Issue 30 | Spring/Summer 2020
The Peak District National Park Magazine
F O E SLIC MER SUM late hoco
FREE for you to enjoy
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
Butterflies you can discover this spring and summer
A c not to cake issed be m
GENERATION WILD
The Peak District family challenging how we can farm for the future
#PeakDistrictProud A bold new campaign that urges us all to care for our national park
• Events • News • Your stories
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
From the chief executive
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
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 30 | Spring/Summer 2020
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
The Peak District National Park Magazine
FREE for you to enjoy
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
OF SLICE ER SUMM
Butterflies you can discover this spring and summer
colate A cho not to cake ed be miss
GENERATION WILD
The Peak District family challenging how we can farm for the future
#PeakDistrictProud A bold new campaign that urges us all to care for our national park
• Events • News • Your stories
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
ON THE COVER: Our stunning cover shot by wildlife photographer Tim Melling features an orange-tip butterfly gently alighting on bluebells. See more on these miniature marvels from page 5.
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 Design: Sheryl Todd
parklife@peakdistrict.gov.uk All images and content © Peak District National Park Authority 2020 unless stated otherwise.
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N
ormally, this time of year when spring begins to show after the grip of winter is a time of hope and looking forward to times spent with friends and family enjoying the outdoors. This year is challenging our view of what is normal. It started with the wettest February on record with floods affecting many communities. It has rapidly moved into a realisation that what happens thousands of miles away can ultimately affect the health of people across the globe. We are truly seeing the impact of the so-called ‘butterfly effect’ – where a small localised change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere. We are facing the triple global challenge of a climate emergency, biodiversity emergency and now a health emergency – showing the economy’s dependence on the relationship we choose to have with the earth and nature. In these unsettling times, I wish good health to all. As we find a way through these immediate challenges, let’s also look at what together, and individually, we can do to improve the resilience of the nation’s long-term health and wellbeing. National Parks were set up in the UK 70 years ago to support a healthy nation and we remain here to be a positive force for the nation’s wellbeing. We want to work together, with our many partners, to do more for nature and our landscapes. We aim to be leaders in being net carbon zero with nature, through working with land managers to restore our peatlands, plant new native woodland and protect species rich hay meadows. And we want to do a lot more to meet the needs of our many fellow citizens who do not know the countryside, or do not always feel welcome in it, but should be able to enjoy it. We want every child to be an outdoor citizen and every adult to be an outdoor champion.
We are truly seeing the impact of the ‘butterfly effect’ As perhaps the most accessible national park in the UK, we are often in the privileged position to be providing that first taste of the outdoors to many. Of course, it is also our collective responsibility to ensure that enjoyment is not at the expense of the same beautiful surroundings and wildlife many come here to experience and enjoy. I am sure many of you, like me, remember the ‘Countryside Code’ campaign of earlier years sharing vital messages on how we can look after our green spaces. We have once again come together with the National Trust and a host of other national park partners to launch a refreshed campaign to bring to life for a new generation these key messages of how to care for the countryside around us and what makes it special – #PeakDistrictProud. From ‘protecting the invisible’, such as the birds that nest on the ground that can be easily disturbed by accident, through to considering changing an outing for a summer barbecue to a picnic to reduce the fire risk to our uplands. As well as the traditional ways of sharing the campaign such as gatepost signs and posters, we are also making the most of the phenomenal reach social media and digital channels can achieve into the heart of our surrounding towns and cities. I am sure you’ll all be keen to join me in a collective voice that’s pleased to say we’re #PeakDistrictProud – whatever the challenges the world presents to us. Chief executive Sarah Fowler @peakchief sarah.fowler@peakdistrict.gov.uk Coronavirus (COVID 19) At time of writing (mid-March 2020), the coronavirus outbreak is having a significant impact on both the daily lives of our staff and visitors, and on our operations across the National Park. Due to the constantlychanging nature of the situation, we will be providing updates via a dedicated webpage and on our social media channels. We will be aligning our activity and actions closely with government advice and that of our local public sector partners throughout.
These remain challenging times for birds of prey, but we are also seeing a positive return to breeding for some species
PHOTO: TIM MELLING
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The merlin is our smallest bird of prey, but its status across the UK – and here in the Peak District – remains unstable.
Contents Insights into our intriguing past, a look to the future with a new electric car and reflecting on last year’s bird of prey season..... 4
FEATURES
Hearing voices – capturing the sounds of the Peak District...................................................30 5 minutes with... why volunteering is rewarding for Rachel...........................................37 A climate of change – Andrew McCloy............38
All of a flutter – the butterflies bringing a splash of spring colour............................................. 7
INSPIRATION
Running in the family – young and old take a fresh look at farming.................................... 9
Events – there’s plenty to enjoy in the summer months ahead.............................19
A new bog standard – wetter is better on our moors.............................................................12
Map – our full-size A3 map...................................20
On your hike – fitness and friendship in the National Park.................................................14
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES
Pedal power – keeping you moving on our trails.................................................................24 Building a foundation – a year on for our charity............................................................26
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How are you #PeakDistrictProud?......................16
Read all about it – book reviews plus your chance to WIN copies...................................23 Hop to it – the Edale Explorer is back...............28 News from the South West Peak.........................32 Grand designs in the spotlight............................33 Have your cake and eat it! ....................................35 Your tweets and pictures.......................................36
24 www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
NEWS
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News ACID
ISSUE 17 JANUARY 2020
Archaeology and Conservation in Derbyshire and the Peak District
Finding my Mesolithic granny!
Young Archaeologists’ Club
Inside:
Alice through the Looking Glass The hidden history of hoards
Our year in numbers: planning and heritage statistics
2020 | ACID
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Have you read ACID? Young Peak District archaeologist Kit Bailey features on the cover of this year’s Archaeology and Conservation in Derbyshire and the Peak District ‘ACID’ magazine, describing inside why he finds archaeology and history so exciting. Another highlight is the biological anthropologist and TV presenter Alice Roberts talking about her career, from her medical training through to her eminent academic position as Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. Her words about humans and nature may ring true for many of us. Read about Andy Bentham’s fascinating research into graffiti and protective apotropaic marks, sometimes known as ‘witch’ marks; Buxton Museum’s summer exhibition of artefacts from the British
Museum’s touring exhibition Hoards: A Hidden History of Ancient Briton alongside specially-commissioned photographs by Derbyshire photographer Nick Lockett; as well as Bronze Age burials and 20th century Prisoner of War camps. ACID showcases archaeological and conservation projects that have taken place in the Peak District National Park, and wider 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 For more information about the Peak District Young Archaeologist Club visit www.yac-uk.org/clubs/peak-district
MA Landscape Archaeology student Elin Price has been looking at Cracken Edge Quarry, Chinley, whilst on placement with the Peak District National Park Authority. Elin’s level 1 archaeological survey recorded the topography, location, type, measurements and condition of features at the hillside site. A desk-based assessment examined relevant historic material including maps and previous research. Cracken Edge is a dramatic scarpedge quarry, and a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS). It specialised in the production of flags and slates for paving and roofing. Existing since at least the 1600s, when local shareholders held ownership, by 1800 Cracken was a substantial enterprise employing many local men. The survey identified 59 features including structures, adits and machinery, highlighting the once industrious nature of this interesting site, which is now a popular place for a walk.
Men at work, circa 1901.
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PHOTO: CORA GLASSER 2019
Cracking archaeology at Cracken Edge
North West boundary walk No.2 setting off from Longdendale Environmental Centre. View of Ogden Clough in the distance.
A story of a boundary GUIDEline is a project being delivered by artists from Glassball over the next two years, exploring the nature and origins of the first National Park and its boundary. Last year marked 70 years since an Act of Parliament established National Parks. The formation of the Peak District’s boundary will frame innovative creative engagement opportunities, for residents and visitors alike, to discover and share personal responses to an emerging story at a key point in the National Park’s history. Through collaborative research
and co-creating artworks, the significance of a boundary will be discussed and understood: what does it mean to live within a mark on a map from 70 years ago and how does this administrative construct manifest itself in everyday life? For information about up and coming free events and activities over the next two years, visit www.guideline.org.uk GUIDEline is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and is supported by the Peak District National Park Authority.
NEWS
PHOTOS: TOM MARSHALL
A new leaf Seen at our Bakewell HQ with the new Nissan Leaf EV vehicle (l-r) Prof. Janet Haddock-Fraser (member, climate change working group), Sarah Fowler (CEO) and Andrew McCloy (chair).
If you’re out and about enjoying the Peak District this spring and summer, you might just see a bold new addition to the National Park Authority vehicle fleet. Joining others in the UK national parks family, we have welcomed the first of what it’s hoped will be many electric or ‘EV’ vehicles to our fleet. With a range of between 150-200 miles on a single charge, the new Nissan Leaf (based at our Bakewell HQ) will be able to undertake trips across the Peak District – but crucially without adding to emissions and air pollution in the National Park. Adapting our vehicle fleet is a core task as part of the Authority’s carbon management strategy, which is about to enter a second phase after significant strides forward in recent years which have led to a drop of almost 30% in our operational carbon footprint. Another recent move with our fleet vehicles was to move away from former diesel pool cars to a number of more efficient and cleaner petrol vehicles in 2018. We now expect to take on EV replacements for many of these vehicles as they are replenished in the coming years.
Charging points for EV vehicles remain a challenge in the largely rural landscape of the National Park, but we are working closely with businesses and universities to understand the practicalities of installing this infrastructure and where it can deliver the most benefit. The push for EV charging points in the National Park has also received the support of High Peak MP Sarah Dines, who has also pressed the Chancellor for funding to progress the infrastructure required. Online meeting technology, encouraging car sharing and other measures are all helping us to head towards a ‘net carbon zero’ target, which is also being embraced across many of our constituent counties such as Derbyshire. From regional climate summits, to smallscale village and community approaches such as that discussed in villages including Over Haddon, residents and visitors are coming together to share ideas and innovation. Alongside practical measures within our own operations, the Authority has also been working to encourage an increase in public transport options for our visitors, resulting in an extended 2020
A new livery reflects the eco-credentials of our EV vehicle.
season for the ‘Hope Valley Explorer’ bus service (more on page 28). Not only does the Explorer reduce private car journeys in some of our busiest and most popular areas, but it also provides a key ‘final mile’ link for those already travelling sustainably by train and arriving at Bamford, Hope or Edale. To understand more about the action the National Park Authority is taking on climate change and how this can be applied in your community, visit www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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NEWS
UP ON THE ROOF AT MILLERS DALE
Raptor review for 2019 Fledging goshawks from eight nests, the return of hen harriers for another consecutive year and a reduction in reported wildlife crime incidents all framed the 2019 breeding season for birds of prey (or raptors) in the Peak District uplands. The Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative – which monitors several key raptor species in a study area across the Dark Peak – also reported over 40 fledged young from nests of both merlin and short-eared owl, although nesting territory numbers continue to remain unstable. The peregrine falcon continues to be a species at risk in the study area, with just three nests producing young. However, welcome news from elsewhere in the Peak District was the return of the red kite, the first confirmed breeding for over 150 years. Find the full report at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Red kite.
