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We asked Emma what the Peak District National Park Authority means to her and here’s what she told us: “The Peak District National Park is one of Britain’s most special places, right at the heart of the country, easily accessible to the millions of people who live in the surrounding cities and towns. As a child growing up in Stoke-on-Trent I visited the Peak District almost every weekend with my family.  My parents were keen walkers so most Sundays we would meet up with friends for breakfast at a café and then go for a walk, usually somewhere hilly like Win Hill or Mam Tor.  I still remember the sense of freedom I felt walking in the countryside.  The vast open moorland landscapes, deep limestone dales, beautiful rivers and rocky outcrops make the different parts of the Park unique and special.  

One of my earliest memories as a child is of a huge photograph of the Roaches that took up a whole wall in a department store in Stoke, I remember thinking how wonderful it was.  I have many happy memories tied up in the Peak District: long summer walks on Kinder, visiting the underground caverns in Castleton and even camping in the rain! 

Now as the National Park Authority’s Communities Policy Manager I have the opportunity to introduce the Park to other people, something that’s not too difficult to do when you’re promoting a place that’s important to you on a personal level.  I work closely with my colleagues here to share the special qualities of the Peak District with our visitors.  

Seeing the look on a child’s face when they see a peregrine falcon chick for the first time or witnessing the sense of achievement felt when someone reaches the top of a hill on a guided walk, are just two of the many examples that make what we do worthwhile.  Through Mosaic we’re able to reach out to even more people, involving new visitors in this incredible place and building memories for others to treasure forever.” 

Introduction to Friends of the Peak District

by Communications Officer Liz Kettle

Sunset on Curbar Edge credit Julie Bunting, copyright Friends of the Peak District

The Peak District is an amazing place.  Slap bang in the middle of England, and surrounded by major towns and cities including Manchester, Sheffield, Huddersfield, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent – it’s a magnet for city-dwellers and people looking for a bit of wilderness or tranquillity. 

In fact, it’s the second most visited national park in the world (but then, it’s a lot easier for most of us to get to than the number one national park - Mount Fuji in Japan) and has a proud history of fighting for access.  Back in 1932, hundreds of ramblers took to the open moors in the famous mass trespass of Kinder Scout.  This was a landmark in the campaign for National Parks. 

The Peak District has some really stunning countryside.  There are 555 square miles of dramatic hills, moors and edges.  There are two main sorts of landscapes with two different names: the Dark Peak is made up of bleak moorland and gritstone; and the White Peak has a softer, limestone geology. 

Although the fact that the Peak District is a National Park gives it huge protection, there are still some serious threats including illegal limestone quarrying at Backdale, and potential industrial developments at Cowdale and Bakewell. 

Friends of the Peak District have been fighting to protect the beautiful landscapes for everyone to enjoy for about 85 years (although we weren’t called that back then).  We have hundreds of members, and a brilliant team of volunteers who help us in our work.  We are always looking for more people, though!  So if you’re interested in joining us, have a look at www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk or give us a ring on 0114 266 5822.

Peak District reflections by Mosaic Community Champion Dionne Risden

Dionne Risden enjoying a bike ride at the Annual Event,

credit Victor de Jesus, copyright Mosaic

As a small child I wasn’t really interested in the Peak District or the countryside, but once I had experienced the fun, beauty and calm of the Peaks all that changed.  When I was younger, I remember walking around Ladybower reservoir with my mum, brother and sister.  After a long day of walking, we stood by the car and traced the steps that we had taken around the other side, we finally realised the ground that we had covered. After that day I always wanted to know when and where we were going on our next outing in the Peaks. 

Now that I'm older I have learnt to appreciate the Peak District even more and thank my mum for the days when she took us to places like Bakewell, Padley Gorge and Upper Derwent.  It was my experience in the Peak District as a child that helped with my decision to become a Peak District Community Champion with Mosaic, so that I would not only be able to share my own memories, but also help others in the BME community to be able to create their own memories.

Travelling to the Peaks doesn’t cost a fortune and with all the different fun packed days that you can enjoy with friends and family it’s all worth it. Just escape the hustle and bustle of the city to parts of the Peak District that are as close as 17 minutes away.  As soon as I meet the calm and take in the beauty my whole mood changes and I feel relaxed and calm.

But don’t just take my word for it.  Go online today and check out maps of walks and any activity days that you may want to take part in.

Musings from the half-way line by Mosaic Project Officer Zahid Hamid

Community Champions exploring the flora in the Peak District,

credit Zahid Hamid, copyright Mosaic

Living exactly half-way (3.3 miles) between the Peak District National Park boundary and Sheffield city centre, I can view both sides of the Mosaic ‘pitch’ and see how the Community Champions have discovered, explored and come to love the half of the ground that is the Peak District.  My own relationship with the area began in the 1960s on a school trip to Edale and this helped to cement my deep interest in maps, geography and ‘different’ places to inner-city Sheffield.

Mosaic has helped me to discover even more of the Peak District than that which I always took for granted.  Working with the Authority staff and Champions has rejuvenated my interest in the outdoors, introduced the many benefits of National Parks and reminded me that it’s about place and people.

This was highlighted for me twice recently.  Firstly the success of the ‘Peakwise’ learning project; where a small group of Peak District Community Champions took their understanding, knowledge, experience and relationships with Park staff to a deeper level.  Secondly, when we asked Champions to bring community members to the launch of the Peak District walking Festival in Buxton, we had over 130 individuals come from Manchester, Sheffield and Derby!

 Peak Wise by Learning Development Officer Sarah Wilks.

