Take the lead - lambing season arrives in March

It is an important (and tiring) time for our tenant sheep farmers across the Peak District at the moment, with lambs arriving throughout the day and night!

One way we are supporting the farmers and their livestock is by reminding dog walkers to keep their dogs on leads, to try to reduce the disturbance caused by dogs to ewes and their lambs.

Unfortunately every year there are lambs and ewes injured or killed by dogs in the Peak District. On your walks you may notice signs asking dog owners to keep dogs on leads and under control - some have been designed by school children for us.
 

You may spot signs on your walk reminding you to keep your dog on a lead during this important time for farmers and wildlife.

50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU'RE 11 3/4

This week we launched the 50 Things campaign for 2015 -  a list of 50 fantastic outdoor adventures that the National Trust think all children should experience before their 12th birthday.

The list includes; visit a farm, play pooh sticks, play conkers, build a den and go birdwatching.

In the Peak District you could probably do a lot of the activities in one day at Longshaw (near Sheffield) or Ilam Park and Dovedale (near Ashbourne) and there is a free Adventure Scrapbook available for children to record where and and when they complete the activities.

Our favourite in the Peak District? Probably building a den at Longshaw, climbing a huge hill at Kinder, hunting for fossils at Dovedale and playing pooh sticks at Ilam Park.

You can find out more by visiting:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50thingstodo

There are things to do in the autumn and winter too, like playing in the snow and catching a falling leaf.

Free scrapbooks available from Longshaw visitor centre and Ilam Park visitor centre.

Natural Art in Ilam Park

Look out for natural art sculptures in Ilam Park!

This April, University of Derby Yr2 Fine Art students took part in a 4 day residency at Ilam Park, in the Peak District. 

Using locally found natural materials, the students made artwork in response to the landscape, including hazel coppiced in the Manifold valley, sheep wool and broken china found whilst digging in the Ilam Park.

The project is part of an educational partnership between the National Trust and University of Derby, now in its 14th year. It is a great opportunity for the students to work outside of the studio, use new materials and talk about their work with
members of the public during the process.

The sculptures will evolve with the weather and wildlife over the coming weeks, so we are not sure for how long they will last. 

Huge thanks to the artists, their enthusiasm and respect for the site, there have already been great responses from visitors spotting the sculptures during their walks. 

 
Artists: 
Tracey Harris
Charlotte Jones
Tracey King
Nathan Reddish
Hayley Blackwell
Elyse Bennett
Dan Carlisle
Denis O'Connor   





All of the sculptures are visible from the footpaths. Pick up a free trail map to help you find the sculptures, available from the shop or visitor centre at Ilam Park.


Find out more about  University of Derby

Discover National Trust in the Peak District 

News from Ilam Park

New additions at Ilam Park

On your next visit to Ilam Park, you may notice some new features in the Italian Garden.

Garden volunteer Bob planting Octavia Hill geraniums in the Regency style urns

Having seen some wonderful photographs of Ilam Park taken 100 years ago (from Derby Library) the Ilam Park gardener and volunteers have been working hard to bring back a prominent feature.

With money gifted to the Gardens Department of the National Trust, 8 Regency style stone urns were purchased, similar to those seen in the old photographs. The urns have been planted with a geranium named “Octavia Hill” which had been grown to commemorate the Centenary of the death of the founder of the National Trust.

So next time you are sitting in the Italian Garden admiring the view towards Thorpe Cloud and Dovedale, take a look at our new stone urns!