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All eyes on peregrines One of the most iconic wildlife species in the Peak District will be the focus of a new campaign of protection this spring. Peregrine falcons – widely recognised as the fastest animal in the world – have been subject to an increase in disturbance at their nest sites in the White Peak in recent years. Work by a number of groups, including the police, has identified the theft of eggs and even young peregrine chicks to support the overseas falconry trade behind this illegal activity. This is despite the birds regularly using disused quarries where nests are often in inaccessible locations. Several nests fell victim during the 2019 breeding season, affecting the
overall population of the peregrines in the National Park. This spring and summer will see volunteers, wildlife professionals and police Rural Crime Teams come together in an enhanced programme of breeding site surveillance. The public are also being asked to provide an extra pair of eyes and ears with police encouraging anyone witnessing suspicious activity to report on 101 quoting ‘Operation Spotswood’. If you believe you are observing a wildlife crime taking place at the time, please call 999. Non-urgent information can also be shared direct to the Derbyshire police Rural Crime Team on DRCT@derbyshire.police.uk or through their Facebook page.
Calling on well dressing groups to make 2020 the year of the bumble bee for the Peak District The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is asking well dressing groups to help it protect bumblebees and to raise awareness about a rare local species. The bilberry bumblebee lives on the Peak District’s upland moors and feeds on the heather and bilberry. Sally Cuckney, project manager of Pollinating the Peak at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said: “We would love to get as many villages as possible to pick bumblebees as their well dressing theme for 2020 and help make the Peak District a haven for bumblebees. “If you choose a bumblebee theme, we could visit your group and give a free talk about the importance of bumblebees and what the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is doing to help protect the local treasure of the Bilberry Bumblebee in the Peak District.”
Bilberry bumblebee.
If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Sally Cuckney on 07525115729 or Sally.Cuckney@ bumblebeeconservation.org
PHOTO: STEVEN FALK
Regular visitors to the Monsal Trail will have seen the transformation of the former Goods Shed continue throughout the winter, despite some challenging weather conditions! The most significant change has been the continuing construction of a new roof on the Goods Shed, a dramatic mix of trusses and beams that also bring a touch of the 21st century in the shape of their glue-lam production technique. Around the rest of Goods Shed, the painstaking job of pointing the blockwork carries on, in readiness to receive a new set of imposing wooden doors on two sides of the building in the coming weeks. To coincide with the renovation, local charity Accessible Derbyshire have also launched their ‘202020’ campaign in a bid to secure a Changing Place at the Goods Shed, expected to cost around £20,000. This would be only the second of these specialist facilities to be based in the National Park, which provide washroom and hoist movement options for adults, as well as young people and children. If you want to know more about the campaign, would like to become a 202020 sponsor or to learn more about Changing Places, please contact Accessible Derbyshire on accessiblederbyshire@gmail.com The Goods Shed will open to visitors during summer 2020, including an exciting interpretation and information zone, sharing the Millers Dale story throughout the generations.
Peregrine falcon.
WILDLIFE
The brimstone is widely considered to be the original ‘butter’ fly with its yellow appearance.
Small
PLEASURES From the bold and brash to the subtle and intriguing, is it really summer without a butterfly on the wing? Tom Marshall takes a closer look at some of these miniature marvels at home in the Peak District... Photographs by Tim Melling
The original Along with the first swallow, the call of a cuckoo or a spring bulb tentatively peering above last autumn’s leaves, the brimstone butterfly is perhaps another sure sign of the changing of the seasons. Thought by many to be the original ‘butter’ fly – with its
lemon-yellow wings and generous size – the name brimstone is also believed to be an old term for sulphur. Like so many harbingers of spring, the brimstone can turn up quite unexpectedly just about anywhere. Gardens are certainly a favourite, as are habitats with a less tranquil history, such as the former railway verges that now come alive with
wildflowers along Peak District routes such as the Monsal Trail. Take a short walk down to the River Chee at Millers Dale on a warm sunny day, and a look in the glades between the riverside trees might just be rewarded with a flash of yellow amongst the ramsons and wood anemones.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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A real treat A group of butterflies that delight and frustrate in equal measure must surely be the fritillaries. The combination of exquisite wing patterns and cryptic similarity between species can leave even the keenest wildlife watcher reaching for a guide book. Fortunately for us in the Peak District, our White Peak grasslands are home to one of the largest, the dark green fritillary. That name in fact comes from the green colouration on the underside of the wings, with their upper wings carrying the characteristic head-scratching mosaic of oranges, blacks and browns found in so many fritillaries. Similar in size to garden butterflies such as the peacock and red admiral, the dark green fritillary struts its aerial stuff with a powerful flight before regularly alighting on knapweed and thistles, allowing a closer appreciation of their beauty.
The fritillaries stunning family of confusingly similar butterflies, fortunately the Peak District is home to the largest – the dark green fritillary.
Tip top
The green hairstreak does a convincing impersonation of spring leaves.
Hair apparent The bigger members of the butterfly family don’t get all the glory, however. Rather more diminutive than a brimstone or dark green fritillary at little more 3cm across, the wonderfully-named hairstreaks also find a home in the National Park. Most likely to be seen is the green hairstreak, although a baffling impersonation of spring birch leaves and bilberry can still make this a butterfly that brings a challenge. At home in the Dark Peak uplands of moorland edges where gritstone rocks are softened by heather and bilberry, the green hairstreak has a head for heights happily living at up to 500m (1,500ft) above sea level. Look out for a fluttering flight than might just be a leaf at the mercy of the wind, until it perches up with wings invariably closed tight. Much rarer is the white-letter hairstreak, a tree canopy resident whose wings appear to have been daintily painted by a white brush and very steady hand. Also found in a few White Peak quarries, the ‘white letter’ is a butterfly still under threat but thought to be returning to parts of the Peak District.
Maintaining a long tradition of helpfullynamed butterflies, the orange-tip also needs little introduction. A medium-sized spring and early summer species, they can be easily overlooked as one of the many variations of white butterflies such as the garden white, wood white, and green-veined white amongst others. Closer investigation, though, will reveal a wing-tip generously dipped in stunning clementineorange, bordered in black for maximum impact. If that were not invitation enough, their favourite plant of ‘lady’s smock’ or ‘cuckoo flower’ sets the scene perfectly with its subtle pinks. Look out for them in damp grasslands or verges along the former railway trails.
Cheeky northerner It may lack the dazzling attire of some of its peers, but the northern brown argus brings its own point of difference by having a localised ‘form’ found only here in the Peak District. Small in stature at around 3cm in wingspan, its chocolate brown wings are framed by sections of orange and white, with a keen eye needed to spot the small areas of white on the wings that denote the special Peak District resident.
The white-letter hairstreak is returning to a few Peak District quarries White-letter hairstreak.
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The orange-tip.
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
FARMING
Farming is in the blood. Left to right: Rosemary, Jim, Helena, children Daisy and Luca.
Wild about
FARMING The support system for farming is changing. White Peak farmers Rosemary Furness (nee Allen) and Jim Furness talk to Alison Riley about how their family are giving nature a helping hand by trialling new approaches for the Government’s new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs).
M
eeting three generations of Allens in a field, it is clear that family and a love of the land is at the heart of the Beech Farm business. Fresh air, mud, and nurturing an early knowledge of nature are some of the benefits enjoyed by Helena’s grandchildren Daisy and Luca. They’re also growing up in a farming world that is changing. The post war legacy of
focusing on food production is giving way to a new breed of 21st century farmerscome-environmental pioneers who want to marry farming with boosting biodiversity, soil health and carbon storage. Jim: “Our parents were told to dig for victory, to plough the hay meadows they grew up running through in clouds of butterflies.” Helena: “By the nineties, they’d all but gone. We were given grants for improving land
– farmers get blamed but we did what we were asked.” This family has not just witnessed changes in agriculture, it’s played an active role at every turn. They are currently one of six farms in the Peak District taking part in practical field trials which will inform Defra’s ELMs Tests and Trials. An intensively managed silage field has been sown with a three metre buffer zone of www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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wildflowers. Adjacent fields have been sown in blocks, of different combinations of ground preparation/seed treatment, with wildflowers, grasses and native scrub. Rosemary: “I don’t like bright green, monoculture fields, there’s nothing interesting in them. My dad loves a green field but that’s failure to me, and that’s the difference between his generation and mine – post-war the nation needed feeding.”
Taking part in the trials makes us feel like trailblazers
PHOTOS: SARAH FRITH
“Being part of the trials has reawakened the pioneering spirit in us. We feel like trailblazers. I have a picture in mind of the wildlife clambering out of the Taddington Dale, coming over the edge onto our land rather than the wildlife being just in the dale – it’s about creating the opportunity for it – it’s about connectivity. Jim: “It went too far, farmers got better and better at producing and we ended up with food mountains. Silage production was at the expense of what had gone before; rye grass converts efficiently into energy and protein to make your cattle grow but it isn’t any use to insects or birds.” For young Luca, wildlife is the most important thing: “Caterpillars, grasshoppers, butterflies, hedgehogs and birds, I’d like to see newts and tadpoles too.” Barn owls breed on the farm now, and Jim says they are excellent at vermin control: “The straw shed is their smorgasbord.” He would like to see curlews back; Rosemary wants to see cowslips, yellow rattle, red campion, forget-me-nots, stitchwort, bluebells and more orchids – purple and
Beech Farm, Taddington with Fin Cop in the background.
common spotted as well as hares and skylarks; Helena’s favourites are primroses and violets. Rosemary: “The balance has tipped the other way now, I want to see what nature has to offer on the land we’ve got. I hope ELMs will change farming and reward us for increasing biodiversity. I’m not the sort of person that gets excited about making lots of money, I appreciate what is around me more than having money in the bank, but
we need to earn a living at the same time. “You can’t carry on doing the same thing and expect change to happen. We’re looking to work smarter not harder – it’s about being bigger, better and more joined up for the environment. Last year I went to a rewilding conference and came away feeling empowered because I could see how I can make a difference. It’s got the whole family interested, even my dad. The turning point was being paid to do it, we need to be
Good moo-rning! Cows getting nosy about The White Peak trial.