The Peak Wise project ran from September 2009 to March 2010 and was part of the ‘Transformation Fund’ spearheaded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and managed by NIACE.  I was lucky enough to be asked to manage the project.

The overall aim was to enable inspirational, practical and creative learning in and about the Peak District in order to cultivate further passion and confidence for discovering and exploring the countryside.  We did this by working with a group of Mosaic Peak District Community Champions to develop and deliver a programme that would increase their knowledge and enjoyment of the Peak District and improve their skills in communicating this to others.  

‘This programme has given me the confidence to lead a group.  It has given me a level of skill, knowledge and awareness of what is important when taking a group out into the Peak District, to ensure a safe and enjoyable walk.  In addition, it has provided me with a support network of professionals/experts for me to use when needed.’

The group planned and delivered events to groups from their own communities, with the support of mentors from the Peak District National Park Authority with a budget of £300.  These events were very successful and brought over 150 people from surrounding urban areas, most of who had never been to the Peak District before.  

They took part in walks, bike rides and visits to local attractions. 

All the groups want to visit again, as one of the visitors said; ‘I used to look at people walking in the countryside and think, that’s not for me, now I know it is!’

The project has developed a pool of well trained advocates for the Peak District National Park and the work of the Authority.  It has created strong links between individual Champions and staff with a greater understanding of needs, roles and responsibilities on both sides.  It was also great fun for all those involved!

 Young Champions’ work celebrated

by Mosaic Youth Project Officer David Rolls

Reunion at Okehampton (Dartmoor) reunion,

credit David Rolls, copyright Mosaic

The Mosaic Young Champions go from success to success.  Their achievements were recently celebrated at a showcasing event in Exeter.  In the last 6 months: 

• 200+ days have been volunteered 

• 76 awards have been achieved

• £10,000 of ‘in kind’ support has been received

• 100+ new young people have visited Dartmoor and Exmoor

• 1,000 hours have been spent in the Parks

• 20 events have been championed by the Young Champions

• 6 National Park services have been ‘youth proofed’

• 100% of the young people have developed new skills and confidence 

The work has recently received both national and international attention.  Nationally, the Mosaic Young Champions were selected as one of just eight projects in the UK that demonstrate exemplary innovation in the field of youth leadership.  This acknowledgement from the Young Foundation comes accompanied with funding that will enable the Mosaic Young Champions to go continue for another year. 

Internationally the young people have been asked to speak at a leadership conference in Sweden.  Steve Lovell took a break from packing to comment on his attendance at the conference:  “I believe that the conference will be a good opportunity because I feel I will be able to express my passion for the National Parks, show what the Mosaic project has to offer and meet new friends.”

A message to Community Champions by Adrian Thornton

You’ve come to love and appreciate fine landscape, and become committed to spreading that love and appreciation to others.   A good way to do this is to ask CNP’s voluntary speakers’ service to provide your community or a group you belong to with an illustrated talk on the National Park ‘family’.  (The family means the Broads, Brecon Beacons, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia and Yorkshire Dales; and since this year the South Downs too.)

They’ll then get an illustrated trip round all 13 National Parks of England & Wales (both your local one and the others), and hear about their widely-differing characters and about what their special needs are.

CNP’s voluntary speakers give illustrated talks in almost any city, town or village.   They show the National Parks’ beauty, diversity and cultural heritage; and describe the challenges they face, like conservation, climate change, sustainable development, sustainable transport, tourism, and military training.  They expect only travel expenses and a donation to CNP.

All kinds of group enjoy these talks, so if you’re interested, contact Adrian Thornton, Phoenix Cottage, Cassington, Witney, Oxon  OX29 4DL  (01865-880359).   He can put you in touch with a CNP speaker local to you.

 Change Your World and win 

The Campaign for National Parks (CNP) is an umbrella of nearly 40 environmental and amenity groups across England and Wales.  Sustrans is a council member for CNP and is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity.

Sustrans (www.sustrans.org.uk) promote sustainable transport to and from the National Parks, which is vital given that 90% of visits to the Parks are by car!  Please read below to find out about their latest campaign: 

Take a walk.  Get on your bike.  Choose the bus or train.  Pledge a journey so, together, we can clock up enough miles to travel around the world by 4 July. Show your support for more journeys being made by foot, bike and public transport at www.changeyourworld.org.uk and for the chance to win great prizes.

Events Diary

To find out what’s on in the coming months in National Parks around the country, follow these links.

Peak District National Park Authority: www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/ranger-walks.htm

Friends of the Peak District: Events/

The Broads Authority: www.broads-authority.gov.uk/visiting/what-s-on.html

Dartmoor National Park Authority: www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/index/visiting/vi-eventsguidedwalks/vi-diary-of-guided-walks-and-events.htm

Dartmoor Preservation Association: www.dartmoorpreservation.com/events.htm

Exmoor National Park Authority: www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/index/visiting/activities.htm

The Exmoor Society: www.exmoorsociety.org.uk/Events.htm

Lake District National Park Authority: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/events/countryshowsandfestivals.htm

Friends of the Lake District: www.fld.org.uk/whats-on.html

New Forest National Park Authority: www.thenewforest.co.uk/see-and-do/whats-on.aspx

New Forest Association: www.newforestassociation.org/events.html

North York Moors National Park Authority: www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/whats-on/

North York Moors Association: www.north-yorkshire-moors.org.uk/nyma_news.htm

Northumberland National Park Authority: www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/visiting/whatson/eventhighlights/events.htm

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: www.yorkshiredalesandharrogate.com/thingstodo-events.html

Yorkshire Dales Society: www.yds.org.uk/events.cfm