Parks. Thanks for sending it in, Steve Sharratt. 36
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Twitter since October 2008 @peakdistrict
Facebook since August 2013 /peakdistrictnationalpark
Instagram since June 2016 /peakdistrictnationalpark You can write to us at: ParkLife team, Peak District National Park office, Aldern House, Baslow Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AE. We read all your letters but we aren’t able to respond personally.
PROFILE
5 minutes with...
A decade of travel – and work in some of the world’s most challenging locations – has given Peak District National Park Authority member Lydia Slack a new appreciation of the place she has always called home.
I
grew up on a Peak District dairy and sheep farm but, by the age of 18, decided I wanted to get away from the farm to experience another side of life. I spent a year with the charity Project Trust in the Kingdom of Eswatini, southern Africa, which really shaped my outlook and helped me to become more independent. After completing my undergraduate degree in Agri-Business, I thought I wanted to work at the United Nations. I was selected for an internship in the UN Division for Sustainable Development at the UN HQ in New York. It was a good experience to have at that time in my career, as I learned that actually I didn’t want to work in such a large organisation, where you often have quite a lot of distance between the work you do and the beneficiaries on the ground. Since then, I have worked in smaller organisations where you can see the direct benefit of the work, which I find rewarding. I’m currently the UK manager of Busoga Trust, a water, sanitation and hygiene charity, which constructs and rehabilitates boreholes and wells in Uganda. Clean water, good hygiene and sanitation is something we take so much for granted – and we often only think about it when something goes wrong. I moved back to the Peak District in 2019 after about 10 years away to be closer to my family and the farm. I had a completely new appreciation for the place and the people and saw an opportunity to bring my background and experience in the environmental and agricultural sectors to the Peak District National Park Authority, particularly in the context of climate change. I feel that the communities who live here, work here and farm here are the backbone of the National Park and key to
any decisions we make. It is so important that they are valued, supported and considered in all that we do. I really enjoy meeting people and hearing different thoughts and perspectives. One of the most enjoyable parts of my role is working together to reach a shared goal. It seems we live in such a polarised world and rarely have the opportunity to listen and understand why people think differently to us. I’ve found the Authority to be a place to have open and honest discussions, where people bring different perspectives based on their own lived experience. Working with people who share a love of the National Park and give their time to protecting it is a real privilege. My favourite place in the Peak District is the Goyt Valley. It’s close to where I grew up, has a dramatic and diverse landscape and I always discover something new (there’s also often an ice cream van in one of the car parks!)
Lydia relishes her role, working with others to protect the Peak District National Park.
The least exciting part of my role is all the reading. There’s a lot of paperwork to get through before meetings! People might also be surprised to learn that meetings can go on all day! One online planning committee meeting lasted from 10am until 6.15pm. My advice for getting the most out of the Peak District National Park is that you can never be too prepared. I’m a bit of a worrier, so if it’s overcast and I haven’t packed a waterproof jacket, I’ll spend the whole walk or activity worrying about it raining... Bakewell tart or Bakewell pudding? It would have to be my mum’s Bakewell tart. But I do love Bakewell pudding too. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
37
THE CHAIR
The Peak District National Park remains there for us all – and we need
it now more than ever.