Generations of people have valued farming differently because of society’s different needs. 10
Beech Farm, Taddington, is a traditional, upland beef and sheep farm, on 300 hectares of White Peak plateau. They have 200 traditional Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle, and 350 commercial beef cattle which graze during the summer and are housed over winter. 700 sheep produce 1,300 lambs in spring. Animals are sold through the abattoir to Tesco and M&S. Beech Farm is in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. Priority environmental features are Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) daleside, historic field system drystone walls, and lead mining remains. Also of interest: dewponds, shelterbelt woodlands, semi-improved grassland on the plateau and historic field barns that will be preserved in the future for birds, principally barn owls and swallows. The Allens already restore daleside grassland, hay meadows and dry stone walls.
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WWII. Dig for victory. More land is ploughed. Food rationing continues.
1940s
National food shortages, farmers told to increase food production.
Intensive farming methods encouraged e.g. silage production.
1950s
1960s/70s
FARMING
Fact file What is ELMs? • ELMs is the proposed new Environmental Land Management scheme for farmers and land managers.
Herbal leys (left) – mixes of grasses, legumes and herbs – are being trialled on other farms (right) to test benefits for carbon storage and biodiversity.
paid fairly for delivering changes, we can’t work for nothing. “I want us to farm less intensively, with half the animals we currently have, but we have to cover our overheads. I’d like to have more traditional breeds that can be outside for longer, but year round grazing on the plateau is difficult to achieve.” Part of the challenge is not knowing if the practical trials will work because of the fertile soils on the White Peak plateau after years of using pesticides and fertiliser – will the seeds grow, and if they do well in the first year, will they continue to do well competing with other species? Jim: “We don’t know the answers yet, we will learn as we go along. We want to mimic
a structurally diverse environment so just planting trees wouldn’t give us the results we want. We will also look at diversification and other income streams. It all goes hand in hand with farming more sustainably, but there are lots of unknowns.” The Allens are rising to the challenge in the Government’s 25-year Environment Plan to leave the environment in a better state than they found it and pass it on to the next generation, protected and enhanced. This is set against the backdrop of Brexit, leaving the Common Agricultural Policy, and working with the UK’s new Agriculture Bill under which farmers and land managers will receive public money for the public goods they deliver through ELMs.
• ELMs will replace the current support schemes for farmers and land managers – Basic Payment Scheme, Environmental and Countryside Stewardship Schemes. In future there will be no payment for simply owning land. • ELMs will pay farmers and land managers public money for the public goods they deliver.
Public money for public goods Public goods are the benefits farmers deliver such as access, air and water quality, biodiversity, carbon storage, cultural heritage, and landscape enhancement.
What are Defra’s ELMs Tests and Trials? • They are an opportunity for farmers and land managers to co-design ELMs.
The White Peak The White Peak area is between Buxton and Ashbourne, known for its limestone geology and panoramic views. The upland plateau is mostly farmed; its deep dales are havens for wildlife. People have lived, farmed and mined there for thousands of years, shaping how it looks today. Its height above sea level means it is generally regarded as poor land for agriculture but the plateau land can be farmed intensively. Limestone buildings and dry stone walls help give the landscape its distinctive look.
• Ideas for a new scheme were developed by the National Park Authority, farmers, land managers and partners. • Defra has selected some of these ideas for the National Park Authority, farmers and land managers to test in the White Peak – The White Peak Test. • The practical field trials, developed by the National Park Authority, Natural England and six farms, will inform the ELMs White Peak Test. For information about support for farmers and land managers, speak to a National Park Farm Adviser on Mondays at Bakewell market, in the Agricultural Business Centre, or call 01629 816 270.
Over-production of some foods with European food mountains and lakes driven by Government support for agricultural production. Agrienvironment schemes developed.
Studies show loss of wildlife habitats, species, cultural heritage and landscape features. Some 97% of hay meadows had been lost. Agri-environment schemes mainstreamed.
Conventional agrienvironment schemes seek to conserve and enhance high quality environmental features but main support payments largely driven by farm size. Continued environmental losses.
Brexit. UK reform of farm support payments with public goods high on the agenda.
1980s
1990s
2000s
2020s www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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The boggier, the better for
MOOR WILDLIFE Alice Learey from the Moors for the Future Partnership reports on how keeping groundwater on the moors for longer is helping Peak District wildlife and increasing biodiversity.
T
hanks to the unique habitat of blanket bog, the Peak District moors are home to a wonderful array of upland animals and plants. From the lilting call of the curlew that conjures images of the rolling moors to the silent cotton-grass that blows in the wind signalling the start of spring, these moorland specialists – and many others – rely on a boggy, waterlogged habitat in order to survive, and thrive. Blanket bogs are the wetlands cloaking the tops of the moors; their distinctive waterlogged conditions provide a unique habitat. Over 200 years of historic air pollution from the industrial revolution and wild fires, both historical and more recent, have led to the blanket bog in the Peak District being degraded and dried out on a massive scale. Large areas of previously healthy blanket bog became vast expanses of bare peat, stripped of the living bog layer of plants. Despite the work of the Moors
The Peak District moorland is home to an array of upland animals and plants. (Top left) A curlew in flight.
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for the Future Partnership (MFFP), whose lead partner is the Peak District National Park Authority, to restore these areas of bare peat, there is still much to be done for these areas to support wildlife – in particular, to re-wet the moors. Without these fundamental boggy conditions, the peatlands struggle to support the moorlands’ unique plant and wildlife.
Enhancing the habitat will support an intricate web of plant and wildlife A MFFP project is currently underway to enhance the blanket bog habitat. The Building Blocks Project – Next Steps in Gully Blocking will raise the water level in the peat by blocking gullies. Gullies are channels in
the bare peat created through erosion that funnel water from the moors and dry out the bogs. The gullies can be as much as four metres deep; these drain the peat and dry it out. MFFP will map out priority locations for 100,000 mini dams (also known as gullyblocks) across the Peak District and South Pennines to support moorland species. Enhancing the habitat will support an intricate web of plant and wildlife, from the crowberry to the green hairstreak butterfly to the short-eared owl. Work to install the first lot of mini-dams will start this year, with 1,000 due to be installed in 2020 across the Peak District. Native moorland plants rely on waterlogged conditions and are integral for the survival of many moorland insects, some even lending their name to species – such as the bilberry bumblebee. The mini-dams will allow water to pool and offer moorland plants the right conditions to establish, encouraging native bog species like
MOORLAND RESTORATION
Wildife watch Be on the lookout for these moorland specialists: • Invertebrates (white faced darter, bilberry bumblebee and green hairstreak) • Waders (curlew/ dunlin) • Birds of Prey (short-eared owl) • Mammals (mountain hare)
A mountain hare in its winter coat.
Did you know? A green hairstreak butterfly.
What are gully blocks? Gully blocks are essentially mini dams, placed in the gullies that have been formed on the moor by water that has carved large channels into the bare peat. Gully blocking traps water and sediment, this slows the flow of water and raises the water table. Water flowing over top of dam runs onto water, not onto peat or mineral, reducing the risk of undercutting
Spacing of dams
Fact file
Top of downstream dam is level with or above bottom of upstream dam, ensuring water fills entire section between dams
• The Peak District is the only place in England where you can see a mountain hare. Visit the moorland areas for your best chance of spotting a mountain hare. • Sphagnum moss is able to hold up to 20 times its weight in water. It acts as a sponge that enables native plant bog species to flourish thanks to the wetter conditions.
Glossary Peat – Dead remains of plants, including sphagnum moss, pile up and get pressed together to eventually form the soil we know as peat. Peat forms at a very slow rate: 1mm per year, or 1 metre per millennium. Peatland – The term peatland refers to the peat soil and the wetland habitat growing on its surface. Water table – The water table is the level of water in the ground. In blanket bog, the water table should be very high with the water stored in the peat to a level that is at, or very near, to the surface. Blanket bog – Bogs are areas of land where a layer of peat has accumulated naturally and is kept wet by rain, snow and fog. A healthy and ‘active’ blanket bog is one that is forming peat. Bogs are an important and extensive wildlife habitat in the UK. The term blanket bog comes from the way the peat layer blankets the ground. You can find out more about moorland wildlife and MFFP’s work at www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
PHOTO: MOORS FOR THE FUTURE PARTNERSHIP
sphagnum moss, cotton-grass, crowberry and bilberry to grow and support upland specialists (like bilberry bumblebee). The bilberry bumblebee is largely found in areas above 300m elevation and is associated with the plants found there – bilberry, cranberry and cowberry. Wetter conditions will enable these native moorland plant species to flourish, and in turn provide much needed sustenance for upland insects. The black darter, in particular, is found in and around peat bog pools. These striking insects are important in their own right but they support other wildlife too. In spring, wading birds such as dunlin, curlew and golden plover return to nest on blanket bogs and raise their young. The insects supported by the pools of water are an essential source of protein for their chicks. The blanket bog provides an important, and unique, breeding habitat for these migratory birds during their summer breeding season. Upland specialist species, from the moorland dwarf-shrubs to the mountain hare to the birds of prey that soar through the upland skies, all rely on a waterlogged, boggy habitat to thrive.
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BLACK GIRLS HIKE
– creating a pathway for diversity in the great outdoors When Rhiane Fatinikun decided to take up hiking, she found fitness, friendship and much, much more – as Fiona Stubbs discovers.
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s Rhiane Fatinikun travelled through the Peak District by train just over a year ago, little did she realise what a momentous journey she was about to embark on. Glancing out of the train window, she was struck by the stunning scenery of the National Park... and vowed to discover more by taking up hiking. A call-out on Instagram for others to join her resulted in 14 women turning up for the first walk in March 2019 – and Black Girls Hike UK was born. Since then, the group has quickly grown and developed, capturing headlines and earning widespread recognition for challenging stereotypes. “I can’t actually believe what we’ve achieved in a year,” says 33-year-old Rhiane, a civil servant from Bolton. “Even though I don’t live far from the Peak District, I’d never thought of going there. But I’d been on a course in Barnsley and, as I was travelling back on the train, I started thinking how I really wanted to start hiking. “I have plenty of free time, so it was about trying something new and different – something more productive. I wanted to get out more and also to create a safe space for other black women.”
The best thing is the friendships which are being made Rhiane’s first experience as a walk leader was also her own first-ever hike. “I didn’t know how to read a map, so googled walks in Greater Manchester and tried to memorise a route for our first walk,” she recalls. “I was just winging it! Since then I’ve learned hill and mountain skills and learned to navigate and plan routes. OS Maps also 14
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Black Girls Hike preparing for a caving trip. Founder Rhiane Fatinikun.
gave me their mapping app, which makes it easier to help people prepare for walks and know what to expect.” Most walks, so far, have been in the Peak District, though Rhiane has also led a hike on Snowdon and taken a group on a caving expedition. This year, Black Girls Hike will try rock climbing and gorge walking, and the group will face its toughest test yet by tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in June. Rhiane is also encouraging more women to gain mountain skills qualifications, with a view to setting up walking groups elsewhere. A new group has already been launched in Coventry and arranges walks in the Midlands. “I’d no idea Black Girls Hike would grow like this – I thought it was just going to be a little walking group,” says Rhiane. “But some
FOCUS
If you don’t put yourself out there, you never know what you’re capable of
Rhiane at the Boots Women of the Year 2019 awards lunch.
Hiking in the Upper Derwent Valley.
people travel quite long distances to join a hike. The best thing is the friendships which are being made. Depending on what you’re doing in your life, you don’t always meet people you can really connect with. It’s like networking meets the countryside! “I think the group gives a sense of belonging – it’s like a sisterhood. Meeting new people and feeling supported is good for your general wellbeing and mental health. We’re cheerleaders for each other.” Black Girls Hike has provided a platform to challenge stereotypes. When Rhiane highlighted a lack of black faces in adverts for outdoor clothing, businesses took note. In the autumn, Rhiane took part in a Berghaus photoshoot in the Scottish Highlands, modelling clothes for its summer 2020 collection. And she is now a brand ambassador for two other outdoor firms. She also won a special mention as a Wellness Warrior in the 2019 Boots Women of the Year awards, attending a celebritystudded ceremony in London. “I was pretty starstruck to be honest!” laughs Rhiane. “But it was amazing to be part of those awards. There were so many inspiring people there.” While tackling certain stereotypes, Rhiane says that experiences with Black Girls Hike has overturned one much closer to home. “A lot of people have an idea that the countryside is not welcoming to people of colour,” she explains. “But we’ve realised that it’s a lot more welcoming than you think. We have some lovely conversations with people we meet on our hikes. So I hope that, when
Rhiane modelling the latest Berghaus summer range. PHOTO: BERGHAUS
other people see me and the girls out there, they’ll think ‘it will be ok’.” Looking ahead, Rhiane is keen to organise walks and training for more people, encouraging better physical and mental health. “Black Girls Hike has given me more confidence to try new things,” she says. “I feel fitter and more motivated. I’ve always been outgoing and quite adventurous, in that I like to travel. But I was never really outdoorsy. Holidays used to be all about the beach, but last year I went hiking in Brazil and this year I’m planning a trip to Colombia, island-hopping with a four-day trek. “Nothing grows in the comfort zone. If you don’t put yourself out there, you never know what you’re capable of.”
More info Find more about Black Girls Hike UK on @bgh_uk @bghmcr Rhiane also has a popular blog, Tales of a Hiker – www.instagram. com/talesofahiker / www.facebook. com/talesofahiker – sharing stories from hikers and adventure enthusiasts around the world. Through Tales of a Hiker, she also organises mixed meetups which are open to everyone.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
15
CAMPAIGN
PHOTO: NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/TREVOR RA
Why we’re #PeakDistrictProud
@Beauvale3 (aka Paula Anne) “Because it was my childhood playground. Inspiring creativeness and imagination. Awesome. Room to run. Room to breathe. #PeakDistrictProud”
Are you #PeakDistrictProud?
@FarmerBeary (aka Jim Beary) “Because I produce food here and enhance the environment at the same time. #PeakDistrictProud”
A new campaign brings a fresh perspective to how we can all look after wildlife and habitats in the Peak District National Park.
W
hether you live, work or play in Britain’s original national park, the message is loud and clear: we’re #PeakDistrictProud! A new campaign, aiming to help more people to appreciate and look after the Peak District, has been warmly welcomed since its launch at the beginning of March. #PeakDistrictProud shares positive ways in which people can care for the national park – from taking home litter and avoiding BBQs, to keeping your dog on a lead during periods of wildlife activity and the use of drones. Building on the core messages of ‘respect, protect, enjoy’ found in the Countryside Code, the campaign steps away from more traditional warning or advisory signage currently found in many outdoor locations. Led by the Peak District National Park Authority and National Trust, it features a series of montage images captured from throughout the history of the Peak District. Its seasonal messages are based on workshops held with a wide range of national park communities including conservationists, landowners and managers, local user groups and young people.
New signage showcasing the #PeakDistrictProud artworks will be displayed around the national park and social media will also target communities and visitors before they plan their visit to the park. Sarah Fowler, chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, says: “This new approach feels deliberately fresh, different and sometimes challenging – but that is often necessary if we are to have a positive impact across the many online and offline channels that we all now engage with. “In re-framing the key themes of ‘respect, project and enjoy’ for a new digital generation, we have an opportunity to share messages with people multiple times – and it’s that repeated experience that may result in small, but positive changes. “I hope that all of our local businesses, communities and partners will be ready to share what they’re doing that makes them feel #PeakDistrictProud.” Jon Stewart, general manager for the National Trust in the Peak District added: “Now more than ever, as nature faces the challenges of climate change, we want to inspire everyone to look after the places they love.”
Follow #PeakDistrictProud on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 16
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
@HoeGrange (aka Felicity Brown) “We’re born and bred here so definitely #PeakDistrictProud. As farmers we take care of our land for future generations and love to share it with our holiday guests.” @GarethMate_ (aka Gareth Mate) “It is where I was born and raised. Despite moving away, I regularly enjoy coming back to my roots, in the UK’s finest National Park. #PeakDistrictProud” @caroltaylor7457 “#PeakDistrictProud So proud to live here, all this beauty on my doorstep.” @girlaboutderbyshire “Love all this artwork! #PeakDistrictProud” @toonarmy19155448 “Retracing great memories from childhood and still doesn’t disappoint. #PeakDistrictProud” If you are a local business or accommodation provider and would like to get hold of #PeakDistrictProud materials please contact us at media@peakdistrict.gov.uk
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R E S P E C T, P R O T E C T, E N J O Y
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NEWS Youngsters enjoying the outdoors.
Ambassador centres bring the Peak District to life for young people A range of outdoor activity, education and residential centres from around the region are now Peak District National Park Ambassador centres committed to helping youngsters learn more about and care for the UK’s first National Park. Ambassador centres are helping reverse the trend of so-called ‘nature deficit disorder’ by re-connecting young people with the outdoors – this need was highlighted in the recent independent review of protected landscapes in England. Peak District National Park CEO Sarah Fowler said: “The scheme is at the heart of our ongoing engagement work with local communities, not only in the National Park
itself, but in the vast region surrounding it. With some 13 million people within an hour’s travel time of the National Park, Ambassador centres can provide stepping stones into communities where youngsters can begin to discover how caring for and protecting our national parks is good for us all.” There are seven Ambassador centres (see centrefold map): St Michael’s Environmental Education Centre, YHA Edale Activity Centre, Hagg Farm Outdoor Centre, the Lockerbrook Outdoor Centre (Woodcraft Folk), Thornbridge Outdoors, Whitehall Outdoor Education Centre, and Castleshaw Centre for Outdoor Education.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s St Michael’s Environmental Education Centre, in Hathersage, was the first to become an Ambassador centre for the Peak District National Park.
More information is available at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/ambassador-centres
SPIRIT OF KINDER DAY
People’s History Museum, Manchester Saturday, April 25, 2020, 2-4pm
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Admission free
Join the celebration of open access Join Stuart Maconie, broadcaster, author and president of the Ramblers, at the Spirit of Kinder Day, on Saturday 25 April, 2pm to 4pm, at The People’s History Museum, Spinningfields, in Manchester. This year’s event will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act of 2000 – the legislation which gave walkers the right to roam in open countryside, mountain and moorland. It will also be celebrating ethnic diversity and the young people who come out to enjoy and care for the Peak District. The Mass Trespass of 1932 was the inspiration for the annual Spirit of Kinder event. Speakers include: Kate Ashbrook, Open Spaces Society, chair of the Ramblers;
Yvonne Witter of Peak District Mosaic, Peak District National Park Authority member; Maxwell Ayamba of Sheffield Black Men’s Walking Group; Edale Junior Rangers; and a Stuart Maconie reading from the Woodcraft Folk. Music by Manchester Community Choir. Admission to the Spirit of Kinder Day is free and open to all. People are advised to use public transport, as parking is limited.
EVENTS
Let’s have fun OUTSIDE Step outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and let’s appreciate what nature has to offer. To tempt you, here are some great things to do in the Peak District National Park this season. Family fun
FAMILY NATURE DISCOVERY SESSIONS AT FAIRHOLMES
FAMILY DROP-IN EVENTS FOR FREE AT CASTLETON VISITOR CENTRE
Thursdays 28th May, 30th July, 6th August 11am to 2.30pm Nature Discovery Thursdays. Bring the kids to explore the Nature Area at Fairholmes, S33 0AQ. Guided and self-led activities to help you explore and play in the natural world. Suitable for under 8s. Free.