National Parks are vital for a green and healthy future
D
Chair’s blog – Andrew McCloy
uring the height of the London Blitz in 1941 a tall, bespectacled Andrew McCloy Yorkshireman called John Dower shut himself away in the Ministry of Works to develop an idea that offered hope, renewal and freedom at a time of national crisis. It culminated, within the decade, in what Government Minister Lewis Silkin described as “the most exciting Act of the post-war Parliament” and which has gone on to shape public access and countryside protection to this day. The National Parks Act of 1949 might not have offered a war-weary nation the bricks and mortar of new classrooms or hospitals, but in creating National Parks – of which the Peak District was the first – he instead promised something equally vital, explaining: “National parks and access to open and wild places are
38
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
essential if minds and spirits are to be refreshed and bodies exercised.” Seventy years on and the crisis is now a global pandemic, but society is once again turning to our finest landscapes, the outdoors and the natural world for hope and inspiration. Then as now, the Peak District plays a vital role for both the communities that live and work here and also the large urban audience on our
National Parks have a continuing and central role to play doorstep (a third of the city of Sheffield is actually within the National Park boundary). The physical and mental healthgiving benefits of National Parks that Dower envisaged are increasingly well recognised, but they must also be available to everyone; and it goes
further than that. As we look ahead to the next seventy years, our ambition in the Peak District is to respond to the biggest challenges of all – from our bold agenda to tackle climate change with the restoration of eroded peat moors and pioneering a new and more sustainable approach to visitor travel, through to our determination to encourage more environmentally sensitive land management in order to help nature recover. National Parks have a continuing and central role to play in helping society forge a greener and healthier future. Over the last 12 months or so the landscape has changed for so many of us in so many different ways, but thankfully the Peak District National Park remains there for us all – and we need it now more than ever. Follow our chair Andrew on Twitter @PeakChair
Cllr Andrew McCloy Parish Member
Cllr David Chapman Council Member
01629 816323
01298 85067
Mrs Penny Secretary o Member 01629 8163
Mr Paul Ancell Secretary of State Member 01625 613995
Peak District National Park Authority Members 4
Cllr William Armitage Council Member
Cllr Jason Atkin Council Member
01246 590486
01629 258834
Mr James Berresford Cllr Jason Atkin Secretary of Council Member State Member 07810 01629528460 258834
3
Cllr Patrick Brady Mr James Berresford Parish Member Secretary of State Member 01298 85798 07810 528460
2
5
Cllr Mike Chaplin Cllr Doug Birkinshaw Council Member Council Member
Cllr Patrick Parish Mem
0114770770 273 5380 01226
01298 857
5
5 6
Cllr David Chapman Council Member
Cllr Charlotte Farrell Council Member
Cllr CllrChris ChrisFurness Carr Council Member Parish Member
CllrMike Andrew Gregory Cllr Chaplin CouncilMember Member Council
01298 85067
01433 651523
01433 01335621811 390342
01629549790 816352 07789
Prof Janet Haddock-Fraser Cllr Chris F Cllr Tony Favell Secretary of Parish Member Council Me State Member 01629 816352 01433 670281 01433 6218
7
7
1 6
Ms Annabelle Harling Secretary of State Member 01629 816352
Mr Zahid Hamid Secretary of State Member 0114 2366332
Cllr CllrAndrew AndrewHart Hart Council CouncilMember Member
Cllr Gill Gill Heath Heath Cllr Council Member Member Council
01782 01782379431 379431
01538 381601 381601 01538
7
4
Cllr Carolin Council Me
07800 819
6
Cllr Ian Huddlestone Council Member
Cllr Barry Lewis Council Member
Cllr McLaren CllrColin Barry Lewis Council CouncilMember Member
Cllr Jamie Andrew McCloy Cllr Macrae Parish Member Council Member
Cllr Kath Potter Cllr Colin McLaren Parish Member Council Member
Cllr Jim Pe Council Me
01663 747048
07920 484207
0161 6274197 07920 484207
01629 807367 816323 07872
01629 734320 0161 6274197
01298 8129
7
This information was correct at time of publication.
Robert Helliwell MrMr Robert Helliwell Secretary Secretary of of State State Member Member 01629 816352 01433 670250
Cllr Ginny Priestley Parish Member
Cllr Ken Richardson Council Member
01629 816352
01226 773555
Miss Lydia Slack Cllr Lesley Roberts Secretary of Parish Member State Member 01629 816352 01538 388900
5
Mr Ken Ken Smith Smith Mr Secretary of of State Secretary State Member Member 01629 816382 816352 01629
6
Cllr Peter Walker Tapping Cllr Robert ParishMember Member Council
Cllr John W Council Me
01629 816352 01484 221000
01433 650
To find more information about our Members go to:
Cllr Robert Walker Council Member
Mrs Caroline Waller Parish Member
Cllr George Wharmby Council Member
01484 221000
01629 816352
01457 856905
To find more information about our Members go to:
Ms Yvonne Witter Secretary of State Member 01629 816352
www.peakdistric
Cllr Becki Woods Council Member 07970 741890
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/members
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
39
Photography: Phil Sproson
Your National Park needs you. Are you ready to play your part?
Nature recovery won’t happen overnight but our regular donors are helping us plan for a National Park that is enjoyed and conserved by everyone. Give £5 a month so we can do things today that will help our National Park thrive tomorrow, and for many generations to come.
Visit: peakdistrict.enthuse.com/five or text ‘Donate peak 55’ to 88802
Explore. Enjoy. Support. peakdistrictfoundation.org.uk Registered Charity No. 118 21 36