Saturday 11th April, Wednesday 15th April 12pm to 4pm Easter nature activities including mask making, clay modelling, nest building and a chocolate-free Easter trail to keep your children entertained! Saturday 18th April 11am to 3pm The Great Bilberry Bumblebee Hunt, in partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Family art activities and village trail about the Peak District’s iconic Bilberry Bumblebee. Friday 29th May 12pm to 4pm Wonderful woodlands session celebrating the importance of trees. Woodland crafts and tree identification activities. Saturday 27th June 12pm to 4pm During Hope Wakes Week, celebrate the ancient tradition of well-dressing. Make your own mini well-dressing and “Hapa Zome” flower print. Thursday 23rd July, Sunday 26th July 12pm to 4pm Discover Peak District archaeology. Delve
OPEN FARM SUNDAY – NORTH LEES FARM
Lots of activities for the kids to explore nature.
into the past with hands-on activities for all the family: • Learn about Bronze Age burials. Make your own pygmy cup. • Get your hands dirty in our dig pits unearthing real artefacts. • Make your own Arbor Low model to take home. • Try our sorting challenge and tricky stratigraphy game. • Find out about Castleton’s archaeology. Wednesdays 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th August 12pm to 4pm Wild Wednesdays. Nature activities and ideas to help families explore the great outdoors.
Sunday 7th June Discover what it takes to look after and farm in an iconic National Park landscape. Live displays and animals, guided walks, exploring local history and more. A UK-wide Open Farm Sunday event. Free. Stanage North Lees Estate, near Hathersage, S32 1BR. Park in Hollin Bank car park (short hillside walk to the farm).
ARCHAEOLOGY DISCOVERY DAY AT LONGSHAW
Friday 24th July 10am to 3pm Dig pit, mystery objects, pottery jigsaw, and more! Join National Trust and Peak District National Park archaeologists. Short led walks at 11am and 2pm – book on the website nearer the time. Indoor activities too, just drop in. At Longshaw’s Moorland Discovery Centre, S11 7TZ. Free. More events and booking details on page 22 www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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EVENTS Continued from page 19
The traditional sheep washing demonstration in Ashford-in-the-Water.
PHOTO: RICHARD BRADLEY
The dressing of wells with flower petals and seeds is an old Derbyshire custom.
Welldressings & country shows Unique events
Guided walks
WORDS: RICHARD BRADLEY, WEIRD DERBYSHIRE AND PEAKLAND
We lead guided walks throughout the year. To find out more, and to book, visit www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/events
ASHFORD-IN-THEWATER SHEEPWASH DEMONSTRATION
Saturday 6th June Traditional sheep washing demonstration in the River Wye at Sheepwash Bridge. In the days before chemical sheep dips, sheep were dunked in the river to cleanse their fleeces and make them more easily workable into wool. Part of welldressings week.
Wednesday 15th April 10.30am to 4.30pm A bracing 8-mile walk on the Kinder Plateau with fabulous views. Explore Kinder’s grough environment. There are some steep ascents and rough moorland walking. Meet at Bowden Bridge car park, Kinder Road, Hayfield. Cost: £8 per adult.
BONSALL HEN RACES
MINDFULNESS WALK – CALVER
Saturday 1st August (tbc) Held in the car park of Bonsall pub The Barley Mow since 1992 but (supposedly) a local tradition of ancient lineage, this tongue-in-cheek tournament will see chickens competing over several heats to find 2020’s overall annual champion.
WARDLOW GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL
August Bank Holiday Weekend (tbc) Annual fundraiser supporting Wardlow village hall. Expect gingerbread, ginger cake, ginger tea, homebaking and produce from the village’s star bakers, and bric-a-brac on offer.
EYAM PLAGUE SUNDAY
Sunday 30th August 2pm Annual procession from Eyam Churchyard (held since 1905) to Cucklet Delph (site of outdoor worship during the Plague) for a religious service. Villagers don rustic historical costume to commemorate the famous episode in Eyam’s history where, in 1665, disease and death arrived via a parcel of tailor’s cloth containing infected fleas. 22
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Sunday 10th May 10am to 1pm A 2.5-mile stroll to appreciate the Peak District’s special qualities. Quiet moments for reflection and stillness following the river Derwent to Froggatt Bridge and returning on the opposite bank. Meet outside Derbyshire Craft Centre, Calver. Cost: £8 per adult. Discover more tranquil places with Mindfulness Walks on 9 May, 31 May, 6 June, 23 August and 30 August. Visit the website to book.
BEGINNER’S NAVIGATION TRAINING PART 1
Saturday 29th August 10.30am to 4pm Learn to read maps with National Park rangers. Get to grips with scales, map symbols; grid references and contours. Designed to lead on to the Improvers walk on 12 September. Meet at Fairholmes visitor centre, near Derwent Dam. Cost: £12 per adult.
From May to September there are welldressing celebrations and country shows in Peak District villages and towns. Find out where and when at www.visitpeakdistrict.com
TISSINGTON WELLDRESSINGS
Thursday 21st to Wednesday 27th May
YOULGRAVE WELLDRESSINGS
Saturday 20th to Thursday 25th June
MANIFOLD SHOW
Saturday 10th August
HOPE SHOW
Monday 31st August
CHATSWORTH COUNTRY FAIR
Friday 4th September to Sunday 6th September • See centrefold map for all directions Coronavirus (COVID 19) At time of writing (mid-March 2020), the coronavirus outbreak is having a significant impact on our events programme – including cancellations and postponements. We will be providing updates via a dedicated webpage and on our social media channels throughout the summer.
Find out more www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/events for all National Park ranger walks, events and navigation training, and to book. Click the ‘book online’ button for the full programme.
BOOKS
Curl up with a good book... From archaeology to railways, farming heritage to the birth of the industrial revolution – our region boasts a rich and varied history. Could you learn more by winning one of these fascinating new books?
Reading the Peak District Landscape
Railways in the Peak District – A History
by John Barnatt
by Christopher Nicholson and Peter Barnes
Historic England/ Liverpool University Press, £30, www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk Archaeologist John Barnatt explores how generations of people have shaped Peak District landscapes from prehistory to postindustrial times. He describes many of the area’s archaeological sites and landscapes – illustrated with colour photographs, maps, plans and drawings – to help explain how places in the Peak District look the way they do today. John says: “Wherever you look in the Peak District landscape, you will find that it has been influenced in some way by people. Whether you’re looking at the pattern of walls around a village that preserve Mediaeval strip fields or at stone guide stoops and hollow ways on the moors that show ancient transport routes, these are cultural landscapes which allow us to feel a connection with our past.”
Lumsdale: The Industrial Revolution in a Derbyshire Valley by Alan and Christine Piper Bannister Publications, £12.99, www.bannisterpublications.com Between the 17th and 20th centuries, the Lumsdale Valley near Matlock was a microcosm of the industrial revolution. Its fascinating story encompasses lead smelting, corn milling and wool fulling, cotton spinning and bleaching – and some of the mill owners led colourful lives! Profits from sales of this book, which can be bought at Cromford Mill and via Amazon, go to the Arkwright Society to benefit the Lumsdale Project.
Amberley Publishing, £14.99, www.amberley-books.com Inspired by Peak District railway closures in the late 1960s, the first edition of this book was published in 1971. But the National Park’s railway story continued to evolve. With its challenging terrain, the Peak District spawned some ‘quirky and unique’ railways, including a narrow gauge light railway for tourists, cable-hauled inclines to export limestone, seven of the UK’s longest railway tunnels and Britain’s first all-electric main line. Today, some of the tracks have been reborn as popular trails, enjoyed on foot, bike or horseback in what the authors describe as “a fascinating story of rise, decline and rebirth in one of England’s most scenic regions”.
The Land That Made Us: The Peak District Farmer’s Story Edited by Christine Gregory and Sheila Hine Vertebrate Publishing, £16.99, https://shop.peakdistrict.gov.uk Stories of 80 years of farming in the South West Peak are told by people who have lived and worked there for generations. Recollections range from descriptions of harsh winters in difficult terrain to memories of close communities and adapting to change. The book was produced in partnership with local charity The Farming Life Centre, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Proceeds from sales are reinvested into projects which support farmers in the South West Peak.
Book giveaways We have three copies of Reading the Peak District Landscape to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
WIN!
Q: What is the term used to describe Medieval farming land? We have three copies of Railways in the Peak District – A History to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
WIN!
Q: When was the first edition of the book published? We have a signed copy of Lumsdale: The Industrial Revolution in a Derbyshire Valley to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
WIN!
Q: Where is the Lumsdale Valley? We have a copy of The Land That Made Us: The Peak District Farmer’s Story to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
WIN!
Q: Which charity is involved with the book? • Please email your answers – with your name, address and telephone number – to: parklife@peakdistrict.gov.uk • Write either Reading the Peak District Landscape, Railways in the Peak District – A History, Lumsdale: The Industrial Revolution in a Derbyshire Valley or The Land That Made Us: The Peak District Farmer’s Story in the subject line. • The closing date for entries is Friday 28th August, 2020. Winners will be selected at random after this date. The competition is open to everyone except PDNPA paid staff.
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Meet our...
BIKE PROVIDERS Liam Benson talks to the suppliers behind our fleet of hire bikes, and discovers how hiring a bike in the National Park could just hook you into cycling and that pedalling the hills can be a breeze!
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ehind every one of our four bike hire centres are a team of dedicated cycle partners. Full of expertise, they help our centre staff with selecting the very best, carefully chosen array of bikes suitable for all sizes, abilities and terrains. Pippa Wibberley, managing director of Raleigh and Gary Conway, senior product and marketing manager at Tandem Group Cycles, talk us through their love of the Peak District National Park, the joys of riding an electric bike and the importance of being outdoors.
What’s your favourite place to cycle to in the National Park? Pippa: My husband and I like to camp at Hurdlow where we can then quickly hop on to the High Peak Trail at Parsley Hay. A former railway line that first opened in 1831 (one of the oldest in the world!), it’s now a traffic-free trail with plenty to see, especially during the summer, including cowslips, orchids and wild herbs.
Gary: After a hectic week at work, the Peak District National Park offers the perfect escape. There’s a variety of trails for all levels of ability on and off the bike, most of which are signposted so you can just get out and enjoy the ride rather than worrying about planning routes or getting lost!
Gary: The Manifold Trail takes some beating. It’s great for all the family to use as it’s really easy going. There’s no major twists and turns to get lost and generally a very relaxing ride... it’s also really nice to stop half-way with a packed lunch and coffee before getting back on the bike.
What do you enjoy most about the Peak District National Park? Pippa: It has to be the combination of unspoilt beauty and accessibility. I grew up in Derbyshire, so within moments, you can be out of the city and into the most amazing natural landscapes. 24
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Pippa
Gary
PHOTOS: TOM MARSHALL
Phil Woodward and Claire Jepson (Raleigh); Don Symonds, Nick Edwards, Jonathon Parrish and Peter Mather (PDNPA); Gary Conway (Tandem Group Cycles).
EXPLORE
Fact! • Raleigh are one of the world’s oldest and well-known bike brands. Established in 1887 in Nottingham, they are still based there to this day. • Tandem Group Cycles are a Birmingham-based bike distributor responsible for some of the best-loved bike brands in the UK including Squish and Claud Butler.
The lowdown There are over 34 miles of accessible traffic-free trails to explore – perfect for all the family.
Why did you want to be involved with the National Park? Gary: Our brands have the perfect synergy with the Peak District National Park. Around 99% of our bikes are designed for everyday cyclists – not top-end elitist type bikes – just high quality fun to use bikes suitable for the whole family. What bikes are you providing our hire centres and why should people give them a go? Pippa: The bikes we are providing offer something for everybody. Our ‘Strada’ range will get you across the National Park in complete comfort whilst the ‘Motus’ range will give riders a premium electric bike experience, allowing you to travel further, explore more and truly take on the adventure ahead – wherever it may lead you. Gary: We already supply our hugely popular ‘Squish’ lightweight children’s bikes and this year we’ll also be supplying ‘Claud Butler’ mountain bikes. Squish are lightweight, easy to use and perfectly proportioned for children – making learning to ride a doddle. For mum and dad the Claud Butler, a rugged, real all-rounder, will be available. The Claud Butler brand name has been synonymous in the world of mountain biking for decades, and being a UK based brand we’re excited for more people to give them a go on the National Park’s trails.
Our National Park hire centres have a range of bikes to suit all size, age and abilities.
What would you say to someone who hasn’t much cycling experience, to encourage them to hire a bike from one of our four hire centres? Pippa: Go for it! Most people’s biggest fear of cycling is safety and getting lost. The National Park hire centres are located on well maintained, signposted traffic-free trails, which enables you to enjoy cycling without worries. The second concern is fitness – will I manage the hills? So hire an e-bike and take that stress away too. There is so much beauty to enjoy and I encourage everyone to get out there whenever they can. Gary: Hiring a bike is the very best way to find out for yourself if cycling is for you. Instead of going to the expense of buying a new bike without knowing exactly what size or style of bike suits you best... or even if you enjoy cycling, why not hire a bike for a few hours to take a real test ride.
What are the advantages to hiring an e-bike? Pippa: The hills of the Peak District are so beautiful, but, dependent upon how challenging a route you take, sometimes not for the faint hearted. Hiring an e-bike means you can really enjoy the beauty of the area without the fear of pushing a bike some of the way. And don’t worry – it still keeps you fit! To find out more information about our four bike hire centres, including prices and available routes, please visit www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/cyclehire
All of our hire bikes are available for purchase, often up to 50% off the RRP – so if you find the perfect bike for you, you are in luck! We will even deduct the hire fee. Enquire in one of our hire centres for further details. Jonathon Parrish, PDNPA
Did you know?
We welcome your used bike inner tubes. Last year we saved almost 600 from the tyres of our hire fleet reaching landfill by sending them for recycling to be turned into new products.
Exclusive offers Summer is made for cycling. Whether you’re interested in group rates, or for yourself and the family, we’d like you to be the first to hear about exclusive offers, special sales and all the latest news from our bike hire centres. Sign up to our mailing list at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/ signup
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What a difference a
YEAR MAKES The Peak District National Park Foundation celebrates 12 months as a registered charity – working hard to build support while funding its first projects.
How time flies!
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t’s been a busy first year for the Peak District National Park Foundation and already local projects are benefitting from funds raised through the charity’s #70kfor70 campaign. The campaign aims to raise £70,000 ahead of the Peak District National Park’s 70th birthday in April 2021. Foundation chair Jen Lowthrop says: “What a great start! I am so pleased with how our first year has gone. We’re just over half way to our #70kfor70 target and have already started to give funds to local projects. “I’d like to thank everyone who bought a
ticket for our Christmas raffle, which raised almost £2,000. A special thanks, too, to local businesses who donated some incredible prizes! “Every penny of the money raised for #70kfor70 is going right back into projects to support our beautiful Peak District, so I urge you to spread the word, donate or get in touch if you’ve got an idea for a fundraising campaign. We’ve already got new projects, campaigns and celebrations underway for 2021, our 70th year as a National Park... so watch this space!” Find out more at www.peakdistrictfoundation.org.uk
#70kfor70 will support a range of projects which care for the Peak District and help to make it a National Park for everyone. Projects include: • Peak District National Park Junior Rangers • Moors for the Future Partnership • South West Peak habitat restoration • Miles Without Stiles accessible routes • Conservation work on the Monsal, High Peak and Tissington trails • Stanage North Lees landscape conservation • Peak District Mosaic and Accessible Derbyshire • Peak District Health Walks
First projects receive funding Wildlife, hedgerow conservation and hydro electricity projects are the first to benefit from funds through the Peak District National Park Foundation. Grants have been awarded through the Foundation’s #70kfor70 campaign. The Fairer for Nature gardening project in Buxton received £2,043 to encourage young people to improve their own – and other people’s – gardens for wildlife.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Pinders Meadow charity in Hope was awarded £671 towards the cost of planting 300 mixed hedging plants to restore and enhance hedgerow and to provide nesting sites and food sources for birds. Meanwhile, Bradwell Hydro Project was awarded £500, helping it to refurbish, upgrade and extend its waterpowered Christmas lights. The project works in conjunction with Bradwell Junior
School, teaching children about renewable energy and sustainable power sources. The South West Peak Landscape Partnership also received a grant of £2,500 from a generous donor, via the Foundation, to support the Elkstonian Society’s project to upgrade its village website and digitise archive material about the history of village life.
FUNDRAISING
Step out for health The Co-op store in Baslow has chosen one of our #70kfor70 projects, Peak District Health Walks, as one of its Community Fund Causes. Each year the Co-op donates 1% of its members’ annual spend to local projects, through its Community Fund. Led by National Park rangers, health walks are free and help local people, who would not generally be able to get out, to socialise, exercise and build confidence. Free transport is provided – and carers are also invited to join the walks. We need your help to make the most of this great opportunity... • If you are already a Co-op member, simply log onto your account and select Peak District Health Walks (40021) as your local cause. • Become a Co-op member via www.coop.co.uk and select Peak District Health Walks (40021) as your local cause.
John Keith Dunstone and Don Blagg.
A life’s legacy Don Blagg is supporting the Foundation by raising money in memory of his friend, John Keith Dunstone. Known as John in the USA but Keith in the UK, he died aged 81, last October in his adopted city of Toledo in Ohio, USA. Despite emigrating to the USA many years ago, Keith maintained a lifelong love of the Peak District after first experiencing it as a teenager in the 1950s, soon after its designation as Britain’s original national park. Now Don and Keith’s partner, Darla Culberson, are raising money for our Junior Rangers in his memory. Don explains: “Keith was born and brought up in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and became an apprentice mechanical engineer with Metal Box Co in the town. As apprentices, we were sent by the company on weekends to White Hall, near Buxton, where we’d go walking and climbing. “We formed an ‘Adventure Club’ and enjoyed camping weekends in the Peak
Winner! John Keith and Don with their friend Stew in the Peak District in the 1950s.
District – discovering Kinder Scout, the Edges, the Roaches and local hostelries.” Keith’s engineering skills took him to the USA where he designed equipment for companies in Ohio. Don adds: “Keith retained his outdoor enthusiasm and for many years volunteered as a trail patroller for Metroparks Toledo, helping visitors and generally supervising the trails. So, we feel that supporting the Peak District National Park – and helping a new generation of young people to experience it – is a fitting tribute.”
Great support from businesses
Our new partners: run specialists Peak Running.
Big thanks to all the businesses which are supporting the Foundation. Sheffield-based Accelerate raised £256 through an in-store lucky dip while our new Peak Partners, run specialists Peak Running, hosted an event at Castleton Visitor Centre to highlight #70kfor70 to its clients. Thanks to everyone who bought one of our lovely 2020 calendars from Phil Sproson Photography. Exciting plans are brewing with White Peak Distillery, which is looking forward to 2021 when its first batch of Peak District Whiskey will be ready. Watch this space for lots of gin and whiskey themed happenings.
We were thrilled with the support for our Christmas raffle – from businesses which generously donated prizes to the many people who bought tickets. The raffle raised £1,800 towards our #70kfor70 campaign. Thanks to local businesses, including Chatsworth Estate and Farm Shop, Losehill House Hotel & Spa, Mount Cook Adventure Centre, Woodland Ways, Peak Ales, Phil Sproson Photography and Peak Running. Congratulations to Andy Yates (pictured), one of the Peak District National Park’s wonderful volunteer rangers, who won the first prize, a luxury Chatsworth Estate and Farm Shop hamper.
Are you ready to play your part? • Sign up to the e-newsletter – www.peakdistrictfoundation.org. uk/contact/ • Donate – Text ‘Donate peak 1’ to 88802 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
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HOPE VALLEY EXPLORER
PHOTOS: DANIEL WILDEY
All aboard the Hope Valley Explorer Popular seasonal summer bus service returns for extended period.
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t’s back! The Hope Valley Explorer seasonal bus service returns to the Peak District National Park in May. The service will run every weekend and bank holiday Monday between Saturday 23rd May and Sunday 27th September, and every weekday during the school summer holidays from 20th July to 28th August. Following last summer’s hugely successful six-week introduction, the service will circulate as a scenic tour of the Hope Valley, with opportunities to join the tour from Chesterfield, Dronfield and the outskirts of Sheffield. It aims to reduce the number of car journeys within the National Park during its busiest season and the school summer holidays. The service will also call at rail stations in Edale, Hope and Bamford – at times convenient for getting the most from a day out in the area for people arriving by rail.
As well as offering a flexible hop-on, hop-off service, the Explorer will feature a fascinating audio commentary all about the rich natural and cultural history of the area – from its extensive cave network to the Dambusters of the Derwent Valley. The route will include key stops at Edale, Castleton, Hope and Fairholmes, and a climb up the spectacular Winnats Pass. With villages, caverns, shops, places to eat and drink and access to some of the best walking routes in the country, the Explorer has it all. Should you need more information on exploring the area, our visitor information centres at Castleton, Edale and Fairholmes are along the route. The initial three-year, seasonal pilot scheme – funded by the Peak District National Park Authority and operated by Stagecoach – will assess the viability of running similar services long-term, to help ease pressure from private vehicles
in the National Park and support linked sustainable transport by the use of rail services. David Marsden, transport policy officer with the Peak District National Park said: “We’re excited to be launching this extended service with our partners at Stagecoach. This follows the fantastic response we received from users last summer. “So if you’re planning a walk in the Hope Valley or around Derwent Dams or you just want to sit back and take in the scenery, you really should ‘hop on’ the Hope Valley Explorer this summer.” Find out more about the bus service at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/ hopevalleyexplorer or by calling the Peak District National Park customer services team on 01629 816200.
The Hope Valley Explorer leaves the fields of Castleton behind as it heads towards Winnats Pass.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Hop on, hop off our seasonal summer bus service! Extended season brand new for 2020! Weekends & Bank Holidays – 23 May to 27 September Weekdays – 20 July to 28 August For a full timetable and routes, visit: peakdistrict.gov.uk/hopevalleyexplorer
stagecoachbus.com
Derwent Dams
Bamford
Hope
Edale
Castleton
Arrive by train at Bamford, Hope and Edale or catch a connecting Stagecoach bus from Chesterfield and Dronfield
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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PHOTO: SAM JOHNSON
My Peak Dis trict Mark Gwynne Jones
Poet, performer and recording artist Mark Gwynne Jones talks to Alison Riley about how the Peak District National Park has shaped his personal outlook and inspired his work. Mark Gwynne Jones is a poet and performer and is currently working on a project called ‘Voices from the Peak’ – capturing and recording the sounds of the Peak District landscape.
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grew up during the 70s and early 80s, on a hill farm between Matlock and Chesterfield. We were turfed out in the morning and whistled back at teatime, after a day scrambling around woods and disused quarries. I also spent time being very quiet and learned to get close to animals without them knowing I was there. I learned to tickle trout and hunt rabbits. Then, in 1989, I became vegetarian on hearing how the Brazilian rainforest was being destroyed for meat production. But there is something to be said about finding your own food; it is very primal, we’re hunter
gatherers in our biological make-up, and it seems to be partly what is missing from modern life. Humans have a desire for nature and adventure and overcoming danger – the rise in extreme sports seems to be a reaction to how safety conscious our culture has become. Young people need to prove themselves to both themselves and their peers. Gang culture is partly a substitute for rites of passage that are no longer available or practised. Simple things like, as a kid, sleeping out in the woods on your own and facing fears of the dark and unfamiliar
The idea for Mark’s project came from a gate he heard vibrating as it closed. Pictured is The Great Ridge.
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
noises. Overcoming fears allows you to discover your inner strength and resource, and once you’ve found it, you can draw on it throughout your life. Our detachment from nature, and the challenges it throws at us, isn’t healthy. The Peak District’s landscape and its contrasting environments is what has kept me here. It is special because I know it intimately, and also because it’s bordered by Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Stoke and Manchester – my work often draws me to the cities, but its wild beauty will not let me move away. I find there’s a richer mix of people that live and work in and visit the Peak District than other National Parks. It has more real world connections,
PROFILE
Mark Gw ynne Jones
Born: Mark Gwynne Jones, Matlock
Mark loves disappearing into the landscape and becoming part of it. PHOTO: DAVE STURT
more cross-cultural happenings, with its surrounding communities. I love disappearing into the landscape, becoming part of it. We live within our opinions and analyses, but when you’re out in the landscape you enter another language – the colours, the sounds, the textures of the land, it goes beyond the everyday. When I’m working with schools we do a listening exercise. We sit in a circle and silently count on fingers how many sounds the students can hear. Some will hear four or five, some hear more. It’s a listening meditation that people can try for themselves. My current project, Voices from the Peak, has integrated me with the place in a new way. I’m creating a journey through the Peak District in voices, sounds and music. The
When I’m out in the landscape I enter another language idea came from a gate I heard vibrating as it closed. I could imagine it being sampled by Pink Floyd! It had an otherworldly sound that alerted me to the music of things in our environment, which led me to the idea of capturing the landscape’s voices. Inspiration has also come from people I’ve had conversations with. The landscape shapes people, like the octogenarian farmer I interviewed – it’s like listening to the land talking. For the project, I slept out under old oak trees in Clough Wood, to record the dawn chorus. Those trees were there long before
Previous work: Lyric in Limestone (a Glassball production) CD collection of some of Mark’s Peak District poems, recorded on location with musician s PsychicBread. Five collections of poe try. www.markgwynnejones.com
Mark recording the sound of a helicopter spreading seed on Kinder for the Moors for the Future Partnership’s moorland restoration work. PHOTO: PHILIP JOHNSON
I was born and will be there long after I have gone – inside my sleeping bag I felt like a caterpillar beneath the trees – we see ourselves as being so important as a species but in the scheme of things we’re a tiny part of something much bigger. Visiting wild places and quiet places is good for maintaining perspective. It is a curse and a blessing being a poet! It is something I am bound to do. The most enjoyable aspect is the writing, more than performing, that’s the hard part, taking it to market! I feel at my most whole when I am writing – it allows me to tune into a subtle awareness. It stems from a desire to communicate and make sense of what it means to be alive. It’s crazy when you stop to think: Why me? Why time? Why the world? Those questions apply to everybody. There’s a purpose in nature, in life and in death – it’s visceral, that sense of life and death being two sides of the same coin, equally valid. There’s nothing to fear because it’s both and something more.
VOICES FROM THE PEAK Funded by the Arts Council and supported by the Peak District National Park Authority, Voices from the Peak is a poetic soundscape featuring the landscape through a variety of recordings. Mark Gwynne Jones will perform it during 2020 and 2021 (look out for details on the website), and it will be available to download from www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/ voicesfromthepeak
Mark’s advice for finding inspiration outdoors... Listening to all the different sounds you can hear immediately connects you to the world. It’s grounding. A form of meditation. Climb a hill, sleep in the woods. Don’t get too comfortable! Go for a walk without knowing where you’re going to end up. Whatever you do, take a notepad and jot down thoughts that spring to mind – let the landscape speak to you.
PHOTO: LOUISE SWAIN
Favourite place: Minninglow, in the White Peak. Mark says: “It’s a seat of seeing. It is actually a Neolithic chambered tom b within a circle of old beech trees, on a hilltop, that you can see for miles arou nd and get your bearings from. It wou ld have been important in ancient times, befo re maps, when the valleys were thick with undergrowth and people lived on the higher ground.”
PHOTO: DR MATT SZABO
Bath. Family: partner Louise and sons Sam and Arthur.
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SOUTH WEST PEAK NEWS
Community grants give South West Peak a boost The South West Peak (SWP) Community Grants Scheme has funded over 60 community projects covering history, a sensory garden, nature trails, and the others shown below, to benefit people who live in and visit the SWP. The £300,000 fund is administered by Support Staffordshire and is part of the South West Peak Landscape Partnership
(SWPLP), supported by a grant of £2.4m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, distributing money raised by National Lottery players. Find out more on the Engaging Communities Project page, visit www.southwestpeak.co.uk, or contact Ruth Wilson, on 01538 381356, ruth.wilson@supportstaffordshire.co.uk
The grant has enabled improvements to parking facilities offering better access for all.
Transformation of Wildboarclough’s village hub
East Cheshire’s Eye Society enjoying multi-sensory art at Blaze Farm.
Art fun for the visually impaired A SWPLP Community Grant enabled East Cheshire Eye Society to organise art activities based on walks and involved local artists as tutors. Natural materials were used to create multi-sensory art. Sessions took place throughout the year giving people the opportunity to experience the seasons. Visually impaired people used touch, smell and hearing to create art-work reflecting the landscape,
wildlife and heritage they experienced. It gave people increased confidence, a sense of achievement and joy in experiencing the countryside. For some it was a completely new experience, others rediscovered skills, some had not done these things since losing their sight and thought they never would again. One person described it as “A holiday all in one day”.
Asylum seeking and refugee families enjoying the Peak District experience.
Welcome to nature for Asha A SWPLP Community Grant supported Asha North Staffordshire to deliver five activity filled days for asylum seeking and refugee families at Gradbach Scout camp, exploring the countryside and being close to nature. These families from Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Albania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria,
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Wildboarclough’s Old School Rooms is deep in the ‘Valley of the Wild Stream’. This hidden gem is where youngsters received their education until 1972; subsquently pupils were consolidated into the neighbouring school at Wincle, and the building was left in charitable trust to the village. Today it hosts Parish, Parochial Church Council, and Rose Queen Fete meetings, the WI, art classes, quiz nights, first aid training, “Clough Capers” (annual pantomime), and more. Thanks to a SWPLP Community Grant, the Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough Trust has been able to modernise and improve the Old School Rooms’ toilet and parking facilities, improving access for all. A volunteer labour-force achieved the work, a shining example of community spirit. The grant included production of a booklet of local walks (available from local businesses) which points visitors in the right direction to explore the area’s heritage.
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Iraq and more, are settling in Stoke on Trent. Debbie Rushworth, activity leader, says: “The confidence boost and therapeutic benefits of nature were beyond measure for these families, and they took away with them many happy memories of their Peak District experience.”
AWARDS
2018 award winners: (clockwise from top left) Best Conservation Project – Ashford Mill; Best Residential – Contour House; Best Non-Residential – Chatsworth Stickyard; Best Contribution to the National Park Landscape – Heart of Hathersage.
PLANNING AWARDS 2020 – celebrating great design in the Peak District National Park
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ould you help us to celebrate some of the Peak District’s finest planning projects? The Peak District National Park Authority is to host its Planning Awards later this year. The awards will recognise and reward outstanding developments, where extra consideration has been taken to make a positive contribution to the special qualities of the National Park. The competition will be open for entries from 1st May to 11th September – and nominations will be invited in five categories. The awards ceremony is hosted by Thornbridge Hall on the evening of 19th November and winners will receive awards beautifully handcrafted from Derbyshire Fossil Limestone, donated by Natural Stone Sales Ltd.
John Scott, director of conservation and planning for the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “We’re looking for exemplar projects which showcase creative and sustainable designs within the National Park. “Following the positive feedback from our last awards in 2018, we have created a new residential category to recognise excellence in extension designs. “As well as individual and business nominations, we are very keen to hear from parish councils and groups who have been involved in developing community facilities or recognise the wider benefits from a development or landscape enhancement. “Designs don’t have to be to a grand scale, so long as they have been done well and thought has gone into how a scheme enhances the National Park.”
More details can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/planning
The five awards categories • Best Residential – conversion or new build • Best Residential Extension • Best Non-Residential – agricultural, commercial, quarries, public buildings • Best Conservation Project – any development relating to a heritage asset • Best Contribution to the National Park Landscape – landscaping scheme relating to any other development, including agricultural and community developments, quarry restoration and infrastructure projects.
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SUPPORT
The branded rCups are available in sky blue, black and olive green.
As spring and summer is almost upon us, we’re celebrating with some brand new additions to our Peak District ranges. Wherever you find yourself in the National Park, our visitor centre staff are ready with a warm welcome.
For your little explorers
A new online shop The National Park online shop where you can find everything from walking guides, books, cycling jerseys, national park souvenirs and our exclusive tartan collection is taking on a fresh new look. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/shop
National Park Explorer T-shirt, £10.
Let your children’s imagination run wild with our new National Park Explorer T-shirt (£10). Available in a choice of purple or sapphire blue and suitable for ages 3 to 13, we all know a little explorer who would love to get out there and ‘tick off’ all these creatures!
Ditch the plastic Lates t news & offers
New branded rCup, £12.
Show your support in helping us strive to achieve a #PlasticFreePeakDistrict with our new branded rCup (£12) – the world’s first reusable coffee cup made from used paper cups. Stylish, yet practical, these 12oz/340ml cups are leak proof and great for keeping things hotter, or cooler, for longer. Perfect for those long walks and cycle rides along the trails. Available in sky blue, black and olive green from our visitor centres now.
Sign up now to receive emails containing exclusive offers, special sales and all the latest news from our visitor and bike hire centres across the National Park and camping at North Lees. It only takes a few moments and you are free to customise your preferences. Sign up at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/signup
Follow us for all the latest bike hire promotions, new product launches and details of our new online shop refresh. @peakdistrict 34
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
@peakdistrictnationalpark
@peakdistrictnationalpark
PHOTOS: LIAM BENSON
New for you in National Park visitor centres
Taste of
F Volunteer baker Claire Elliott
spring
rom Easter treats to summery afternoon teas... nothing quite beats a deliciously decadent chocolate cake. This aptlynamed Magic Chocolate Cake is a favourite with customers at Grindleford Community Shop and Café, which is run by local people in the vestry of St Helen’s church. The cake is a much-loved family recipe of volunteer baker Claire Elliott. She says: “My mum first made it over 40 years ago after she was given the recipe by an American lady she nursed in hospital. “Originally, all the measurements were in cups, which were then not commonly used in the UK. So, it’s always been made using Mum’s
FOOD
guesstimated amounts, which adds to its appeal. Just throw everything in – so easy, with perfect results every time. Everybody who tastes it, loves it. “At first glance, you might think there are some odd ingredients but the frothy magic they create makes this a lovely cake to make with children. I also try to make it with ingredients from the community shop – there’s homemade raspberry jam in this particular cake. “It’s great to share this transatlantic Magic Chocolate cake, which has stood the test of time.” *Grindleford Community Shop and Café holds the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark (EQM).
Magic Chocolate Cake • Preheat oven to 350F/180C/160C fan/ Gas mark 4 • Grease and line a deep 20cm/8in round tin or two 18cm/7in sandwich tins Ingredients • 1 egg • 115g/4oz soft margarine • 60g/2oz cocoa powder • 230g/8oz plain flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 5 fl oz/1/4 pint buttermilk or sour fresh milk (milk plus 2 tbsp lemon juice) • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 1 tsp vanilla essence • 200g/7oz granulated sugar • 1/4 tsp salt • 5 fl oz/1/4 pint boiling water PHOTOS: FIONA STUBBS
Method 1. Put first five ingredients into a mixing bowl, sifting flour, baking powder and cocoa powder together. 2. Mix bicarbonate of soda with soured milk/ buttermilk and add frothy mixture to the mixing bowl. 3. Add remaining ingredients, ending with boiling water. 4. As soon as water is added, mix everything together with an electric hand mixer. 5. Mix until you have a smooth, thick batter consistency. 6. Pour into tin(s).
7. Bake on middle shelf of oven for 30 minutes if using two sandwich tins or 40 minutes for a deep single tin. Icing If you’ve made two cakes, sandwich them together with raspberry jam and chocolate buttercream made from 85g/3oz butter, 170g/6oz icing sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa, plus milk.
For a single cake, ice with a topping of your choice or eat plain. This is also delicious served as a dessert with raspberries and cream. Tip: Make the Magic Chocolate Cake a day ahead as moisture and texture will be at their best... The cake will stay moist for several days. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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YOUR NATIONAL PARK
Peak views
It’s always fun to see on social media how you’re enjoying the UK’s original National Park. Tell us about your National Park adventures – tag us with #peakdistrict.
More of your moments Camera ready? Let’s see your Peak District National Park selfies! @PeakDistrictmoments
exploring. A lo vely weekend district eak @SabrinaJayneLee #p You wouldn’t have any problem finding this little one amongst the flock with its little brown tuft. @highfieldsherdy #sheep365
Ladybower reservoir looking amazing on a recent evening shoot. @chrisnowell1867 #landscape
I think I deserve bonus points for the midge attack I had to suffer to get this picture. @jmarsh769 #Roaches
Another excellent ride in the eastern peak today. Surprisingly quiet on the trails, but no room in the pub for a post ride pint! @JRDubya_uk #mtbgirls
@peakdistrict /peakdistrictnationalpark
Beautifully vibrant colours in Padley Gorge. @me_again #longshaw
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
/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...
Living within sight of Peak District moorland, our volunteer co-ordinator Rachel Mora-Bannon needs no reminding of the importance of looking after our precious landscapes.
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efore joining the Peak District National Park Authority in 2019, I spent 16 years with the National Trust, working in a variety of jobs. In my most recent role, I worked as a regional volunteering and participation consultant, supporting National Trust properties across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire with volunteering and community programmes.
The best part of my job is the variety – no two days are the same. I also really like inspiring others to see the potential of volunteering in organisations, and also highlighting the potential benefits for individuals. Volunteering – or giving back – is one of the key ways to wellbeing. It really is a great way for people to support the work of the Peak District National Park but to also to do something which will benefit themselves. The least exciting part of my job is that volunteer co-ordination is quite deskbased. A lot of time is spent on the phone and at the computer. I would like to get out of the office a bit more and explore the Peak District. People may be surprised to learn that I don’t directly manage any volunteers myself. All of our volunteers are managed by other members of the team and I
PHOTO: TOM MARSHALL
I spend a lot of time exploring and relaxing in the Peak District with my family and my love of the National Park attracted me to my job as volunteer co-ordinator. I live on the very edge of the Peak District and can see moorland from my house, so I wanted a job that could directly impact on the conservation of a place which is really important to me. support those managers in the volunteer programmes. Volunteering can be rewarding in so many ways and is a great way to make the most of the Peak District. Find out about volunteer opportunities across the Park to get an understanding of what it takes to manage and conserve this National Park. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved at every level, from drop-in ‘Muck In’ days with the Eastern Moors Partnership to Peak Park Conservation Volunteer days every month to more specialist roles with the South West Peak and Moors for the Future partnerships. My favourite spot in the Peak District National Park is Millstone Edge and the view down the Hope Valley. It’s a really accessible place for families and we have brought our little boy here since he could
Rachel likes inspiring others to see the potential of volunteering in organisations.
walk. We love scrambling over rocks and admiring the views. If I could be anywhere else in the world, it would be Conil de la Frontera in Andalucia. It has miles of pristine white beaches and Atlantic waves. It is a place I visit every year with my Spanish husband. It’s where he holidayed as a child and now we take our son there. Bakewell tart or Bakewell pudding? Pudding! To find out more about volunteering, visit www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/volunteering
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
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THE CHAIR
Opting for car-free travel such as using the new Hope Valley Explorer
bus service is one way to help tackle climate change.
National parks lead the way on tackling climate change
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Chair’s blog – Andrew McCloy
ritain’s national parks, of which the Peak District was the Andrew McCloy first, have enjoyed 70 successful years, both in caring for our most treasured landscapes and inspiring in others a love and understanding. However, the growing climate crisis is perhaps our biggest challenge yet; but it’s also the moment when we are starting to use our position and popular support to show real vision and leadership far beyond our boundaries. We’ve been carefully assessing the impact of climate change on the special qualities of the Peak District – from moorland fires, ash dieback and species decline to changing recreational trends and visitor pressure. In response, adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change is at the heart of how we and our partners manage the national park, for instance through one of the largest peatland restoration projects in
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Europe (called Moors for the Future). We’re also working with government to trial a new and more environmentallyfriendly way of farming in the White Peak; planting 400 hectares of new native woodland by 2024; and, through our role as the planning authority, ensuring that all new planning applications demonstrate a commitment to tackling climate change.
It requires all of us, residents and visitors alike, to make responsible lifestyle choices Ultimately it requires all of us, residents and visitors alike, to make informed and responsible lifestyle choices. Perhaps it’s opting for car-free travel options such as the new Hope Valley Explorer bus service and recreational cycle routes like the Monsal Trail; or choosing local products
and services bearing the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark, where you will be supporting local businesses with a deep-seated ethical commitment. A recent report to government (the Landscapes Review) said national parks have a leading role to play in tackling climate change. I couldn’t agree more. Whether it’s landscape restoration or new ways to farm, promoting sustainable travel choices or encouraging low impact renewable energy, national parks like the Peak District are showing how to make the switch to a low-carbon lifestyle that is essential if we are to put the brakes on global warming. If we can make it work in a highly-protected landscape like a national park then surely we can make it work anywhere? Follow our chair Andrew on Twitter @PeakChair • See the National Park Management Plan at www.peakdistrict.gov. uk/looking-after/national-parkmanagement-plan
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. John Muir
Whatever the Peak District National Park means to you, we’re ready with a warm welcome.
peakdistrict.gov.uk visitpeakdistrict.com
